Final Masters Spots To Be Decided In York

All week in York I have been blogging on the race for places at the 2016 Dafabet Masters, analysing the various possible permutations and what might happen depending on the results of those players in and around the top 16 mark.

Now down to the quarter-finals however, the position is relatively clear cut with only Martin Gould, Matt Selt and Liang Wenbo still in with a chance of breaking into the top 16 and denying Welshman Michael White a debut appearance at the Alexandra Palace.

All three need to reach the final of the Betway UK Championship if they are to do so, with Gould and Liang set to face a semi-final play-off for a place at the Alexandra Palace if they are able to win their respective quarter-finals today.

If one of Gould and Liang are able to reach the final and be joined there by world number 25 Matt Selt, then both finalists would qualify to play at the Dafabet Masters, with Michael White and current 15th placed man Stephen Maguire being edged out during the final weekend.

As an aside, Marco Fu remains the only player confirmed for the Dafabet Masters who can break into the top eight seeds, requiring the title to do so at the expense of Barry Hawkins.