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European Masters 2022 snooker - Mark Williams prevails after Yan Bingtao surges through along with Judd Trump

Paul Hassall

Updated 18/08/2022 at 20:56 GMT

There are more big names in action at the 2022 European Masters despite Mark Selby crashing out. Favourite Judd Trump takes to the baize as well as Yan Bingtao and Mark Williams. Elsewhere, Jack Lisowski, Kyren Wilson and Shaun Murphy continue their campaigns at the Stadthalle Furth in Furth in the second ranking event of the season.

Trump sinks 118 century en route to victory at European Masters

SEE YOU ON DAY 4

Well have both the last 16 AND quarter final matches on Friday in what will be a pure snooker-fest of a day. Be sure to join us again for all of the action.

AROUND THE TABLES

  • Daniel Wells 5-2 Gary Wilson - RESULT
  • Chris Wakelin 3-5 Shaun Murphy - RESULT
  • Jimmy Robertson 2-5 Kyren Wilson - RESULT
  • Mark Williams 5-3 Dominic Dale - RESULT
  • Jack Lisowski 1-5 Zhou Yuelong – RESULT

RESULT - WILLIAMS 5-3 DALE

The Potting Machine edges past the Spaceman in the battle of the veteran Welshmen.
Williams steps in to slip home a red to the middle right after Dale had failed with a long red to the yellow pocket. The world No.7 doesn’t look back from there, cruising through a 71 clearance to set up a last 16 clash with Zhou Yuelong.

WILLIAMS 4-3 DALE (41-11)

Dominic slots in a red to the middle left and duly sets about trying to force a deciding frame. However, his inability to develop promising breaks into significantly big ones proves his undoing again. He ends on 11 on this occasion and he knows he can’t afford any slip up with his safety from here. Any error could be fatal.

WILLIAMS 4-3 DALE (41-0)

Ouch. Williams looks to be in match-clinching mode with a break of 36 but misjudges a red to the bottom right that he rarely fails to sink. Lifeline for Dale…

WILLIAMS 4-3 DALE (5-0)

Once again Dale looks to the heavens. He can’t make any inroads on Williams' opening break of five and leaves the door ajar for his opponent to build upon it.

AROUND THE TABLES

  • Daniel Wells 4-2 Gary Wilson
  • Chris Wakelin 3-4 Shaun Murphy
  • Jimmy Robertson 2-5 Kyren Wilson - RESULT
  • Mark Williams 4-3 Dominic Dale
  • Jack Lisowski 1-5 Zhou Yuelong – RESULT

WILLIAMS 4-3 DALE

There’s some cheeky but good-natured banter between the two Welshman as they show real sportsmanship despite the significance of the next few shots.
Inevitably, it’s Williams who stays more composed and he cuts the pink into the green pocket to finally clinch the frame and move within one of victory.

WILLIAMS 3-3 DALE (60-57)

Another twist! Dale tucks in the blue over the middle right pocket but then twitches on a pink to the bottom left. Does anyone want to win this frame?!

WILLIAMS 3-3 DALE (60-52)

Williams eats into Dale’s lead, rolling home the remaining reds before easing next to what seems to be the crunch shot of the frame. He shows nerves of steel to glide home a green tight to the baulk cushion but then miscues on the more make-able blue with the frame almost in the bag.

WILLIAMS 3-3 DALE (5-52)

It could well be one of those matches for Dominic. He again threatens to take control but fluffs a red near the bottom cushion on a break of 24. Could nerves be a factor at such a key moment in the match?

WILLIAMS 3-3 DALE (5-28)

Dale takes control of the proceedings and saunters to a break of 24 before somehow failing with a routine pink to the middle left. Williams expects to be on a red – but incredibly he isn’t! Dale probably deserves that slice of luck after that shocker with the cue ball earlier in the frame.

WILLIAMS 3-3 DALE (4-4)

How’s your luck? Not great if your name is Dominic Dale. He corks home a long red to the bottom right corner but can only watch on in horror as the cue ball goes AWOL straight into the middle right pocket. It didn’t look possible, but the lack of a white ball on the table says it certainly was!

WILLIAMS 3-3 DALE (0-4)

Williams misses the edge of a red isolated from the pack to the left side of the table. It’s a surprising error and opens the door for his opponent after a lengthy stalemate at the start of Frame 7.

WILLIAMS 3-3 DALE

A break of 42 is good enough for Dale to reach parity. Williams will feel he should have made more of his chances there but will simply reset and set about trying to edge what is now effectively a best of three for a place in the last 16.

