German Masters Qualifiers 2022 | Day Eight Preview and Order of Play

Ronnie O’Sullivan headlines Monday’s action as he takes on Hossein Vafaei in the German Masters qualifiers at the Chase Centre in Cannock.

The Rocket has not appeared in the popular event since 2017, when he suffered a 5-4 defeat against Mark King in the last 32.

Nevertheless, the six-time World champion will be eager to secure a return to the Tempodrom, where he lifted the trophy in 2012 after beating Stephen Maguire in the final.

The first hurdle he must overcome is three-time ranking event semi-finalist Vafaei.

The world number 60 is still seeking his first victory in five German Masters appearances, but did claim a creditable win over the in-form Mark Allen at the British Open in August.

Meanwhile, Mark Selby looks to book his place in Berlin when he takes on world number 70 Ashley Carty.

The World champion, who opened with a 5-2 win over Ross Muir on Sunday, captured this title in 2015 having been a runner-up four years previously.

The other standout second-round clash in Cannock is a repeat of the 2000 Masters final, with Ken Doherty and Matthew Stevens locking horns.

Former Crucible king Doherty is seeking a first Tempodrom appearance since 2016 while 2003 UK champion Stevens, who recovered from 4-2 down to edge past 2016 German Masters winner Martin Gould, has been eliminated in the qualifiers in six of the last seven years.

Elsewhere, the first-round action continues with 2019 runner-up David Gilbert beginning his quest to go the extra step against David Grace.

The Championship League winner has been one of the form players of the season so far, having also reached the quarter-finals at the British Open and Northern Ireland Open.

Having lost in the qualifiers in each of the last two years, Masters champion Yan Bingtao will be desperate to avoid a repeat against compatriot Chen Zifan.

Another of the Chinese contingent, Liang Wenbo takes on 12-time Ladies World champion Reanne Evans, who is seeking her first win of the campaign.

The action gets underway at 10am BST, with all matches to be contested over the best of nine frames.

WATCH THE GERMAN MASTERS QUALIFIERS STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)

German Masters Qualifiers 2021 Schedule

Monday October 25

10am
57 Elliot Slessor v Zhao Jianbo
58 David Gilbert v David Grace
59 Lei Peifan v Soheil Vahedi
60 Yan Bingtao v Chen Zifan

2.30pm
91 Mark Davis v Sam Craigie
92 Matthew Stevens v Ken Doherty
95 Barry Pinches v John J Astley
96 Ashley Carty v Mark Selby

7pm
33 Ronnie O’Sullivan v Hossein Vafaei
34 Steven Hallworth v Andrew Higginson
35 Liang Wenbo v Reanne Evans
36 Fergal O’Brien v Ben Hancorn