Zhao Xintong and Marco Fu reach European Masters last 32 after travel problems hit tournament

ByEurosport

Published 13/08/2022 at 09:40 GMT

Chinese trio Li Hang, Chang Bingyu and Lei Peifan have all been forced to withdraw from the European Masters in the German city of Furth next week due to visa issues. Zhao Xintong, Marco Fu and Scott Donaldson all progressed to the last 32 of the event after being handed byes by tournament organisers World Snooker Tour.

UK champion Zhao Xintong, Marco Fu and Scott Donaldson have progressed to the last 32 of the European Masters in Furth after a series of visa issues hit the German event.

Their respective opponents, Li Hang, Chang Bingyu and Lei Peifan, have all been forced to withdraw from the season's second ranking tournament (16-21 August LIVE on discovery+ and Eurosport) due to travel problems.

World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has already announced he will not be travelling to Germany due to medical reasons.

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Judd Trump has the chance to overtake O'Sullivan as world No. 1 ahead of the British Open next month if he can reach the final of the European Masters.

A run to the final would guarantee the Turkish Masters champion at least £35,000 as the runner-up with the winner picking up £80,000.

Any of those scenarios would be enough for Trump – who opens his campaign against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh of Thailand on Tuesday – to lead the standings a decade after first reaching the top spot.

A place in the European Masters semi-finals would only be worth £17,500 leaving O'Sullivan safe at the top before the British Open in Milton Keynes next month (26 September-2 October).

‘Bigger and better things!’ - Zhao seals UK Championship with another flourish

• Fan holds nerve to beat O’Sullivan in decider and win European Masters
• Top 10 shots of 2021/22: No. 1 – Trump's brilliant positional play seals key victory

World No. 3 Mark Selby has the chance to close the gap on Trump in second spot if he can win a second European Masters title in three years with Masters holder Neil Robertson opting out of the tournament.

Selby plays his opening match against talented Chinese player Yuan Sijun.

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