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Ian Preece

Preece enjoyed his best ever run in a ranking event at the 2009 Welsh Open.
He defeated Peter Lines and 2007 runner-up Andrew Higginson 5-4 before despatching Stuart Bingham 5-3 to make the last 32 for the first time in his career. Unfortunately he drew World No 2 Stephen Maguire and lost 5-0.
Otherwise, Preece struggled for positive results during the season and slipped to No 66 in the rankings. But retained his place on the pro Tour after being given a wild card.
He qualified for a ranking event venue for the first time in his career in the 2007 Welsh Open, held in his home city of Newport, by beating Peter Lines, Robin Hull and Tom Ford in the qualifies.
But Preece could not give his huge support the result they wanted as he was whitewashed 5-0 by Mark Selby in the last 48.
Preece boasts an outstanding amateur record. He won the European under-19 Championship in 1998 in Malta. The following year, he became the youngest ever Welsh Amateur Champion at the age of 16.
The Newport player then travelled to Papua New Guinea to compete in the IBSF World Amateur Championship and came home with the trophy (again the youngest champion) after an 11-8 defeat of David Lilley in the final.
Preece was selected as one of World Snooker’s Young Players of Distinction in the summer of 2000.
He qualified for the professional Tour by finishing third on the 2005/06 PIOS Order of Merit.

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