Luca Brecel is on course for another good week on the baize after beating Pang Junxu 4-3 to reach the last 16 of the Scottish Open in Llandudno.
The Belgian Bullet is responding well to the disappointment of missing out on glory in the UK Championship on Sunday, when he lost 10-5 to Zhao Xintong in the final in York.
Brecel hasn’t produced anywhere near the kind of form this week in the Scottish Open as what he conjured last week at the Barbican, but the 26 year-old has momentum on his side.
Pang won two frames on the bounce to force a tense decider in which both players had opportunities, but Brecel finally progressed on the colours.
Brecel will face Fergal O’Brien next after the Irishman outplayed British Open runner-up Gary Wilson for a 4-1 triumph, with a berth in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Open at stake.
Meanwhile, defending champion Mark Selby extended his unbeaten streak in the event to 17 after a 4-2 defeat of Xiao Guodong at the Venue Cymru.
The reigning world champion will face Anthony McGill, who won three out of the last four frames to secure a 4-3 victory over Jimmy Robertson.
McGill’s fellow Scotsman Stephen Maguire is also in the last 16 after a 4-0 bagel of Tom Ford, with the world number 12 set to entertain Ben Woollaston in the next round.
Ronnie O’Sullivan will continue to feature as well after a tight encounter with Liang Wenbo concluded with a barrage of heavy scoring.
After O’Sullivan hit a century break to lead 3-2, Liang responded in kind with a terrific 128 to force a decider, but despite the latter boasting the first opportunity it was the Rocket who advanced with a tidy run of 90.
Jamie Jones will be O’Sullivan’s upcoming challenge, with the Welshman advancing in similar fashion thanks to a deciding-frame victory against Sam Craigie.
Judd Trump, John Higgins, Martin Gould, and Hossein Vafaei were among the players who won their second-round encounters earlier on day three.
Both Shaun Murphy and Yan Bingtao crashed out, however, following respective reverses against Li Hang and Hammad Miah.
Murphy’s loss means the Magician will definitely not qualify for next week’s World Grand Prix, with only the top 32 on the one-year rankings list guaranteed a spot in the draw.
On Thursday, the Scottish Open’s messy schedule continues with the conclusion of the third round followed by the completion of the last 16 as well.
Live coverage continues on Eurosport, Quest, and Matchroom.Live (selected territories).
Click here to view the draw (times: CET)
Featured photo credit: WST
Pingback: Luca Brecel Through to Last 16 in Scottish Open • Snooker Site