Snooker:Joe Swail has booked a date with fellow Northern Ireland cueman Mark Allen after coming through the final qualifying stages ahead of the German Masters which gets under way today.
Swail completed a 5-0 whitewash win over Belgium’s Hans Blanckaert in his final qualifying match in Berlin. The Belfast man had a chance of a maximum 147 in the third frame but missed the last red.
Swail will take on Antrim’s Allen in the first round later today.
"We're fierce rivals but good friends and it will be a cracker of a match," Swail told the World Snooker website.
Meanwhile Ronnie O'Sullivan has pulled out of the world ranking event. The three-time world champion was due to play Dominic Dale, who now receives a bye into the last 16.
