Aaron Hill bows out in Wales as Mark Allen reaches quarter-finals

Aaron Hill bowed out of the Welsh Open after losing 4-1 to Fan Zhengyi in Llandudno.

The Cork cueist had knocked out four-time world champion Mark Selby in the second round but bowed out in the third round encounter with Zhengyi.

World number three Mark Allen, however, advanced to the quarter-finals in the evening session, impressing in his own whitewash win against Robbie Williams.

The Antrim man made breaks of 50 and 110 – a 31st century of the season – and will go on to play John Higgins in the last eight.

Higgins fought back to beat Matthew Selt in a last-frame decider, having trailed 3-1, but clawed his way back to level in the sixth frame with a break of 62.

Selt then missed a yellow when looking well set on the colours, which allowed Higgins back to the table to clinch the decider 55-41.

World champion Luca Brecel made three successive half-century breaks as he came from behind to beat Tom Ford 4-1 and continue his upturn in form, while Dominic Dale had little trouble as he defeated fellow Welshman Jak Jones 4-0.

Gary Wilson coasted past title holder Robert Milkins 4-0 and will next play Anthony McGill, who edged out Ricky Walden in a last-frame decider.

Earlier in the third-round matches during Thursday afternoon's session at Venue Cymru, Brecel beat Scotland's Graeme Dott 4-1.

Martin O’Donnell defeated Anthony Hamilton and Dale saw off Stan Moody, while three half-century runs helped Ford beat Barry Hawkins and Elliot Slessor won his match against Dylan Emery 4-1.

Jones had recorded a 4-2 victory against Hossein Vafaei while Marco Fu beat Daniel Wells by the same scoreline, hitting breaks of 122 and 113.