Hong Kong’s Ng On-yee gave Scotland’s Alan McManus a huge fright before bowing out of the qualifiers of the world snooker championship in Sheffield in a much improved display from her previous campaigns. The reigning world women’s champion was hoping to become the first Hong Kong women’s player to win a match at the famous tournament and went into the game at the English Institute of Sport as a 17-1 underdog after two previous visits to Sheffield ended in dismal failure. Hammered in her 2017 and 2018 qualifying campaigns, the 28-year-old Ng turned her game around and almost did the unthinkable when she first led 2-0 and then 6-5 before the Scot, a three-time semi-finalist at the Worlds, reeled off five frames in a row to record a 10-6 victory. Well done to Alan but a strong performance by our very own Ng On Yee today in Sheffield, we look forward to seeing you (and Reanne Evans who was also in action today at the World Championship qualifiers) tomorrow https://t.co/lcS7lTEXc6 — World Women’s Snooker (@WomensSnooker) April 12, 2019 <!--//--><![CDATA[// ><!-- //--><!]]> The 28-year-old Ng credited her improved performance to Hong Kong’s long-time professional, Marco Fu Ka-chun, who helped her steady the nerves playing in the adjacent tables. Fu also bowed out of the tournament, losing in the first round of qualifying for his worst result at the Worlds since 2004. Fu, who continues to struggle with his game after having eye surgery last year, lost to China’s Luo Honghao 10-7. However, Ng told worldsnooker.com she was feeling less nervous and credited “idol” Fu for helping out in her hour of need. “Playing in the same session as Marco helped me to get rid of a bit of pressure. During my previous matches at the World Championship, I have been sat in the player’s lounge getting ready and feeling very nervous. This year Marco was sitting next to me and supporting me. He is my idol and I just felt more comfortable. There was less pressure. Ng On-yee’s world No 1 ranking under threat amid uncertain future for billiard sports at Hong Kong Sports Institute She added: “I am settling much better now and getting a bit more comfortable with the atmosphere. I wasn’t shaking today like I was in the last few years. I kept trying to pull away from him, but he kept coming back.” The three-time world women’s champion was hopeful she would one day match England’s Reanne Evans who won a world championship match in 2017. “I think that all the ladies players were very happy. She [Evans] really inspired others and I hope that I can be like her and win matches in the main tournaments. “In terms of numbers, there are much less ladies players than men, but we are getting more and more tournaments and gaining more players from different countries. I think in the future, all of the ladies players will be able to compete with men.” My training partner before World Championship Qualifiers !! @Marcofu18 nice to see you in Hong Kong️ not only on NOW TV 637 pic.twitter.com/IJ8NRB05Bp — Ng On Yee (@Onyee159) March 16, 2019 <!--//--><![CDATA[// ><!-- //--><!]]> Ng, meanwhile, was congratulated by womenssnooker.com who tweeted: “It was not to be for either Ng On-yee or Reanne Evans today as both bowed out of the World Championship qualifiers. On-yee in particular impressed however as she led former Masters champion Alan McManus for the majority of the match before the Scot eventually pulled away to a 19-6 victory. Save Our Snooker: Hong Kong officials turn to Olympic chief Timothy Fok to get sport back into the 2022 Asian Games “Well done to Alan [McManus] but a strong performance by our very own On Yee today in Sheffield, we look forward to see you (and Reanne Evens who was also in action today at the World Championship qualifiers] tomorrow [Festival of Women’s Snooker in Leeds].”