Tony Drago was back to winning form yesterday as he started the new season on a top note, beating China’s Liu Song 5-3 to advance to today’s third qualifying round of the Northern Ireland Trophy.

This is the first ranking tournament of the season and it is the first time ever that it is being staged. The finals of the event are to be held later next month in Belfast.

Song had eliminated Malta’s other player Alex Borg in the first qualifying round on Saturday. He also had won 5-3.

Drago is now scheduled to meet Marcus Campbell in the third round today.