UK champion Mark Allen makes winning start to German Masters snooker qualifying, Neil Robertson and Zhao Xintong advance

ByEurosport

Updated 23/11/2022 at 08:28 GMT

Mark Allen began his quest for a third ranking title of the season with a 5-2 win against Peter Lines in German Masters qualifying. The UK and Northern Ireland Open champion made breaks of 115, 72 and 82 to secure a last-64 meeting with Zhao Jianbo. The last 32 qualify for the finals venue at the Tempodrom in Berlin between February 1-5, 2023, live on discovery+ and Eurosport.

Watch as Mark Allen plays incredible five-cushion escape in German Masters qualifying win

UK champion Mark Allen showed why he is snooker's in-form figure of the season with a comfortable 5-2 victory over Peter Lines in his opening German Masters qualifier.

Only two days after recovering from 6-1 behind to claim the UK Championship with a 10-7 win against DIng Junhui, the new world No. 5 travelled from York to Leicester's Morningside Arena to continue his winning form on Tuesday morning.

Allen showed his sharpness with a classy break of 115 in the second frame with Lines rolling in 51 to trail 2-1 before the Northern Ireland Open winner and British Open finalist moved 4-1 clear with further probing knocks of 71 and 82.

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World No. 74 Lines stayed alive with a run of 80, but a loose safety shot enabled Allen to pounce with a clearance of 57 to the pink in the seventh frame securing his spot in the last 64.

He will meet Zhao Jianbo, a 5-1 victor against Ashley Hugill, on Wednesday afternoon needing one more win to reach the final stages in Berlin.

Former Masters holder Yan Bingtao made a delightful break of 102 in the third frame of his 5-2 win over Rod Lawler, who recovered from 4-0 behind with a 101 and 57 before Yan finalised his progress with a closing 94.

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2020 German Masters finalist Neil Robertson eased to a 5-2 win over Bai Langning a week after his surprise 6-2 defeat to Joe Perry in the UK Championship last 32.

The 2010 world champion top scored with a break of 68 in the second frame and will next face Alexander Ursenbacher, who showed off his rapid break-building prowess in a 5-0 whitewash of Asjad Iqbal, concluding his day's work with 58, 124 and 102.

Defending champion Zhao Xintong will be in Berlin after running in two centuries in a 5-1 win against Muhammad Asif.

Zhao watched Asif win the opening frame with a break of 64, but efforts of 71, 108, 102 and 58 secured his trip to the German capital.

He will face Tom Ford in his first match at the venue after the Leicester professional enjoyed a 5-1 victory against 1997 world champion Ken Doherty boosted by three 50-plus breaks.

The last 32 qualify for the finals venue at the Tempodrom in Berlin between February 1-5, 2023, live on discovery+ and Eurosport.