WILLIAMS 3-2 DALE (14-32)

More Woe for Williams. He spies a plant to create a real opportunity but fails to roll a pink into the middle right. Dale is back in and will surely level the match from here...

WILLIAMS 3-2 DALE (10-32)

Dale produces a lovely plant and demonstrates some excellent potting, but he again comes up short in terms of maintaining position over a longer period of play. He clocks up a tidy 28 but Williams will feel he can still edge this frame from here.

WILLIAMS 3-2 DALE (10-4)

Williams coughs up a foul that Dale can’t exploit. There’s a long red up the right for the No.7 seed but he fails to exploit the reprieve and we are back in a scrappy spell once more.

WILLIAMS 3-2 DALE (10-0)

Williams goes on the offensive once more, tickling a red to the middle right before demonstrating supreme control with a long red to the bottom left via the rest. Despite his fine play, the table doesn’t offer much more and he retreats to baulk.

WILLIAMS 3-2 DALE

Williams finds his mojo at an opportune moment after an avoidable safety error from his compatriot. The 47-year-old notches up a frame-winning break of 58 that ends on the final red as it refuses to wriggle beyond the jaws of the bottom left pocket.

WILLIAMS 2-2 DALE (20-1)

The world No.7 chalks off another red but then fails to guide a slow blue into the yellow pocket. It’s been a bit of a grind for Mark despite that imperious 135 break earlier. That has been the exception so far tonight in what has otherwise been a very scrappy contest.

WILLIAMS 2-2 DALE (19-1)

Dale rakes a long pot into the bottom left pocket after threading the eye of a needle past a number of obstacles. It earns him a well-deserved round of applause, but it doesn’t lead to a break building opportunity. Instead he plays a deft safety in-behind the yellow to leave Williams reaching for his thinking cap.

WILLIAMS 2-2 DALE (19-0)

Williams continues to threaten to really ignite, but can’t quite hit the heights his game is more than capable of achieving on a regular basis here.
A break of 19 stops right there as he loses the roll of the cue ball up to the top left side of the table.

AROUND THE TABLES

  • Daniel Wells 3-1 Gary Wilson
  • Chris Wakelin 2-2 Shaun Murphy
  • Jimmy Robertson 2-2 Kyren Wilson
  • Mark Williams 2-2 Dominic Dale
  • Jack Lisowski 1-3 Zhou Yuelong

WILLIAMS 2-2 DALE

Williams heads into the interval still ruing that miss on the black. He could have been 3-1 up but is instead tied at 2-2 after Dale brilliantly took advantage of his lapse by upping his game at just the right time. The world No.60 misses a red down the left side to the bottom corner, but it matters little following an excellent break of 74. It’s just the right response to Williams’ century and means he remains firmly in the hunt in this all-Welsh affair.

WILLIAMS 2-1 DALE (17-0)

The Welsh Potting Machine threatens to run riot as he takes charge early in Frame 4. He squeezes a red to the bottom right but then blows a very make-able black to the opposite corner. The break ends on 17 and Williams continues to shake his head in frustration as he settles back into his seat.

WILLIAMS 2-1 DALE

The three-time world champion cranks it up a couple of notches and lays down a real statement of intent with his best snooker of the night so far.
There’s an impressive pace to both his decision-making and his shot-making as he rattles through an outstanding 135 break that just comes up short of a clearance when the cue ball takes a nick off the mouth of the right pocket and makes the black an almost impossible task.

AROUND THE TABLES

  • Daniel Wells 1-1 Gary Wilson
  • Chris Wakelin 1-1 Shaun Murphy
  • Jimmy Robertson 1-1 Kyren Wilson
  • Mark Williams 1-1 Dominic Dale
  • Jack Lisowski 0-2 Zhou Yuelong

WILLIAMS 1-1 DALE

Williams eventually edges another scrappy frame with a break of 14 to get on the board and level. Neither player has settled on this table as of yet and the consistency with shot-making has not been there at all.

WILLIAMS 0-1 DALE (57-18)

Dale seizes upon the reprieve but can only muster a break of 14 before running out of options. A loose safety leaves him smiling ruefully once more, but it isn’t enough to hand Williams complete control, although he remains firmly in the driving seat given the score.

WILLIAMS 0-1 DALE (57-4)

Dale grins sheepishly as he inexplicably nudges the white ball while cueing. It’s a foul and another poor error from his point of view. Williams jumps all over the opportunity as he drills a long red to the green pocket before seeing a break of 29 end when another make-able black fails to drop.

