2024 Wuhan Open Snooker: Judd Trump advances as round three completed in China

Having won the opening frame, Trump watched McGill compile a 105 break to level and then go in front at 2-1. However, Trump squared up before the mid-session interval before taking the next three frames on resumption to progress to the last 16.

On Wednesday, Trump will face John Higgins in a classic match-up after the four-time World Champion saw off one of the professional tour’s most improved players in recent times, Zak Surety, 5-3.

Whilst the world number one went through, the world number two didn’t, as World Champion Kyren Wilson was ousted by Xiao Guodong, 5-4, in a remarkable tie, signalling his first defeat in a Chinese ranking event this season.

Everything was going according to plan for Wilson as he led 2-0 and left his opponent needing penalty points in frame three. The contest turned, though, when Wilson fouled by hitting the black and leaving a free ball, allowing Xiao the chance to clear - which he did. Xiao then deposited the next three frames to dramatically turn the tables at 4-2 up.

Wilson classily responded with breaks of 118 and 108 in consecutive frames to force a decider, but Xiao was not to be denied a huge personal victory as he sank the final pink in a pulsating frame nine to advance.

Top 16 stars Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter set up a last 16 between themselves after both recording 5-3 wins on Tuesday. Murphy struck a 122 as he overcame Noppon Saengkham while last year's Wuhan Open runner-up Carter assembled a 107 against Marco Fu. Hong Kong ace Fu compiled efforts of 139 and 108 in defeat.

Barry Hawkins (132 break) stopped teenager Stan Moody, 5-3, while Ben Woollaston's (101 break) revival continues to gather pace as he saw off Elliot Slessor, 5-3.

Jackson Page - conqueror of Neil Robertson in the previous round - came back to earth with a bump as he was whitewashed by Long Zehuang, 5-0. Page didn't score a single point in the opening three frames.

Pang Junxu - who crafted a brace of century breaks during the tie - recovered from 4-1 down to force a ninth frame in his match, but opponent Duane Jones collected himself to eventually go through and make the last 16 of a ranking event for the third time in his career.

Recent English Open runner-up Wu Yize made an early statement in his match with Jamie Clarke, notching up runs of 139 and 115 in successive frames to establish a 2-0 advantage. He later found himself 4-3 down, though, but fashioned a 115 - his third ton of the outing - before emerging with the verdict in the decider.

There are six Chinese players in the last 16; one of those is Ding Junhui (110 break) who has now won 15 of his last 17 frames in this year’s event following a 5-2 victory over compatriot Yuan Sijun. The result was some payback for Ding having lost 5-0 to Yuan in this event last year.

Zhang Anda and Si Jiahui are other hopefuls still on competing on home soil this week. International Championship title holder Zhang top scored with a 109 as he eliminated Hossein Vafaei, 5-3.

Mark Joyce and Chris Wakelin were both 5-0 whitewash winners. Joyce - who is currently of amateur status as he does not have a professional tour card - was a late entry for this competition as he replaced Ronnie O’Sullivan in the draw.

Possibly the most impressive performance of the round came from Jack Lisowski. The six-time ranking event runner-up made two century breaks in the previous round, and he made two more today (136, 130), along with further contributions of 87, 81 and 50 as he dispatched Crucible finalist Jak Jones, 5-1.

For full details on the 2024 Wuhan Open including the draw, results, prize money, schedule and how to watch, please visit our tournament information centre here.