Local duo edge through

Mark Davis, from St Leonards, and Bexhill-based Jimmy Robertson both came from behind to win 5-4, and progress to the second and final qualifying round tomorrow.

World number 19 Davis lost the opening two frames against Daniel Wells last night after the Welsh amateur knocked in breaks of 136 and 64. Although Davis edged the third thanks largely to a 56, Wells took the fourth to lead 3-1 at the interval.

A run of 53 got Davis back to 3-2 only for Wells to clinch the next aided by a 50 to move within a frame of victory. Wells scored just eight points in the next two frames, however, as Davis knocked in a brilliant 132 and a 44 to make it 4-4.

Davis appeared to hold the upper hand in a lengthy decider until Wells scored the final 32 points to force a respotted black. Davis held his nerve, though, to pot the all-important final ball.

World number 47 Robertson had a similar struggle before eventually getting the better of 88th-ranked Hammad Miah. Robertson won the opening frame with a closing 59 only to lose the next three.

Robertson got back to 3-3 by winning the next two frames with a top break of 41 only for Miah to clinch frame seven. Robertson edged the eighth after Miah fouled the final black before grabbing the decider 69-1 helped by a run of 52.

Davis will face Gary Wilson and Robertson will take on Ian Burns tomorrow afternoon, and the winners of those matches will advance to the venue stage of the event in February.