WILLIAMS 0-1 DALE (24-4)

Williams does get the benefit of his positive play and works his way to a break of 20 before wincing as a routine red to the bottom left corner jiggles the jaws of the pocket and stays out.

WILLIAMS 0-1 DALE (4-4)

After a spell of cagey safety, Williams offers up a similar error as he misses the edge of the top red in the pack trying to move the cue ball back to baulk.
The balls are clustered together and a lengthy frame looks on the cards as Dale can’t take advantage.
Williams looks to break the impasse with a bold strike into the pack that spreads the reds while dragging the white back to baulk. Will fortune favour the brave on this occasion?

WILLIAMS 0-1 DALE (4-0)

The Spaceman rolls his eyes and looks to the skies. He gifts Williams an early foul by failing to gauge the pace of the cue ball as he tried to roll into the pack of reds. He’ll need to cut errors like that out if he’s to go on and pull off the shock tonight.

WILLIAMS 0-1 DALE

Dale chips in another six but can’t quite get it done at this visit. Williams fails make any inroads and allows his opponent back in for the kill. A red to the bottom right is followed by a black to the same corner. The 50-year-old mops up the final red and then pots the white with an unfortunate rebound off sinking another black.
Williams does the number-crunching from his seat and quickly comes to the conclusion it’s not worth returning despite the foul.
It took a fair bit of scrapping, but Dale eventually gets off to the perfect start.

WILLIAMS 0-0 DALE (14-44)

Williams showcases some exceptional cue-action with a long red to the bottom left with the cue ball tight to the baulk cushion. The world No.7 looks ready to close out the frame but after sinking the blue to the middle left he gets unlucky with a ricochet off two reds while despatching one to the left corner. He considers his options for over a minute before trying to land a safety behind the green just to the right of baulk. He fails with a first attempt but Dale puts him back in following the foul and this time he makes it. It could have been over, but the frame remains in the balance for now.

WILLIAMS 0-0 DALE (7-40)

Dale ends a run of complex safety play with a sizzling pot down the left cushion, cutting a long red into the bottom corner. Once again though, there’s little on offer as a reward and he can’t really add to his advantage.

WILLIAMS 0-0 DALE (7-39)

The Welsh potting machine lives up to his nickname with a controlled long pot to the bottom left - but that’s as good as it gets. With little on offer without an element of risk, he chooses a safety by tucking the cue ball behind the black.

WILLIAMS 0-0 DALE (6-39)

Oops! Dale misses the right edge of the red furthest right and gets an unfortunate clip off the blue on the way back up the table. It’s a poor error, but the balls are bunched close to the bottom cushion and means Williams can’t easily take advantage. He’s going to need to dig out a decent long pot to make things happen…

WILLIAMS 0-0 DALE (1-39)

Dale gets his eye in by rolling a red to the bottom right and sets about building a commanding lead via some clinical potting off the pink. He runs out of position a tad too early with seven reds remaining and opts for the safety of baulk following a break of 38.

WILLIAMS 0-0 DALE (1-1)

Rusty stuff. Williams follows Dale in his failure to back-up a promising long, red pot with a miss on a colour. This time the yellow evades the pocket and the world No.60 is back at the table faster than he would have anticipated.

WILLIAMS 0-0 DALE (0-1)

Dale opens the ‘Welsh derby’ with a cracker of a long red to the bottom right corner but can’t follow up with a similarly eye-catching blue that refuses the temptation of a place in the green pocket. It’s just the one with a couple of reds available for Williams to respond.

TRUMP TRIUMPHS TO REACH THE LAST 16

Earlier, two-time champion Judd Trump beat Andrew Higginson 5-3 to set up a clash with Farakh Ajaib. Read Alasdair Mackenzie's match report here.
picture

Trump's masterful century clearance seals win over Higginson

18:55 – WELCOME BACK TO FURTH

It’s time for the evening action with Mark Williams taking the spotlight. The 47-year-old meets his compatriot Dominic Dale, who is very much the outsider to prevail given his world ranking of 60. Indeed, the man nicknamed the ‘Spaceman’ may well need an out-of-this-world performance to stun the Welsh potting machine.

