Fifth seed Mark Williams, who gained this event in 1999 and 2002, claimed a 6-4 victory over David Gilbert within the night session to affix Robertson within the final 16.

The 50-year-old misplaced a prolonged opening body, levelled at 1-1, however a fantastic break of 102 gave Gilbert the benefit once more.

However Williams then recorded breaks of 51, 89, 73 and 55 to maneuver 5-2 forward and go one body from victory. World quantity 24 Gilbert responded with a 100 break for his second century after which a 50 to tug it again to 5-4.

Nevertheless, it didn’t matter as Williams did sufficient to get the victory to arrange a match in opposition to China’s Pang Junxu after he gained 6-2 in opposition to compatriot Xiao Guodong, the twelfth seed.

“Earlier than the interval I used to be poor however after that I performed fairly good,” stated Williams. “It may’ve gone 5-5 on the finish however I am glad to recover from the road and there have been some tough balls within the final body.

“I made a few good breaks. The interval adjustments plenty of matches. I went to the follow desk. After I’m on the venue you possibly can’t preserve me off the desk, I get pleasure from practising on the venue.”

Robertson obtained again into the highest 16 in September 2024, making certain automated qualification for the foremost tournaments, by beating China’s Wu Yize 9-7 within the ultimate of the English Open.

The pair will face one another within the final 16 in York later this week after Wu held off a fightback from England’s Michael Holt to safe a 6-4 victory.

Wu, 22, moved right into a 5-0 lead, because of breaks of 55, 78, 82 and 81, which included 11 reds and 10 blacks earlier than any hope of a 147 ended with a miss on the eleventh black.

However 47-year-old Holt, a quarter-finalist final 12 months, staged a restoration with runs of 59, 82 and 60 to tug inside one body, earlier than Wu sealed the success within the tenth body.

Twelve gamers from China had been among the many 32 in York and Wu and Pang’s victories imply three Chinese language gamers are already into the final 16, becoming a member of Si Jiahui after his 6-0 overcome Ryan Day on Saturday.