Northern Ireland Open: Mark Allen eases into last 32 in Belfast
- Published
Mark Selby also progressed after beating Matthew Stevens 4-1 at the Waterfront Hall
Mark Allen has eased into the last 32 of the Northern Ireland Open after a commanding 4-0 victory over Jamie O'Neill in Belfast.
World number seven Allen produced breaks of 53, 71, 64 and 53 as he brushed the Englishman aside.
Ronnie O'Sullivan came from a frame down to beat impressive 16-year-old Peifan Lei 4-2.
Defending champion Judd Trump and English Open winner Mark Selby also booked their spots in the next round.
World number one Trump eased past Zhang Anda of China 4-1 while Selby beat Matthew Stevens by the same score.
Stevens won the first frame but Selby took the remainder, with the help of a highest break of 87 in the third.
After losing the first frame, O'Sullivan hit back with breaks of 84 and 101 before Lei made his first ever century as a professional to take the fourth frame.
Five-time world champion O'Sullivan responded with a break of 95 before closing out an entertaining tie in the sixth frame to advance.
O'Sullivan produced a break of 101 en route to a 4-2 win over Peifan Lei
Having triumphed at the English Open in Crawley last month, Selby remains the only player who can collect the £1m bonus on offer to any player who can win all four of the Home Nations tournaments.
The series also includes December's Scottish Open, and the Welsh Open, which takes place in February.
Among the other winners in Wednesday's second-round matches at the Waterfront Hall were Ken Doherty, who defeated Soheil Vahedi 4-0, and 2017 runner-up Yan Bingtao, who got the better of Marco Fu 4-1.
Stuart Bingham beat Antrim's Jordan Brown 4-1, Barry Hawkins edged out Michael Holt 4-3, with Ali Carter seeing off Li Hang by the same margin and Luca Brecel beating Matthew Selt 4-0.
Scotland's Stephen Maguire overcame Mark Davis 4-2 and Kyren Wilson defeated Peter Ebdon 4-1.
John Higgins saw off Kacper Filipiak 4-1 while Shaun Murphy outclassed Luo Honghao to win by the same margin.
Mark Joyce, who beat Champion of Champions winner Neil Robertson in the first round on Tuesday, continued his impressive form with a 4-2 win over Jackson Page.
The winner of the tournament on Sunday collects £70,000 and the Alex Higgins Trophy.