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JOIN US AGAIN AT 19.00 BST

We’ve got more round three action from the European Masters in Furth later this evening with three-time world champion Mark Williams taking centre stage against his compatriot Dominic Dale.
Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson and Jack Lisowski also feature, so be sure to tune into Eurosport 2 while following our live text updates right here.
This evening's line-up:
  • Daniel Wells v Gary Wilson
  • Chris Wakelin v Shaun Murphy
  • Jimmy Robertson v Kyren Wilson
  • Mark Williams v Dominic Dale
  • Jack Lisowski v Zhou Yuelong

AROUND THE TABLES

  • Scott Donaldson 2-4 Ryan Day
  • Judd Trump 5-3 Andrew Higginson - RESULT
  • Stuart Carrington 1-5 Barry Hawkins - RESULT
  • Robert Milkins 4-4 Zhao Xintong
  • Jamie Jones 5-1 Mark Joyce - RESULT

RESULT - TRUMP 5-3 HIGGINSON

It does prove costly. As he escapes a snooker, Higginson can’t hide the cue ball away from a red over the bottom right pocket and Trump takes charge.
The world No.2 finds his mojo when it really matters as he saves his best for last with a masterful century clearance (103) to progress to the last 16. The two-time champion will face Farakh Ajaib next.

TRUMP 4-3 HIGGINSON (1-4)

Interesting choice…. Trump is first on the board with a red following a cagey opening, but then fails to reach the rear of the yellow with an attempted snooker up to baulk. Higginson asks for him to take the shot again and this time the Juddernaut snares the snooker. The Eurosport commentary team cannot understand why the Widnes Warrior gave his opponent another shot at it. Will it prove costly?

AROUND THE TABLES

  • Scott Donaldson 2-3 Ryan Day
  • Judd Trump 4-3 Andrew Higginson
  • Stuart Carrington 1-4 Barry Hawkins
  • Robert Milkins 4-3 Zhao Xintong
  • Jamie Jones 4-1 Mark Joyce

TRUMP 4-3 HIGGINSON

That’s an excellent break of 66 to prolong this contest. Higginson has produced an excellent potting streak on two occasions in this match to highlight that he does have it in his locker. The frustration for him is that he’s had numerous chances to do it more often without producing the goods.
Still, it’s better late than never and Trump still has work to do to avoid this potential banana skin.

TRUMP 4-2 HIGGINSON (20-9)

The pattern continues with both players getting plenty of chances to make a mark at the table – but failing. Trump conjures up a 20 but can’t put the match beyond his opponent. Higginson remains in the hunt for now.

TRUMP 4-2 HIGGINSON (0-9)

There’s a gasp of dismay from a person in the crowd as Higginson fails to sink a make-able black to the bottom left corner. It abruptly ends his opening break at 9 and pretty much sums up why he hasn’t been able to take advantage of a below-par Trump this afternoon.

TRUMP 4-2 HIGGINSON

It’s just the one red for Trump but it proves key as he tucks the cue ball tight behind the yellow and brown. Higginson needs a snooker but contrives to clip the black trying to wriggle out of danger.
He concedes the frame and Trump is now one away from victory.

TRUMP 3-2 HIGGINSON (67-17)

Frame on? Higginson cuts into that Trump lead with a tidy break to 17. There are three reds remaining but Higginson’s safety isn’t top-notch and Judd has a real opportunity to finish it off now…

TRUMP 3-2 HIGGINSON (67-0)

That’s the response of a champion. The Juddernaut produces his best break of the match, opening with a long red to the bottom right and then taking his pot success via the rest to 5 out of 5.
He looks well on course to clinch it on this visit but blinks on frame ball when a red to the middle left refuses to go down. The world No.2 remains the heavy favourite to take a 4-2 lead but will be frustrated it’s not job done already.

TRUMP 3-2 HIGGINSON

The Eurosport cameras cut to a pensive Trump as he concedes the frame.
Higginson fails with a red from mid-table to the bottom right but it follows a break of 40 that proves just enough.
Can the two-time champion find another gear to get the job done or will the Widnes underdog really set alarm bells ringing in the upcoming frames?

TRUMP 3-1 HIGGINSON (5-28)

It remains scrappy. Higginson chips in a break of 16 but it’s very much anyone’s frame.
Andrew may well live to rue the amount of chances he’s failed to make the most of today.

TRUMP 3-1 HIGGINSON (5-12)

Trump continues to play well below his best as he again fails to build anything significant with an over-cut on a simple black to the bottom right.

TRUMP 3-1 HIGGINSON (0-12)

Higginson returns from the interval with some real intent as he scorches a long red to bottom right in style. He’s unlucky not to split the pack more with a delightful red to the bottom left and eventually runs out of luck as another long red to the green pocket hits the left jaw and stays out.

