European Masters 2022 | Day Four Preview and Order of Play

Jonathan Davies in European Masters 24 February 2022

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Magnificent Kurt Maflin defeats Judd Trump at the European Masters

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Ronnie O’Sullivan eases into European Masters Quarter-Finals

Ronnie O’Sullivan in action (Photo by Martin Rickett/PA Images)

Ronnie O’Sullivan continues his quest for a maiden European Masters title when he locks horns with Ashley Hugill on Thursday.

It is crossover day at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, where eight players will remain as the second round and last 16 draw to a conclusion.

The Rocket was runner-up to Judd Trump in the inaugural event in 2016, while he suffered a surprise defeat against first-year pro Aaron Hill last season.

O’Sullivan, who won the 2003 European Open, opened the week with a commanding 5-1 win over former Crucible finalist Nigel Bond.

The six-time World champion was then taken to the wire by Zhang Anda, who recovered from 4-2 down to force a decider, while he snatched two crucial frames on the black to prevent a nervier conclusion to his 5-1 victory over another Chinese cueist in Wu Yize.

Next, the Rocket gets set to do battle with Hugill for the first time.

Making only his third appearance in the last 16 of a ranking event, the world number 81 has already beaten Jack Lisowski and Ali Carter this week.

Elsewhere, Neil Robertson looks to resume his rampant form when he takes on Pang Junxu, while Masters and Players Championship runner-up Barry Hawkins takes on Championship League winner David Gilbert.

Robertson hit four successive centuries – and was a few pots away from making it five – in his comprehensive 5-0 whitewash of Alfie Burden, and will be targeting more of the same today.

Tom Ford is also looking to build on his impressive 5-0 rout of John Higgins when he plays Fraser Patrick, as Kyren Wilson’s conqueror Fan Zhengyi faces compatriot Yan Bingtao.

Anthony McGill has only dropped a single frame in his two matches so far; the two-time ranking event winner goes up against Kurt Maflin, who stunned Judd Trump in the second round.

Welsh Open champion Jordan Brown, who dethroned Mark Selby on Tuesday, takes on former Crucible king Graeme Dott, while Ryan Day collides with Sunny Akani.

Play gets underway at 10am GMT on Thursday with all matches over the best of nine frames at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.

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