Haikou World Open Day 3

Ding Junhui pulled out another comeback to beat Pankaj
Advani from 4-2 down. Image: World Snooker

Local favourite Ding Junhui pulled out an impressive comeback as he overturned a 4-2 deficit to defeat fellow Star Academy player Pankaj Advani. Breaks of 86 and 74 sent the Indian player to within a frame of victory but just as he did against Joel Walker in the Welsh Open quarter-finals, Ding won the last three with runs of 52, 136 and 86 to secure a spot in the last 16.

Ding will face Shaun Murphy on Thursday evening after the Sale potter beat Mark King with ease, with breaks of 62, 67 and 75 helping him to a 5-1 win.

Another top player to need a final frame decider to progress was Judd Trump who defeated Matthew Stevens in a low-quality affair in the evening session. Trump really struggled during the match and Stevens had chances to put him away but didn’t, which allowed Trump to nick the match, with a highest break of only 49. Next up for Judd is John Higgins who whitewashed Welsh potter Michael White, with top runs of 50 and 58.

Mark Joyce continued his impressive run in this year’s Haikou World Open as he booked his place in the last 16, with a 5-4 win over world number four Barry Hawkins. Crucible finalist Hawkins looked set for a comfortable victory at 4-2 up but Wallsall potter Joyce hit runs of 65, 68 and 72 to pull out an impressive victory.

Joyce will play Kurt Maflin on Thursday as he pulled out another impressive win as he beat Ali Carter 5-2. The Norwegian-based player hit top breaks of 129, 110 and 80 on course to victory.

Alan McManus also beat one of the top tournament seeds on Wednesday as he defeated Robert Milkins 5-3. A big turning point was in the fifth frame when Milkins was 3-1 up, but McManus nicked it on the final black, before winning the next three to secure the win. He plays Dominic Dale in the next round after he defeated world number six Stuart Bingham.

Breaks of 111 and 116 upped Neil Robertson’s century tally this season to 91 as he beat Rory McLeod 5-1. Next up for Robbo is Marco Fu, after the Hong Kong player beat Michael Holt 5-3, with top runs of 75 and 104.

Mark Selby is also through to the last 16 after he beat Noppon Saengkham 5-2, thanks to top breaks of 123 and 76. Selby will play Liang Wenbo in the next round after he beat Mark Davis 5-3.

Ricky Walden on Thursday after the Chester man beat Ken Dohert 5-1. Mark Allen progressed with a 5-3 win over Mark Williams and will take on Graeme Dott will play Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in last 16, after he beat Ryan Day 5-2, with the Thai player defeating Andrew Higginson 5-1.