Malta’s two professionals, Tony Drago and Alex Borg were both eliminated from the China Open yesterday after losing their second round qualifiers.

Alex Borg went down 5-3 to Jamie Burnett in the morning. He took a 1-0 lead after winning the first frame thanks to a break of 52.

But then he lost four frames in succession before reviving his chances by winning the sixth and seventh frames. Burnett, who had a 100 break in the fourth frame, won the eighth frame to qualify 5-3.

Drago was in an even worse position facing a complete whitewash when he was 4-0 in arrears at the end of the first session. He then recovered partially to win three frames in quick succession, compiling a good 82 break in the seventh frame, but Spick was back on top in the eighth frame which he won to book his berth in today’s third round.

Frame scores

Jamie Burnett-Alex Borg 5-3: 20-106(52), 86-19, 74-1, 105(100)-25, 86(86)-0, 47-72(52), 40-60, 79(44)-3

Tony Drago-Lee Spick 3-5: 9-66, 45-73(51), 0-63(54), 31-56, 69-63, 56-18, 111(82)-0, 0-87(68)