China’s Zhou Yuelong knocked Welshman Mark Williams in the third round of the English Open but he failed to build on that as he lost to Stephen Maguire in round four.

Williams was the strong favourite to win on Thursday after some impressive performances in the last six months. After winning the World Championship last season, Williams then won the World Open at the start of this campaign in August.

He also reached the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters before then knocked out in the quarter-finals of the China Championship.

Williams, 12.00 to win the World Championship in 2019, had already beaten Dominic Dale and Alexander Ursenbacher but he was no match for Yuelong. He lost 4-3 in Crawley but the Chinese youngster could then not build on that display.

The occasion may have got to him as he lost 4-0 to Maguire in Crawley.

England’s Robert Milkins is also out of the tournament after he lost to Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham on Thursday. The duo returned to the table in the afternoon session and the latter won 4-3.

Another potential favourite Judd Trump is also heading back to the drawing board after he was knocked out by Wales’ Ryan Day. Day raced out of the blocks with breaks of 52 and 83 and he sealed the result with breaks of 136 and 132.

Trump will be hoping to respond in the next few months and he is now 10.00 to win the World Championship in Sheffield in 2019.