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Tony Drago moved into the third round of UK Championship qualifiers with a rapid 9-5 win over Dave Gilbert.

The contest lasted just over two and a half hours and was led by the 'Tornado' from the first session.

"I played very well throughout, David didn't obviously but he did have a 128 to pull it back to 8-5. I played well and I'm hitting the ball very well," Malta's Drago said afterwards. "I've won two matches for China, two for the Grand Prix and two here.

"The more matches you win the more confidence you get."

Drago will now seek a maiden victory over Mark Davis.

Simon Bedford beat David Morris 9-3, taking the first five frames in the process, while Mark Joyce defeated Matthew Couch 9-4 despite losing the opening pair of frames.

Tom Ford held off the challenge of David Hogan to record a 9-7 win and Jimmy Robertson joined fellow Sussex cueman Davis in the third round after beating Paul Davies 9-6.

They had been locked at 6-6 before Robertson fired a tournament-high break of 135.

Chinese duo Jin Long and Liu Song lost 6-9 and 4-9 respectively to Michael White and Thailand's Atthasit Mahitthi.

Joe Delaney withstood a strong fight-back from Sam Baird but finally prevailed 9-8 on the black and now faces Michael Judge on Saturday.

Results on Thursday November 26:

Liu Song 4-9 Atthasit Mahitthi

David Gilbert 5-9 Tony Drago

Joe Delaney 9-8 Sam Baird

Mark Joyce 9-4 Matthew Couch

Jin Long 6-9 Michael White

Paul Davies 6-9 Jimmy Robertson

Tom Ford 9-7 David Hogan

David Morris 3-9 Simon Bedford

Eurosport