David Grace is a former quarter-finalist at the Paul Hunter Classic and he is the headline name that will be in qualifying action on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old reached the last eight of the prestigious ranking event just two years ago but has been on a downward spiral since then, losing his place on the professional tour at the end of last season.

The Englishman, who also reached the semi-finals of the UK Championship back in 2015 and has been as high as number 43 in the world rankings, will now be hoping to rediscover his best form when he faces compatriot John Nicholson in the first qualifying round for the Paul Hunter Classic on Wednesday evening.

Grace is not the only Englishman bidding to reach the main draw of this year’s event in Furth, as former world number 76 James Cahill is also in action when he takes on Conor Caniff of Wales.

Like Grace, Cahill has fond memories of the Paul Hunter Classic, as he reached the third round back in 2016. Jamie Curtis-Barrett is another Englishman that has impressed at the tournament in the past and he is looking to reach the main draw of the event for the third year in a row.

The 34-year-old lost in the second round to Kyren Wilson 12 months ago and gets his qualifying campaign up and running this year when he takes on Florian Nuessle of Austria.

Other notable English players in qualifying action on Wednesday include Michael Wild, Jamie O’Neill and Luke Simmonds, who have all enjoyed spells in the top 100 of the world rankings at various stages of their careers.