Snooker

Ebdon & Hendry advance in Beijing

Peter Ebdon and Stephen Hendry were among the players to book their places in the second round of the Sanyuan Foods China Open today.

Defending champion Ebdon edged fellow Englishman, 20-year-old Judd Trump, 5-4 in Beijing to set up a last-16 encounter with Australia's Neil Robertson.

The former world champion looked in control of the match at 3-1 up but Trump restored parity at 3-3 and then again at 4-4 before Ebdon won the decider.

Mark King's clash with James Wattana also went the distance.

The Englishman found himself 2-0 and 4-2 down to his Thai opponent but battled back and eventually prevailed thanks to a brilliant century in the final frame.

Hendry was twice pegged back by England's Andrew Higginson in the early stages before surging on to triumph 5-2.

The Scot went 1-0 and 2-1 ahead - the latter courtesy of a break of 132 - only for Higginson to get back on level terms, but the seven-time world champion then reeled off three frames to clinch a round-two date with Wales' Ryan Day.

Ali Carter barely gave Liu Chuang a look-in in their first-round encounter, beating the Chinese player 5-1.

Breaks of 68, 52 and 53 helped the Colchester-born 30-year-old establish a 3-0 advantage and, although Liu then pulled one frame back, the respite was only brief as Carter stormed into the second round.

 
RTÉ.ie Sport: Stephen Hendry will face Ryan Day in the second round
Stephen Hendry will face Ryan Day in the second round
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