Indian challenge ends wit Thukral’s exit

The Indian cueist had a good start with a break of 60 and 53 that saw him win the first frame with ease. Though Fisher won the second frame to level the score, Thurkal fought back and had the highest run of 88 in the next to go 3-1 up.

Everything started going wrong for Indian from the fourth frame as Fisher tightened his grip, regained the rhythm and went into the winning mode.

Fisher wrapped up the match after an identical break of 64 in the seventh frame and the decider. His long pot to the left pocket along the cushion received applause from the spectators.

Joining him in the last eight was Rory McCarroll (The Netherlands), who defeated Ian Barber (Wales) 5-2 (38-54 57-29 70-08 86-01 29-61 64-22 87-19).

Earlier, Thailand’s Supachai Wiwatarangkoon, the fifth seed, was shocked by Belgium’s Johan D’Hondt as the latter pipped him 5-4 (71-34 63-26 0-92 32-77 12-69 62-55 18-70 57-50 72-46).

Results (pre-quarter): Steven Bennie (Scotland) bt TJ Dowling (Ireland) 5-2 (62-54 78-56 59-19 77-1 39-66 40-65 68-0), David John (Wales) bt Gerrit Bij de Leji (Netherlands) 5-2 (63-58 93-0 38-70 23-74 71-09 80-32 66-29), Johan D’Hondt (Belgium) bt Supanchai Wiwatarangkoon (Thailand) 5-4 (71-34 63-26 0-92 32-77 12-69 62-55 18-70 57-50 72-46), Rorry Mccarrol (N. Ire) bt Ian Barber (Australia) 5-2 (38-54 57-29 70-8 81-1 29-61 64-22 87-19), Luke Fisher (England) bt Rishab Thukral (India) 5-3 (01-124 70-49 01-104 45-55 71-43 73-40 75-44 77-24), Sean O’Neill (N. Ire) bt Robert Murphy (Ireland) 5-4 (43-59 101-43 74-5 21-58 60-20 47-69 77-39 41-71 76-11), Kevin Tang (Singapore) bt Md Atiq (Pakistan) 5-1 (85-22 38-61 69-34 74-67 76-11 70-25), Ben Farnworth (New Zealand) bt Tommy Ang (Singapore) 5-4 (74-10 45-55 26-77 85-24 44-98 81-36 106-07 36-75 70-63).