Ricky Walden stuns Neil Robertson at the German Masters as Williams and Maguire also depart

Jamie Shaw in German Masters 26 January 2022

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German Masters Snooker 2022 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play

Ricky Walden in action (Photo by O.Behrendt via www.imago-images.de/Imago/PA Images)

Ricky Walden sent Neil Robertson crashing out of the German Masters on Day One in Berlin, as Zhao Xintong dispatched Mark Williams.

Snooker’s return to the Tempodrom saw a clutch of big names bow out in the early stages, including recent Masters Champion Robertson, who was beaten at the hands of a resurgent Walden in the Last 32.

Robertson, the 2020 German Masters runner-up, failed to replicate the form which led him to Masters glory at Alexandra Palace little over a week ago as Walden equalled his best run in the competition.

Robertson led 3-2 with a high break of 76 along the way, but only for Walden to reel off three frames on the spin to secure victory, producing breaks of 71, 79 and 124 in the process.

Walden will now meet Luca Brecel in the Last 16 after the 2016 finalist saw off Zhang Anda 5-3 with top breaks of 71, 129 and 120 to his name.

Reigning UK Champion Zhao Xintong pulled off an impressive 5-3 win over recent Masters semi-finalist and last weekend’s Shoot-Out runner-up Mark Williams.

Zhao, who reached the Quarter-Finals of this event last year, led 3-1 before Williams levelled with breaks of 65 and 61, but the Chinese youngster replied with breaks of 89 and 70 to march into the latter stages.

Tom Ford, semi-finalist 12 months ago, turned on the style as he overcame 2012 finalist Stephen Maguire 5-2.

Maguire took the opening frame in style with a break of 135, but only for Ford to hit back with breaks of 76, 88, 53, 81 and 104 to cap off a dominant display.

Kyren Wilson, who picked up the title in his last German Masters appearance three years ago, kicked off his latest campaign with a 5-1 rout of Jimmy Robertson.

Wilson fired in breaks of 58, 64, 94 and 117 to set up a Last 16 clash with Craig Steadman – who knocked out Michael Georgiou 5-2 with a top break of 130 to mark his best run of the season so far.

Two-time ranking finalist Zhou Yuelong pulled off a superb 5-2 win over world number 14 Anthony McGill to set up a show-down with defending champion Judd Trump – who received a bye into the Last 16 after his opponent Gao Yang withdrew from the event.

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