Drago hopes dashed by Norman

Tony Drago will not figure in this season's China Open after losing his third qualifying round match against Andrew Norman 5-3 in Prestatyn, Wales, yesterday.

Drago, ranked 43rd in the world, failed to make his experience count against the 25-year-old Norman who raced into a 3-1 lead before the interval.

The English player looked poised for a comfortable win when he won the fifth frame. Drago suddenly seemed to find his touch as he claimed the next two frames to make it 4-3. However, his hopes of a dramatic recovery were ended soon after when Norman won the eighth frame to seal his progress to the next round.

Norman will take on Barry Pinches with the winner progressing to the final stages of the tournament which starts on March 20.

On Tuesday, Alex Borg, Malta's other player in the China Open qualifiers, was also knocked out of the tournament after a 5-1 defeat to David Roe in the first qualifying round.