World Open 2024: Luca Brecel comes from behind to beat Oliver Brown, John Higgins shocked by Jackson Page

Luca Brecel reeled off five frames in a row to come from behind and beat Oliver Brown in the second round of the World Open in Yushan, China.

The world champion was in danger of being upset by Brown when he dropped the opening two frames but he showed all his battling qualities to prevail and set up a meeting with Stephen Maguire.

Both players made breaks of over 50 in a tight opener but it was Brown who snatched it before he doubled his advantage in the next.

The Englishman then had a chance to move three frames clear but was made to pay as ‘The Belgian Bullet’ halved his deficit before turning the match on its head.

Breaks of 66 and 65 put Brecel 3-2 clear and he moved within one of victory after winning a scrappy sixth frame.

The 29-year-old then sealed his progress in style with a break of 80, continuing his good run of form as his World Championship title defence approaches.

While Brecel avoided an early exit, there was no such joy for John Higgins, who was the victim of an upset.

The Scotsman fought until the end but was eventually beaten 5-3 by Wales’ Jackson Page.

It started so well for Higgins, a break of 67 giving him the opener, but Page rattled off four frames in a row in response.

Included in his run were breaks of 102, 76 and 75 as the Welshman put himself within touching distance of the winning line but he was made to earn it the hard way.

Higgins pinched a scrappy sixth and made it 4-3 when he took the seventh but Page wouldn’t be denied, eventually completing a hard-fought victory to set up a clash with Wu Yize in the third round.

Elsewhere, Maguire was made to work hard but eventually completed a 5-3 win over Pang Junxu.

Like Brecel, the Scotsman fell 2-0 behind but two breaks of 66, a 64 and an 86 saw him claim five of the next six frames to advance to round three.

Ding Junhui came through his all-Chinese clash with Liu Hongyu. Home favourite Ding trailed 2-1 but won four frames in a row to cruise into the next round, sealing the victory with a break of 123.

There were also wins for Wu, as well as English duo Ben Woollaston and Elliot Slessor, while there was drama in the encounter between Lyu Haotian and Aaron Hill.

Lyu led 2-0 before losing four frames in a row to his Irish opponent. But he battled back to force a decider and completed the comeback to set up a third round clash with either Ronnie O’Sullivan or Michael White.