Northern Ireland Open snooker 2021: David Gilbert makes fine start in win over Ian Burns, David Grace beats Jimmy White

ByEurosport

Updated 27/08/2021 at 14:39 GMT

Championship League winner David Gilbert completed a 4-0 win over Ian Burns in the qualifying round of the Northern Ireland Open at Leicester's Morningside Arena. Gilbert reached the televised stage in Belfast with breaks of 116, 108 and 52 in a performance that illustrated his formidable scoring power.

Fluke of the tournament so far? Gilbert gets huge slice of luck

David Gilbert enjoyed a 4-0 win over world number 102 Ian Burns to reach the last 64 of the Northern Ireland Open boosted by two centuries on Friday.

The former Crucible semi-finalist has made a bright start to the new season by winning his first ranking event at the Championship League and being edged out 4-3 by Gary Wilson in the quarter-finals of the British Open last week.

The world number 18 claimed a tight first frame against Burns before breaks of 52, 116 and 108 helped Gilbert progress to the last 64 of the televised stage at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

Northern Ireland Open

'Luck with brilliance' - Allen gets another huge fluke in final

00:00:31

23/10/2022 at 20:53

World number 97 Louis Heathcote closed with a 73 break in a 4-3 win over Craig Steadman, a player ranked one place lower.

Heathcote also made runs of 55 and 65 to lead 2-0 and 3-2 with his opponent rolling in 52, 78 and a 107 before Leicester's Heathcote claimed the decider to advance.

Six-times world runner-up Jimmy White toiled in a 4-0 defeat to world number 58 David Grace, who opened with a 57 and a 67 on his route to the last 64.

Shots recreated: Jimmy White takes on Jordan Brown's stunning positional shot

Liam Highfield completed a 4-1 win over women's world champion Reanne Evans with breaks of 54, 86 and 77 enough to help the former Indian Open quarter-finalist through to the tournament proper.

Matches involving the world's top 16 will be held over until the televised stage at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast with the Northern Ireland Open staged between 9-17 October LIVE on Eurosport as Judd Trump defends his title.