World No 2 Stephen Maguire, champion here two years ago, will not get the chance to regain the title as Mark Allen beat him 5-3 at the Sanyuan Foods China Open.
Northern Ireland's Allen is through to the quarter-finals in Beijing with the chance to reach his first ranking semi-final of the season when he plays Ryan Day or Stephen Hendry tomorrow.
Glasgow's Maguire took the opening frame with a break of 52 before left-hander Allen reeled off the next four with two runs of 63 and a vital blue-to-black clearance to nick frame four. A 64 clearance to the black and another 64 in the next saw Maguire recover to 4-3, but Allen's break of 60 in frame eight proved decisive.
Gifted 24-year-old Allen said: “I’m pleased to get through because I wasn’t at my best. It was more a case of playing decent, matchplay snooker. This is my third quarter-final of the season and obviously I’m very keen to go further this time. I came here to win the tournament and I’m still in it so I’ve still got a chance.”
Wild card Tian Pengfei, surprise conqueror of Ronnie O'Sullivan last night, saw his run ended with a 5-3 reverse against Mark King. Contributions of 57 and 58 helped 16th seed King go 2-0 up, and although China's Tian battled back to 3-3, Essex cueman King took the last two frames with a top break of 91.
"Tian's a really good player and he showed that in beating Ronnie last night," said King, though to his first ranking quarter-final of the campaign. "I had expected to play Ronnie but then nothing surprises me about him - he could win the tournament without losing a frame, or go out in the first round.
"I took my chances well today and I'm pleased to be in the quarters. It's on my mind that I need to stay in the top 16 so every win is important."
He will now face Ali Carter, who beat Joe Perry 5-3 thanks to runs of 79 and 70 in the last two frames. Hong Kong's Marco Fu, a popular figure here in Beijing, progressed by coming from 3-0 down to beat Nigel Bond 5-3 with a high break of 71. Fu will now play Mark Williams or John Higgins.
