Snooker: Harold clinches Shanghai Masters spot

DAVE Harold continued his fine start to the season yesterday by qualifying for this month's Shanghai Masters, the second ranking event of the season.

The Stoke potter, brimming with confidence after reaching the Northern Ireland Trophy final last weekend, impressed with a 5-1 victory over Liverpool's Rod Lawler in the final Shanghai qualifying round.

His comfortable win at Pontin's, Prestatyn has earned the 41-year-old a meeting with Ding Junhui in China.

"It was a little bit of a shock to the system going back to Pontin's, especially having reached the final in Belfast," revealed Harold.

"In Belfast I played in front of a big crowd, but there was no one in the crowd here.

"But I'm so used to playing here that I knew what I had to do. I played solidly, it was another good win for me."

Harold lost 9-3 to world champion and world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Waterfront Hall last Sunday.

But having risen to No 14 in the provisional world rankings, the Trent Vale professional is determined to build on his early success.

"I was feeling the pressure. Everyone expects you to win because of what I achieved in Belfast," added Harold.

"But I played well from the word go. I twitched a little bit to get over the winning line, but there were no scares."

Harold was always ahead in the match and quickly raced into a 4-0 lead thanks to breaks of 62, 84, 44 and 83.

Lawler reduced his arrears by winning the first frame after the mid-session interval, but it only delayed the inevitable as Harold pocketed a run of 41 to secure victory.

"It's tremendous to have qualified for Shanghai for the second season in a row. I'm looking forward to playing Ding.

"I couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. To qualify for the first two ranking events has been great – and of course getting to the final in Belfast."