Marco Fu moved a step closer to the Crucible after a dominant opening-round win in World Championship qualifying at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The 48-year-old beat Thailand’s Mink Nutcharut 10-1, making a strong start to the four-round route into the main draw.
Marco Fu controlled the match from the outset, compiling three century breaks, including a 137, as he underlined the gap in scoring power. Fu, who twice reached the last four in 2006 and 2016, said the result felt important as he tries to return to the championship’s biggest stage.
Marco Fu starts fast in Sheffield
The opening-round win pushed Marco Fu into the next phase of qualifying, where 16 players will eventually emerge for the main draw. Fu was ranked as high as fifth in the world in 2017, and he was most recently 85th, making the progress in Sheffield a notable step in his campaign.
There was little room for drama in the scoreline. Fu had no issues in beating Nutcharut and backed that up with heavy scoring throughout the match, keeping the momentum with him from the first frame to the last.
Marco Fu and the Crucible return he wants
“I played quite well and scored heavily, she is very capable, ” Marco Fu said. “It would mean everything for me to get back to the Crucible but the standard now is so high. ”
That remark captures the pressure at this stage of qualifying, where every match can reshape a player’s season. Fu’s next task is to keep that level as the rounds narrow and the path to Sheffield’s main draw gets tighter.
Familiar names fall in qualifying
The early rounds also brought exits for some well-known figures. 1997 champion Ken Doherty lost 10-5 to Patrick Whelan, while 12-time women’s champion Reanne Evans was beaten 10-7 by Vladislav Gradinari of Moldova.
Those results show how unforgiving qualifying can be, even for players with major championship histories. With four rounds in total, only those who survive the full stretch will earn a place at the Crucible.
The championship itself is set for the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from 18 April to 4 May. For Marco Fu, the immediate focus is simple: keep winning, keep scoring, and stay on course for a Crucible return.
