Mark Davis, one of many highest-profile names taking part at Q College this yr, is already out of Occasion 1 after shedding 4-3 to Oliver Briffett-Payne on Thursday.
Davis is among the most skilled rivals within the 2026 version of Q College, which is presently going down on the Mattioli Area in Leicester.
After 35 years as an expert, the 53 year-old formally dropped off the foremost tour for the primary time on the conclusion of the lately ended marketing campaign.
Davis required a powerful run on the World Championship to ensure his spot within the prime 64 of the world rankings however exited within the spherical of 112 to Gao Yang, finally ending the time period at quantity 66.
The previous world quantity 12, who contested the English Open closing in 2018, would nonetheless have been one of many favourites at Q College to safe a right away return to the professional ranks.
But when Davis had been unaware of the cut-throat nature of the competitors, he will definitely perceive the severity of the stakes now.
A 4-3 defeat to Briffett-Payne in his first outing on the final 128 signifies that the previous six pink world champion may have only one extra alternative to increase his skilled tenure when he takes half in Q College Occasion 2 subsequent week.
Bulcsu Revesz was one other fallen professional who suffered a shock loss, the younger Hungarian downed 4-2 by veteran 57 year-old Jeff Cundy.
Cundy, a professional within the Nineties and early-2000s, will funnily sufficient play Davis’ conqueror Briffett-Payne within the subsequent spherical.
Elsewhere, Pakistani pair Haris Tahir and Farakh Ajaib additionally crashed out following respective 4-3 losses to Paruke Aierken and Joel Connolly.
There have been just a few relegated gamers on the finish of the 2025/26 season who survived their opening checks, nevertheless.
Robbie McGuigan, Cheung Ka Wai, and Wang Yuchen every recorded 4-0 victories whereas Allan Taylor and Haydon Pinhey additionally superior with 4-2 wins.
Rory McLeod, in the meantime, started his quest to return to the World Snooker Tour for the primary time since 2022 with a 4-1 defeat of Marc Shaw.
Gerard Greene, Jamie O’Neill, Daniel Womersley, and Umut Dikme had been different acquainted cueists to succeed in the final 64.
There are many different notable names coming into the fray on Friday with the likes of Robert Milkins, Liam Davied, Mitchell Mann, and Duane Jones becoming a member of the motion.
Peter Traces, Barry Pinches, Andrew Higginson, Sean O’Sullivan, Dean Reynolds, and former world quantity two Tony Knowles will moreover be concerned.
Solely the final 4 standing gamers at Q College Occasion 1 might be awarded with coveted two-year tour playing cards, with an additional 4 then on supply at Q College Occasion 2.
The total draw is on the market at snooker.org.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
