Both Rory McLeod and Nigel Bond recorded their career best breaks as they won their qualifying match in the Grand Prix @ Pontin's on Thursday.

Wellingborough based McLeod stroked in a 142 total clearance in frame five against Preston's own Stuart Pettman, and also constructed runs of 58, 88, 54 and 65, to which Pettman responded with a best effort of 60 in frame four.

Reward for McLeod is a Guild Hall match against Gloucester's Robert Milkins.

Nigel Bond produced his 140 total clearance in the third frame of a 5-2 win over Ireland's Joe Delaney. That effort just beat his previous best of 139, which he'd achieved twice, both times against Stephen Hendry.

And Bond will face another Irish opponent in Gerard Greene when the event moves to the Guild Hall, Preston in October.

David Roe was another of snooker's elder statesmen who booked an appearance in the final stages. Roe stormed to a 5-0 win Paul Davison.

Andy Hicks carried on where he left off at the Crucible in May, with a resounding 5-1 win over Chinese prospect Ding Junhui.

Hicks stroked in breaks of 83 and 71 to open a 2-0 lead. He snatched the third on the black despite a run of 40 from Junhui, but had to give second best to a 114 from Ding in the fourth, which could have been a 141 had he not missed the yellow.

Hicks now faces Matthew Stevens at Preston.

RESOURCES

RESULTS

2004 GRAND PRIX QUALIFIERS