Malta’s Tony Drago started his adventure in the UK Championship qualifiers yesterday evening with an impressive 6-3 win over Andrew Norman.

The Valletta-born cueist had a good start taking a 2-1 lead, only for Norman to hit back and level matters at two-all before the break.

In the second session, Drago won three frames in succession to take a commanding 5-2 lead, and although Norman won the eighth frame, it was Drago who kept his cool to seal the match on the ninth frame.