Xiao edges Norwegian

The 22-year-old edged Norwegian Maflin 10-9 in a match of extraordinary quality, with both players scoring two centuries and five more half-centuries apiece before Xiao came through to set up a third qualifying round clash against Jimmy Robertson.

But there was disappointment for up-and-coming English star Liam Highfield, who lost 10-8 to Huddersfield's Kuldesh Johal. Johal will face Jack Lisowski in the next round.

Ben Woollaston also came through after a close-fought match before beating Jamie O'Neill 10-8, while Andrew Pagett beat China's Zhang Anda 10-6.

By comparison Michael White and Simon Bedford both cruised into the third round, beating Adam Wicheard 10-2 and Noppon Saengkham 10-3 respectively.

In the matches played to a conclusion in the afternoon session, Liu Chang beat David Gray 10-3, David Gilbert beat David Morris 10-8, Paul Davison beat Stephen Rowlings 10-5 and Patrick Wallace thrashed Del Smith 10-2.

All 10 victors must win two more matches to qualify for next month's televised stages at the Crucible.

Liu Chuang 10-3  David Gray
David Morris 8-10 David Gilbert
Paul Davison 10-5 Stephen Rowlings
Patrick Wallace  10-2 Del Smith
Michael White 10-2 Adam Wicheard
Liam Highfield 8-10 Kuldesh Johal
Simon Bedford 10-3 Noppon Saengkham
Ben Woollaston 10-8 Jamie O'Neill
Andrew Pagett 10 - 6 Zhang Anda
Xiao Guodong  10 - 9 Kurt Maflin