Neil Robertson avoids chaos to cruise into Shenzhen Open snooker last sixteen

It was another busy programme of action at the Bao’an Sports Centre in Shenzhen, China on Tuesday as the round of 64 drew to a close and the last 32 began.

Amongst those securing a place in the last 16 from the evening session in the Far East was former World Champion Neil Robertson who completed a comfortable 5-1 victory over Lei Peifan.

Whilst all three members of the ‘Class of 92’ - Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Williams - world number one Zhao Xintong, and further Chinese home heroes Ding Junhui and Xiao Guodong were eliminated during the opening sessions of these televised stages, things have gone according to plan for Australian Robertson.

The world number three highlighted a break of 120 during a 5-2 win against Liu Hongyu, and returned the following day to dismiss 2024 Scottish Open champion Lei.

Robertson registered runs of 73 and 94 in building a 2-0 lead over Lei before taking frame three by one point on the final black - after Lei had made a 62 - and then going into the mid-session interval 4-0 up.

On resumption, Lei showed his class with a 131 in frame five to avoid a whitewash, and looked set for back-to-back frames with a counter in the sixth. However, having seemingly done the hard work, he missed the green whilst on 50, and a few moments later Robertson sank the balls he required to progress in the £850,000 world ranking event.

Neil wasn't the only Robertson to reach the last 16 in that session, though, as Jimmy fashioned efforts of 121, 55, 62, 117 and 82 in a 5-1 win over Ben Mertens.

Zak Surety - who has previously been to a ranking event semi-final in China - saw off O'Sullivan's conqueror Jiang Jun, wrapping up a 5-3 verdict his way with a 118.

The final player to leave with a win on Tuesday night in Shenzhen was Scott Donaldson who pipped Pang Junxu, 5-4, on the final black. Donaldson had dispatched hometown hero Zhao Xintong in a decider on Monday.

The morning and afternoon sessions witnessed the conclusion of the last 64 where reigning World Champion Wu Yize narrowly avoided joining the list of star name eliminations with a 5-4 success against Jamie Clarke.

Barry Hawkins (122 break), Kyren Wilson (100, 122), Shaun Murphy (111) and Mark Selby all advanced.

David Grace, Michael Holt, and Ricky Walden (115, 133) defeated top 16 seeds Higgins, Xiao, and Ding, respectively, in deciding frame climaxes.

The remaining 11 round of 32 matches are scheduled for Wednesday.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Shenzhen Open snooker, visit our tournament information centre here.