World Snooker Championship: Jack Lisowski books Crucible debut

Cancer survivor Jack Lisowski qualified for the Betfair World Championship for the first time and said: "It's a dream come true."

The 21-year-old Gloucestershire potter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma as a teenager but overcame the condition and quickly gained a place on the professional tour.

He beat Irish veteran Fergal O'Brien 10-4 to seal his place at the Crucible.

Lisowski made three centuries - 114, 131 and 100 - in seeing off his 41-year-old opponent at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.

The youngster, a former flat-mate of Judd Trump, was thrilled to come through the test of nerve and is relishing his first taste of the World Championship.

The tournament begins next Saturday, with the draw being made on Monday.

Lisowski, who will face one of the 16 seeds, is a player many will want to avoid after his recent run to the China Open quarter-finals.

He beat Trump in Beijing, and said: "I've had a bit of a breakthrough at the end of the season getting to the quarter-finals at the China Open and now reaching the Crucible.

"It's a dream come true and I just can't wait to hear the draw and get out there to play my match."
Fu return

He was joined by fellow first-time qualifier Michael White, a 21-year-old from Neath, who beat Widnes' Andrew Higginson 10-4.

Thailand's Dechawat Poomjaeng was the first through, the 34-year-old beating Stoke's Jamie Cope 10-3 to earn his World Championship debut.

Hong Kong's Marco Fu, who was a semi-finalist in 2006, will make a ninth

consecutive appearance in the first round at the Crucible after beating Derby

player David Gilbert 10-4.

Sunday sees Jimmy White, the 50-year-old six-time World Championship runner-up, bid for a first-round place after six years of failing to qualify.

White, who has fallen away to 57th in the world rankings, has won two qualifiers already and plays fellow Englishman Robert Milkins in the final round.

Nottingham's Michael Holt qualified for the sixth time, beating Walsall's Mark Joyce 10-7 but edging over the line in the end after leading 8-0 and 9-4.Hong Kong's Marco Fu, who was a semi-finalist in 2006, will make a ninth consecutive appearance in the first round at the Crucible after beating Derby player David Gilbert 10-4.

Tomorrow sees Jimmy White, the 50-year-old six-time World Championship runner-up, bid for a first-round place after six years of failing to qualify.

White, who has fallen away to 57th in the world rankings, has won two qualifiers already and plays fellow Englishman Robert Milkins in the final round.

Nottingham's Michael Holt qualified for the sixth time, beating Walsall's Mark Joyce 10-7 but edging over the line in the end after leading 8-0 and 9-4.