The Shanghai Masters qualifiers drew to a conclusion on Friday with 16 players reaching the last 32 later this month.
It was somewhat expected that, with the higher ranked competitors between 17 and 32 coming into the fourth and final qualifying round cold, there might be several coups for the lower seeded cueists who had already endured two or three contests this week in Barnsley.
However, that was not to be the case as for the most part the favoured players inside the world’s top 32 advanced from the Metrodome to China.
The notable exception to that rule was Mei Xiwen, who in only his second season as a professional won all four of his preliminaries including an impressive 5-0 drubbing of former world champion Graeme Dott at the last hurdle.
Jamie Jones, Stuart Carrington and Scott Donaldson also upset the odds but were made to work much harder for their 5-4 respective victories over Alan McManus, Luca Brecel and Peter Ebdon.
The day was not without its drama as an astonishing half of the 16 ties went the distance.
Former runner-up Liang Wenbo edged compatriot Zhang Anda on the final black to secure a 5-4 triumph and a return to his homeland.
Michael White and Jimmy Robertson went one better, going all the way to a re-spotted black in a thrilling final frame which was pinched by Wales’ White.
Ben Woollaston, Robert Milkins and Kurt Maflin each needed the full nine frames as well.
Meanwhile, the in-form Michael Holt knocked in the highest break of the week, a run of 136, in his more comprehensive 5-2 defeat of Mark King, while Stephen Maguire, consigned to the qualifiers after dropping out of the top 16 in the rankings, won by the same scoreline against Andrew Higginson.
It was easier still for Anthony McGill and Matthew Selt, who both recorded 5-0 wins in routs over Paul Davison and Hammad Miah respectively, while Martin Gould whitewashed Matthew Stevens too.
Elsewhere, there were routine victories for Ryan Day and David Gilbert.
The Shanghai Masters starts on the 19th of September.
