Marco Fu’s only focus heading into his third-round clash with Jack Lisowski at the UK Championship is securing his progress into the last 16, although his hopes of qualifying for the Masters will also be on the line.

Hong Kong star Fu booked his place in the third round at York’s Barbican Centre with a 6-2 victory over highly-rated Chinese youngster Luo Honghao on Sunday.

Fu certainly appeared to be on top form during the contest and his break of 144 in the fifth frame means he is now in pole position to claim the £5,000 prize for recording the highest break of the tournament.

The 40-year-old will face Englishman Lisowski in the third round of Tuesday, although there will be more than just a place in the last 16 at stake, as the duo are also in direct competition to secure a spot at next month’s Masters event.

Fu needs to beat Lisowski and make it through to the quarter-finals this week if he is to move ahead of his opponent in the battle to reach Alexandra Palace, while he will be out of the race altogether if he loses to the world number 17.

The former World Championship semi-finalist is not thinking about the Masters, however, as his only concern is going as far as he can in York.

“It will be a third round match of a big tournament so I won’t be thinking about the Masters,” Fu told World Snooker.

“I’ll just go out and try to enjoy it. I’m very happy with the way I played today because Luo looks like a very good player.”

Fu is priced at 2.25 to win Tuesday’s match, while Lisowski is available at 1.61.