AROUND THE TABLES

  • Scott Donaldson 1-1 Ryan Day
  • Judd Trump 3-1 Andrew Higginson
  • Stuart Carrington 0-3 Barry Hawkins
  • Robert Milkins 3-1 Zhao Xintong
  • Jamie Jones 3-0 Mark Joyce

TRUMP 3-1 HIGGINSON

It’s not to be for the man from Widnes. Judd fizzes down the final red and adds another break of 10 to move within two frames of victory.

TRUMP 2-1 HIGGINSON (66-20)

The two-time champion takes full of advantage of a very open table to all-but restore his two-frame lead heading into the interval. He’s faced with the option of two reds close to the left cushion as he looks to seal it at this visit, and he coolly glides the more tricky of two into the bottom left. He can’t sink the final one and Higginson returns to the table needing snookers. It seems likely he’ll concede soon…

TRUMP 2-1 HIGGINSON (17-20)

The Eurosport commentary team are describing this match as scrappy after Higginson can only chalk up a six. They aren’t wrong. That’s exactly the word to attribute to this match so far with both players having numerous opportunities without really showing enough of a killer instinct.

TRUMP 2-1 HIGGINSON (17-14)

It’s just not quite firing for Trump so far today. Whenever he looks on the verge of building something substantial, he comes up short. On this occasion a long red to the green pocket never looks like finding its target and his break ends on 17.

TRUMP 2-1 HIGGINSON (0-14)

Andrew rides the wave of euphoria into the start of frame 4 but can’t engineer another frame-winning break on this occasion. The message has been clearly sent to Trump though; he must improve or Higginson has got the weapons to make life very difficult for him.

TRUMP 2-1 HIGGINSON

The Widnes Warrior finally seizes the moment. He revels in a large ripple of applause after cutting a brilliant long red to the bottom right. It provides the platform for the best break of the match as he produces a 98 with some bewitching shot-making.
A century looked on when he beautifully nudged the blue off the left cushion into a potable position but he came up short on the clearance when he failed to find the angle on the black to the bottom left.

TRUMP 2-0 HIGGINSON (18-0)

Déjà vu. Trump is quickly back at the table but once again can’t ignite to build a frame-winning lead. Higginson gets another look, but can he finally take advantage of Trump’s travails?

AROUND THE TABLES

  • Scott Donaldson 0-1 Ryan Day
  • Judd Trump 2-0 Andrew Higginson
  • Stuart Carrington 0-2 Barry Hawkins
  • Robert Milkins 1-0 Zhao Xintong
  • Jamie Jones 2-0 Mark Joyce


TRUMP 2-0 HIGGINSON (9-0)

If you are looking for a masterclass in break building, then this isn’t the match for you. Trump is first to score with a routine red to the yellow pocket but he can’t move beyond double figures as a simple black to the bottom left refuses to sink.

TRUMP 2-0 HIGGINSON

Higginson glides in the red but then misses a black to the bottom right. He’s had enough at this point and concedes the frame. Trump is two up but his opponent has had some big opportunities.

TRUMP 1-0 HIGGINSON (66-24)

Job done? Not quite. Trump fails to slot away the final red to the green pocket and his bitty display continues. The break of 22 leaves Higginson needing snookers but the Widnes Warrior will continue for now...

TRUMP 1-0 HIGGINSON (44-24)

More misery for Andrew. He tucks away a red that earns him some morale-boosting applause but then blows a pink to the middle left. That will surely be curtains for his hopes in this frame.

TRUMP 1-0 HIGGINSON (44-23)

It’s been very patchy out there from both players. Trump blows a very make-able pink to the bottom right and can only muster 16 to add to his tally.

TRUMP 1-0 HIGGINSON (28-23)

Ouch. Higginson appears to lack confidence throughout what turns out to be a break of 15. He runs out of position quickly and is well off in his attempt to slot away a red to the bottom left via the rest.

TRUMP 1-0 HIGGINSON (28-8)

Just as Trump appears to be finding his rhythm he runs out of position and is forced to try and cut a red to the bottom right in an attempt to break up some of the pack. The red refuses to drop and after a dance with the jaws of the pocket, it wriggles free to conclude a break of 28.

TRUMP 1-0 HIGGINSON (0-8)

Once again Higginson strikes first but he can’t do much beyond a red-black combo and his disappointing attempt at a safety leaves the door open for his opponent.

