Stephen Maguire and Mark Williams both crashed out of the Shanghai Masters to lower-ranked opponents today.
World number five Maguire squandered a 3-2 lead to lose 5-3 to Mark Davis while Williams, ranked six, was always playing catch-up in his match against Graeme Dott who eventually won 5-4.
Maguire had to withdraw from the tournament last year due to injury and he had a short stay in 2010 before exiting despite being in pole position.
The scores were level after four frames before Scot Maguire went ahead after a break of 100 but his in-form opponent made it 3-3 before pulling ahead in the seventh and sealing victory 5-3.
Williams, the China Open champion, had a much closer game with Dott although it was the latter who produced the more impressive breaks.
Williams, who had reached the last 16 thanks to a comeback victory over Ricky Walden, lost the first frame to immediately hand the initiative to his opponent, who enjoyed a break of 65.
Dott took a 3-1 lead but his Welsh opponent then won the next two frames to leave the game delicately balanced.
A break of 61 guided Dott to a 4-3 lead with Williams hitting back with an 83 of his own to level at 4-4. In the final frame, a break of 70 saw Dott claim a narrow 5-4 victory.
In the two other games, world number four Ali Carter moved through with a 5-3 victory over Stuart Bingham.
Carter was always in the driving seat although after moving into a 2-0 lead, his opponent drew back to level.
Breaks of 47 and 58 saw the 2008 World Championship runner-up regain the lead and although Bingham levelled at 3-3, a break of 72 guided Carter to the seventh frame before closing out the eighth to take victory.
World number 44 Jamie Burnett had an emphatic 5-0 win over Andrew Higginson, ranked 11 places higher.
