Grand exit for Ryder in New York

The world number 34 made the first round of the Tournament of Champions in New York after coming through a tough qualifying competition.

The 30-year-old beat US number two Gilly Lane 3-0 before overcoming New Zealand’s top-ranked player Martin Knight, also in straight games.

Ryder then took on Shahier Razik of Canada in the first round in front of a live television audience at Grand Central Station in New York.

A nervous start saw Ryder lose the first game before he bounced back to win the next two.

However, a change in tactics from Razik paid dividends as he emerged victorious in five.

Ryder followed his New York exit with a tough first-round tie at the Motor City Open in Michigan, where he was pitted against world number 25 Tarek Momen from Egypt.

It was a game Ryder was left wondering how he lost after every game went to a tie-break.

Momen was the man to hold his nerve, though, progressing with a 12/10, 12/10, 12/10 success.

Ryder is currenty in Halifax, Canada where he is competing in the Bluenose Classic.

You can follow his progress via twitter @cwryder