The European Masters qualifiers got off on the right foot with a number of big guns getting past their opponents as expected.

Ali Carter got the better of Zhang Jiankang, thumping the Chinese to a 5-3 win. Mei Xi
Wen also defeated Alan Mcmanus by a 5-3 scoreline. The former, who is currently ranked 67, wasted no time in dispatching his Scottish opponent. Xi Wen was dominant in the encounter before finally laying waste to the world number 52.

Elsewhere, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh sealed his place on the next round by shoving aside his opponent by a 5-3 scoreline. The 34-year-old currently ranked No. 21 was favourite to win the tie and did just well to justify the favourite tag.

Graeme Dott was on top of his game, dashing Thor Chuan Leong to the dogs. The 42-year-old who is currently ranked world number 20 defeated his Malaysian opponent by a 5-1 scoreline.

Jack Lisowski also sealed his place in the next round, edging his opponent in Hossein Vafaei by only one frame. It was a keenly contested game, but Lisowski ultimately came out tops. Lisowski, currently ranked number 13, was favoured to win his Iranian counterpart. However, Hossein came even closer than most would have thought.

Gerard Greene also moved to the next round at the expense of Brandon Sargeant, who came really close to winning. However, the latter couldn’t best Greene and should now be headed home.

Jordan Brown, an underdog in his tie with David Gilbert, surprised fans of the sport not just with a win but a clean sweep. It wasn’t a complete whitewash as such, but a 5-2 win over Gilbert would continually ring in the hearts of the world number 11.
The Englishman must have had his eyes set on the next round already but failed to get past the opening round.

Michael Holt also did Sunny Akani dirty with a 5-1 dominating win. Michael Holt, who is currently ranked world number 37, didn’t need to do much to defeat his Thai opponent. It was, however, a busy day at the office for Akani who couldn’t handle the force of Holt.

Roland Arum