JAMIE Cope is heading to Shanghai next month after qualifying for the first ranking tournament of the new season.

The Longton cueman was in sparkling form at Pontin's in Prestatyn as he whitewashed Nottingham's Anthony Hamilton 5-0 to make sure of his place at the Roewe Shanghai Masters between September 7 and 13.

Cope, pictured, will now lock horns with former World Championship semi-finalist Joe Perry in China.

"That's a really good start to the season for me, I played well," said the 23-year-old, a two-time ranking event finalist.

Cope pocketed breaks of 73, 91 and 67 for a commanding 3-0 lead, before the world number 18 pinched the fourth frame on the final black. A break of 64 following the resumption wrapped up victory for Cope in just under two hours.

Looking ahead to his match with Cambridgeshire's Perry, the world number 12, Cope added: "It's going to be tough, but I enjoy playing in the overseas tournaments.

"I got to the China Open final a couple of years ago, I've got fond memories of playing there."

While there was success for Cope, there was only disappointment for Dave Harold.

The Trent Vale cueman slipped to an agonising 5-2 defeat to Liverpool's Andrew Higginson in their final qualifying-round clash.