Judd Trump has made it through to the last 16 of the Gibraltar Open after emerging from his three opening ties unscathed on Saturday.
As a result, the world champion remains in the hunt to snatch the £150,000 European Series bonus.
To land the jackpot, Trump needs the £50,000 champion’s cheque in Gibraltar to usurp Neil Robertson at the top of the European Series mini rankings list.
The world number one would also become the first player ever to claim six ranking titles in a single season if he were to succeed on Sunday.
Trump overcame Lee Prickman, Igor Figueiredo, and Martin O’Donnell to reach the fourth round at the Europa Point Sports Complex.
The 30 year-old will face Li Hang for a place in the quarter-finals as the competition reaches its conclusion this weekend.
After the top half of the draw was whittled down on Friday, with the likes of Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson advancing, the remaining section undertook their opening stages on Saturday.
Two amateurs managed to take advantage of a weakened field – following several withdrawals due to the coronavirus outbreak – with Rory McLeod and Ashley Hugill progressing.
McLeod will face Jimmy Robertson while WSF Open champion Hugill is set to challenge Liang Wenbo.
Tom Ford and Xiao Guodong were the other two competitors to make it through to the last day.
The Gibraltar Open continues this weekend despite widespread cancellations in the world of sport recently.
A decision was made to play the remainder of the tournament behind closed doors, but several fixtures were contested under farcical conditions on Saturday with a lack of referees resulting in some players having to officiate their own matches.
Table 1 has a ref and a marker yet outside tables players being asked to share germs and pick each other’s balls out the pockets…. please something isn’t right 😂😂 I categorically refuse to pick a ball out for an opponent.
— Alfie Burden (@ABOFLONDON) March 14, 2020
Travel restrictions could make it difficult for several players to make it back to the UK or their respective homes.
The Tour Championship is scheduled to start on Tuesday with the top eight in the one-year rankings list qualifying to compete.
Williams, Wilson, and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh could all force their way into contention for Llandudno by winning the title on Sunday.
Whether that event, or indeed next month’s World Snooker Championship, ends up actually going ahead remains the obvious doubt.
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