Tony Drago in final stages after 5-0 win

Tony Drago wasted no time in blitzing through to the final stages of the Irish Masters by beating Gerard Greene 5-0 in the final qualifying round at Pontin's yesterday. The Maltese professional took just 81 minutes to see off Greene, who has been in...

Tony Drago wasted no time in blitzing through to the final stages of the Irish Masters by beating Gerard Greene 5-0 in the final qualifying round at Pontin's yesterday.

The Maltese professional took just 81 minutes to see off Greene, who has been in superb form this season and is up to no. 14 in the latest world rankings. Drago admitted that he did not spend much of the Christmas break on the practise table, but felt that might have been the key to his success.

"I spent most of the time in Malta because my mother, Sina, had a hip replacement operation," said the 38-year-old, who will face John Higgins in the last 32 at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin in March. "I would like to dedicate my win today to her with all my love."

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