WORLDPOOL OO
Northern Ireland's Emma Cunningham has suffered more than most at Thompson's cue in recent years. They've contested six finals and Thompson has won the lot bar one. And after winning the European Championship in Malta, Cunninghamwill be confident of finally getting the better of her left handed rival.
The individual tournaments may be the blue riband events but the team competitions are just as closely contested. And it promises to be just the same in 2011.
Wales' men inflicted defeat on favourites Eng- land at the Europeans and are now looking to emulate their 1998 and 2002 winning squads. Indeed, it could prove one of the most open championships of recent years.
Australia are sending their strongest squad for many years and the return of the South Africans add an unpredictable note.
Kenya and Uganda won't be challenging for the title but their participation adds to the cosmopolitan nature of the tournament.
England ladies want to get their trophy back fromWales.
The English cue queens were stunned by Northern Ireland in the 2010 semi-finals while Wales defeated Australia before going on to win the title.
London teenager Frank Costello returns to defend his junior prize and itmight not be long before the 17-year-old is challenging for senior honours.
All in all it promises to be another fascinating championship. And you can catch up with all the news and results at
www.wepf.org
KENDALL BACK TO SKIPPER ENGLAND BUT POTTS AND DAVIS ABSENT
England's chances of retaining their world team title in June have suffered a double set back.
Stoke pair Gareth Potts and Adam Davis have decided not to take up their international places.
And that gives hope to other nations including recently crowned European champions Wales and Republic of Ireland-the only team other than England to be crowned champions since 2003.
However, skipper Lee Kendall, who has played in every edition of the world championships, is back to lead the squad.
Kendall was one of six players assured of their places along with: Gareth Hibbert, Neil Toms, John Rowe, Ben Flack and Ian Hubbard.
The four players to join them are former world junior champion Jordan Church, Chris Gill, Jack Pople and Darren Price.
JAMES THE THIRD
James Croxton won six matches, including the scalp of 1998 world champion, Carl Morris, to qualify for the final stages of theWorld Cham- pionships for a third successive year.
The Newcastle under Lyme cueman was one of four players to make it through to Blackpool from nearly 300 players who started out at Vauxhall Holiday Park.
Last 16: Neil Raybone (Willenhall) bt Richard Twomey (Ipswich) 6-1, Rob Chalmers (Longfield) bt Kevin Holland (Rochdale) 6-3, Robert Harding (Stoke on Trent) bt Matt Brierley (GMC) 6-3, James Croxton (Newcastle under Lyme) bt Ian Duffy (Telford) 6-4, Trevor Sims (Bedford) bt Mathew Schofield (Walsden) 6-0, Jason Grigor (Helston) bt Ian Davenport (Wigan) 7-6, Jason Hill (Preston) bt Nick Wollerton (Barnsley) 6-5, Steve Robertshaw (Leicester) bt Lee Pickard (Sneinton) 6-1.
Final qualifying round: Raybone bt Chalmers 7-4, Croxton bt Harding 7-3, Sims bt Grigor 7-3, Robertshaw bt Hill 7- 3.
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