TRUMP 1-0 HIGGINSON

Trump wobbles the yellow into the bottom left but then misses the green. Higginson returns to the table despite needing snookers. It merely delays the inevitable as Trump slaps in the green to leave Higginson needing an act of Houdini proportions. The Juddernaut misfires on the brown but this time Higginson remains seated and Trump is up and running despite being far from his best.

TRUMP 0-0 HIGGINSON (61-29)

That should be that. Trump produces a delightful snooker that leaves the cue ball behind the green with the yellow way down the table by the left cushion. Higginson duly fouls and there’s a simple pot on the cards for the world No.2 to the bottom left. Surely he’ll finish the job this time?

TRUMP 0-0 HIGGINSON (57-29)

The Juddernaut isn’t quite firing just yet. He misses a black to the bottom right he’d normally make in his sleep to prematurely end a break on 23.
Lifeline for Higginson.

TRUMP 0-0 HIGGINSON (34-29)

A face-off of safety ensues with Trump eventually blinking first to halt the impasse. Higginson corks a red up to the brown pocket and slots away the reds close to a tricky pink down by the bottom left pocket. He then inexplicably misses a red to the bottom right to come up short on 13 and give Trump a huge opportunity to clinch the opener from here.

TRUMP 0-0 HIGGINSON (34-16)

Judd works his way down from baulk to prey nicely upon the black and build a decent lead. Sadly for him the break ends on 34 as he nudges the cue ball too close to a cluster of three reds. Still anyone's frame at this juncture.

TRUMP 0-0 HIGGINSON (0-16)

Higginson gets back in straight away but somehow contrives to miss an easy brown to the green pocket and offers Trump a chance to take charge after adding just the one point to the board.

TRUMP 0-0 HIGGINSON (0-15)

The Widnes Warrior is going to have to hit some real heights to pull off a shock here and he makes a promising start. He nails a long red to the bottom left pocket before teasing a blue into the middle left. A solid break looks to be underway but he gets too much backspin on a red to the bottom right that leaves him far too close to the black. He refuses to take it on and opts for the safety up to baulk.

H2H

This will be their 13th meeting with Trump rarely troubled in securing 10 victories from 12. Indeed, the world No.2 eased to a 4-0 win in the first round of the Gibraltar Open back in March this year and hasn’t lost to Higginson since 2011.

THURSDAY’S RESULTS SO FAR

It was a busy morning at the Stadthalle with Yan Bingato looking particularly strong in his 5-0 rout of Ricky Walden. Elsewhere, there was a tense final-frame shoot-out between Ali Carter and Stuart Bingham with the Captain prevailing 5-4 courtesy of an excellent 103 break in the decider.
  • Si Jiahui 5-3 Xiao Guodong
  • Wu Yize 5-0 Rory McLeod
  • Ali Carter 5-4 Stuart Bingham
  • David Grace 5-0 Jackson Page
  • Farakh Ajaib 5-3 Marco Fu
  • Ricky Walden 0-5 Yan Bingtao

14:25 – WELCOME BACK TO FURTH

The third round action continues this afternoon with two-time winner Judd Trump facing the Widnes Warrior, Andrew Higginson. The 2007 Welsh Open runner-up will have his work cut out to try and secure an upset with the Juddernaut looking pretty sharp so far in his quest for a third title at the tournament.
The first man to five frames will progress.

Count me in! Murphy up for Strictly

Shaun Murphy dazzled the European Masters crowd on Wednesday, and not just because he enjoyed a 5-3 win over Zhang Anda.
The 2005 world champion opted for a bit of sparkle in his suit trousers, and admitted it was fun to show a bit of personality given the restrictions around snooker outfits.
He also offered a tongue-in-cheek (or perhaps not?) plea to the producers of Strictly Come Dancing in the process…
Read the full interview here.

Thursday's schedule

10.00 BST
  • Si Jiahui v Xiao Guodong
  • Wu Yize v Rory McLeod
  • Ali Carter v Stuart Bingham
  • David Grace v Jackson Page
  • Farakh Ajaib v Marco Fu
  • Ricky Walden v Yan Bingtao
14.30 BST
  • Scott Donaldson v Ryan Day
  • Judd Trump v Andrew Higginson
  • Stuart Carrington v Barry Hawkins
  • Robert Milkins v Zhao Xintong
  • Jamie Jones v Mark Joyce
19.00 BST
  • Daniel Wells v Gary Wilson
  • Chris Wakelin v Shaun Murphy
  • Jimmy Robertson v Kyren Wilson
  • Mark Williams v Dominic Dale
  • Jack Lisowski v Zhou Yuelong
- -
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