Northern Ireland Open snooker 2021: Ricky Walden continues scoring form with win over Fraser Patrick, Joe Perry loses

ByEurosport

Updated 26/08/2021 at 12:26 GMT

Ricky Walden has lost none of the scoring form that saw him reach the quarter-finals of the British Open last week. The three-times ranking event winner lost to Mark Williams after defeating John Higgins in the third round, but booked his spot in the last 64 of the Northern Ireland Open with a 4-1 win over Fraser Patrick in the qualifying round in Leicester.

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Ricky Walden picked up from where he left off at last week's British Open in a 4-1 win over Fraser Patrick on Wednesday in the qualifying round of the Northern Ireland Open in Leicester.

The three-times ranking event winner lost 4-3 to champion Mark Williams in the quarter-finals of the season's second ranking event in Leicester, but has put that defeat quickly behind him.

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Walden produced breaks of 57, 81, 58 and 62 in a polished performance against the world number 112 Scotsman that helped him reach the last 64 and the televised stages of the Belfast event.

World number 41 Robert Milkins ran out a 4-0 victory against 1995 world finalist Nigel Bond with the highlight of his performance producing a 95 run in the third frame.

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

Former Masters finalist Joe Perry suffered an early exit in losing 4-2 to Oliver Lines.

Perry made 113 in the second frame and 52 in the fourth, but could not stave off defeat with the world number 69 compiling 76, 117 and 73 to progress to the last 64.

It has been a slow start to the campaign for the world number 21 Perry, who has also suffered elimination in the first round at the Championship League and British Open.

But there was a better outcome for former Northern Ireland Open winner Mark King, who completed a 4-1 win over Li Hang in his qualifying match.