Aaron Hill is into the last 32 at the World Open in Yushan after battling to a 5-3 victory over Sunny Akani this morning.
It's been an up and down season for the Cork man, exemplified recently by reaching the quarter-finals at the German Masters in Berlin, before failing to qualify for the Welsh Open the following week.
But the 22-year-old came good when he needed to in China this morning, and was never behind in the match.
The players shared the first six frames, before a break of 99 pushed Hill to the brink of victory, which he achieved after a scrappy eighth frame.
Next up for the Irishman is a meeting with Jimmy Robertson, who he beat in Berlin.
Antrim's Mark Allen will be in first round action overnight against David Lilley, while Jordan Brown is up against Zak Surety.
Off the table, Matthew Selt has been given a three-month suspended ban and fined around €12,000 by snooker bosses for his conduct at the Saudi Masters last year.
The 39-year-old was charged with being aggressive in his behaviour and rude and abusive towards a Matchroom Senior Executive and a WPBSA member, and that he sent an abusive text to a member.
Selt, the world number 33 and vice-chairman of WPBSA Players, the players' association, admitted the charges.
A WPBSA statement read: "On February 18, 2025 he fully accepted the allegations made against him and made a full and wholehearted apology to the persons concerned.
"It was accepted that Mr Selt was under a significant amount of stress and pressure at the time of the incidents."
Selt was also ordered to pay €13,200 towards the WPBSA’s legal costs.
Additional reporting: PA
