World Snooker Championship: Jordan Brown feels ‘horrible’ about qualifying draw

Potter Jordan Brown of Northern Ireland has admitted he secured a “terrible” qualification for this year’s World Cup.

Antrim Ferrari could face Irish friends Fergal O’Brien or Aaron Hill in the final round of qualifying.

Last season’s Welsh Open champions must win two games to return to the sport’s spiritual shelf, for the first time since they debuted there two years ago.

But if Cork Young Rifle Hill wins his first-round match, Hill winner Brown and Dublin veteran O’Brien will battle it out to shoot Crucible.

“If I can be honest, it would be a little scary,” Brown revealed ahead of qualifying that begins on Monday (April 4) at the English Mathematical Institute.

I train a lot with Fergal and we are good friends, as well as with Aaron.

“But we’re there to finish the job at the end of the day and I know what’s mine and that’s a win.

“You would rather play with people I am not close to. It will be difficult, but I have a job I am trying to get to at Crucible.”

Brown, ranked 25th in the world, is full of confidence ahead of his eagerness to qualify after rediscovering his goal at the Gibraltar Open.

“It was nice to find some form of going to the World Cup,” Antrim Potter admitted.

“I said up front that I was going to press for this tournament and that I was going to run hand in hand. Everything worked and I found something in my game.

“My goal is nice. I managed to keep myself steady in the game, which gives you motivation.”

Meanwhile, the Irish legend needs Ken Dohert’s three wins to make his first Crucible appearance since 2014.

And what would be special if Dublin Darling returned to a place of worship after 25 years, when it won the prestigious trophy in 1997.

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