Davis is currently ranked 40th in the world

Steve Davis battled through to the final round of qualifying for the World Championship with a 10-9 win over teenager Jack Lisowski in Sheffield.

The six-time Crucible champion, 53, was pushed hard by the Cheltenham 19-year-old but held his nerve to seal victory.

Davis fought back from 7-3, 8-5 and 9-8 down against Lisowski to stay on course for a place in the first round proper.

He now faces a potentially tough match against Stephen Lee on Sunday at the English Institute of Sport.

Lisowski, who qualified for the German Masters and Welsh Open, pulled away from 3-3 to lead 7-3 with a top break of 121.

Davis knocked in back-to-back centuries, 101 and 105, to win the next two frames, but then Lisowski made it 8-5.

Three scrappy frames all went the way of Davis as he dragged himself back to level terms. Lisowski regained the lead, but then an 80 from Davis made it 9-9.

Both players had chances early in the decider, but after Lisowski missed on 15, Davis made a crucial 38 which carried him to victory.

In other third-round matches, Welshman Andrew Pagett saw off England's former world number five Nigel Bond 10-9.

Scotland's ex-world number six Alan McManus came through 10-8 against England's Stuart Pettman.

Jimmy Robertson beat Maltese veteran Tony Drago 10-8, Anthony Hamilton ended Michael White's hopes with a 10-7 win, and Dave Harold saw off Jamie Jones 10-9.

Ireland's Fergal O'Brien cruised to a 10-4 victory against Paul Davison, China's Liu Song beat Mark Joyce 10-6, and Matthew Selt edged past Patrick Wallace 10-9.

Also at the English Institute of Sport, Rory McLeod hammered Kyren Wilson 10-3.

The final round of qualifying is completed over the weekend with world number 20 Ryan Day, twice runner-up at the Crucible Matthew Stevens and 1997 world champion Ken Doherty all in action.

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