Ireland’s Michael Judge rubber-stamped his promotion to the world's top 32 next season with another solid performance in Aberdeen today in the Regal Scottish Open.
Judge, who is also involved in the televised stages of the forthcoming Embassy World Championship, reached the last 32 of the stg£441,000 Regal Open with a 5-2 victory over Joe Perry.
Judge has now won 10 of his last 11 matches and will faceDave Harold in round two with no shortage of confidence.
Judge compiled breaks of 48, 79 and 37 on his way to victory.
"I've been on a really good run lately and hopefully I can do a bit of damage here as well before I go to the Crucible," said Judge.
"It's all about confidence. You get into the habit of winning and I can tell you it's a great feeling to have."
Judge, who began his 10th professional campaign 46th on the world ranking list, had just one complaint.
"It was like an oven out there," said the 25-year-old Dubliner.
"We played in Bangkok last month and it was nowhere near as warm, but apart from the heat everything was fine."
Judge plays John Parrott in the first round at the Crucible but Welshman Dominic Dale, a surprise world championship quarter-finalist last year, hasfailed to qualify for the game's premier event this time.
And there was little to lift Dale's gloom today as he suffered a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Derby's David Roe.
Former top 16 player Roe, safely through to the Crucible, laid the foundation for victory by establishing a 4-0 lead.
PA