Judd Trump is one win away from becoming the youngest person to play at the Crucible in 14 years after beating Jamie Cope 10-7 in Prestatyn. Trump, 17, must now beat Thailand's James Wattana on 15 March to seal a place in the televised stages of the World Championship.
He led fellow Englishman Cope 9-4 after breaks of 106, 66 and 85 before the Grand Prix finalist fought back to 9-7.
However, Trump clinched a scrappy 17th frame to maintain his progress.
Trump captured his first national amateur title at the age of 10, won the
Pontins Spring Open at 13 and, at 14, superseded Ronnie O'Sullivan as the youngest player to compile a competitive maximum break.
O'Sullivan was the last 17-year-old to play at the Crucible in 1993, seven
years after Stephen Hendry became the first.
Sussex professional Mark Davis completed a 10-2 victory over Jimmy Michie to seal a final qualifying round clash with Ding Junhui.
Ding, 19, will become the first Chinese player to appear in the TV stage of
snooker's top event if he beats Davis on 14 March.
Fergal O'Brien, a Crucible quarter-finalist seven years ago, defeated
Walsall's Mark Joyce 10-4 to reach the final qualifying round.
He was joined by compatriot Michael Judge, who beat Welshman Paul Davies 10-5.
The last round of qualifying, which starts on 12 March, will be staged at the
English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, a few miles from the Crucible.
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