Malta’s Tony Drago advanced to the fourth round of the China Open qualifiers after beating Anthony Hamilton 5-4 in a keenly contested match.

Tony Drago had a good start building a two-frame lead, winning the first frame 75-47 and the second one in style 128-6. In this second frame Tony Drago obtained two breaks of 55 points.

The third was very balanced but in the end Hamilton pulled one back winning the frame 81-67.

Drago re-established his tw-frame lead winning the fourth frame 62-26 thanks to a 45 point break. Anthony Hamilton ranked number 34 in the world rankings started a remarkable comeback winning three frames in succession to go 4-3 in front. The fifth frame was very tight and Hamilton won 58-31. Hamilton was devastating in the next two frames winning these 73-10 and 77-12, piling breaks of 72 and 77.

In the 8th frame Tony drago made a comeback with a 40-point break to win the frame 74-39 to set out a showdown in the final frame.

This decisive frame proved to be one sided as the local hero dominated with a 70-point break to clinch victory winning the frame 78-0.

In the fourth round today Tony Drago will play against Stephen Lee who occupies 23rd place in the world rankings.