The European Masters snooker draw is down to its final 16 contenders at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
There is a mix of star pedigree, seasoned performers, and lower-ranked competitors left chasing the £80,000 top prize.
The in-form Neil Robertson became the latest big-name casualty when he crashed out in a high-quality thriller to Pang Junxu 5-4 on Thursday morning at the Marshall Arena.
It leaves Ronnie O’Sullivan as the overwhelming favourite for glory, with the Rocket one of just three top 16 players still in the competition.
O’Sullivan takes on Ashley Hugill this afternoon while Yan Bingtao and Anthony McGill encounter Fan Zhengyi and Kurt Maflin respectively.
Pang’s reward for ousting the recent Masters and Players Championship winner is a meeting with David Gilbert, who similarly edged Barry Hawkins in a deciding frame.
Elsewhere, reigning Welsh Open winner Jordan Brown clashes with former world champion Graeme Dott and there is a second all-Chinese fixture between Liang Wenbo and Yuan Sijun.
Thailand’s Sunny Akani, who admitted this week to depression as he continues to suffer from long Covid, takes on former ranking event winner Ryan Day, while Tom Ford plays Fraser Patrick.
By the end of Thursday’s action, the eight quarter-finalists will be determined as we near the business end of the eleventh ranking event of the campaign.
European Masters Snooker Draw
Last 16 (Scheduled times in GMT)
Jordan Brown vs Graeme Dott (Thurs, 2:30pm)
Sunny Akani vs Ryan Day (Thurs, 2:30pm)
Fan Zhengyi vs Yan Bingtao (Thurs, 2:30pm)
David Gilbert vs Pang Junxu (Thurs, 7pm)
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Ashley Hugill (Thurs, 2:30pm)
Fraser Patrick vs Tom Ford (Thurs, 7pm)
Liang Wenbo vs Yuan Sijun (Thurs, 7pm)
Anthony McGill vs Kurt Maflin (Thurs, 7pm)
Live coverage is available across Europe on Eurosport, with other options available around the world by clicking here.
Featured photo credit: WST
