Luo Honghao knocked out Mark Allen while Thepchaiya Un-Nooh won a group-deciding match against fellow Thai player Sunny Akani to advance to Stage Two of BetVictor Championship League.
Both groups came down to deciding head-to-heads, with Luo facing Allen knowing a draw would be enough. The Chinese player took the first frame with a 58 break but Allen replied with a 53 to keep his hopes alive.
However, those hopes were soon dashed as 20-year-old Luo took the third frame to ensure at least a point, before the match did end 2-2 with Allen making a 97 in the last.
On table two, Un-Nooh faced Akani knowing only a win would be enough to advance. Akani entered the match with wins over Peter Lines (3-1) and Lee Walker (3-0), giving him the advantage over Un-Nooh, who had drawn with Lines.
Un-Nooh too the first but Akani hit back with a 76. However, that was his last significant visit, as Un-Nooh took the last two frames to top the group.
“I am happy to progress,” he said. “When it was 1-1 I thought I wasn’t going to qualify but I made a long brown and cleared up for 2-1. In the last frame, I knew if I lost I was finished but I was so happy to win.
“Sunny is a good long potter, good at break building and has good safety. I watched his game against Walker and he made a brilliant break in every frame and I thought it would be trouble for me in the last match.”
BetVictor Championship League Snooker continues on Wednesday with former champion Scott Donaldson among those in action . Coverage of both tables will be available at Matchroom.Live, with UK television coverage on Freesports.
Live scoring can be found at www.wst.tv. Group fixtures, results, standings and details of how to watch can be found at https://championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk/.
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