Maltese snooker star Tony Drago (pictured) had mixed fortunes in the past few days as he took part in the last 48 rounds of the Welsh Open 2005 and the 2005 Irish Open.

In the Irish Open, he has lined up an encounter with Paul Hunter in the Last 32 round after winning his match against Neil Robertson 5-3.

The final rounds of the event are to be held in Dublin between 5 and 13 March.

But at the Welsh Open, Drago was unlucky to have lost 5-4 to Shokat Ali and was therefore eliminated.

Pakistan No 1 Ali was pulled back from 3-0 to 4-4 by Drago but eventually the Pakistani sealed his place in the last 32 of the World Ranking event against Hong Kong’s Marco Fu.

A top break of 71 helped Lancashire-based Ali to the first three frames, then world No 22 Drago got one back with a 65. He doubled the pink to win frame five and added the next on the colours for 3-3.

Ali regained the lead with a 42 then Drago levelled again with a 68. Both players missed chances in the final frame and it came down to a safety battle on the brown.

Drago, trailing by 18 points, missed a mid-range pot to a top corner and his opponent slotted home brown and blue to clinch victory.