Judd Trump became the latest big-name casualty at the UK Championship on Sunday night as he lost 6-2 to Oliver Lines in York.
Lines, ranked 61 in the world, potted bravely, if perhaps a bit naively at times, but also showed he had the safety game to trouble Trump, who was uncharacteristically shaky.
Lines, whose father Peter earlier this week knocked out defending champion Neil Robertson, registered a 62 break in the opening frame before taking a 3-0 lead, with Trump reducing his arrears heading into the interval.
The world number three and 2011 winner of the UK Championship then took the next frame after the break but it would be the last he would win as Lines reeled off three in a row again to claim a famous victory.
He told Eurosport: “I’m speechless to beat a player of Judd’s class on the biggest stage I’ve played on. I had a little bit of ball run in the first few frames and from those chances I managed to take them.
“I wanted to show people what I can do and what I’ve been doing in practice. I’m very pleased. Inside I was shaking all over the gaffe.”
Earlier in the day, Mark Allen lit up the Barbican with a 147 break – the first of his career in tournament play.
The Northern Irishman’s clearance came in the seventh frame of his second round match against Rod Lawler, putting him 4-3 up. After leaving the arena to compose himself, he then completed a 6-4 victory.
Allen said he knew the clearance was on from an early stage in the break.
”The balls were sitting so nice from 24 and I was thinking about it from then,” he told the BBC. ”The reds were all sitting, none on the cushions, and you can only mess it up from there.
”I’m very very happy to do it. It was relief when the black went in.
“I was nervous and I was shaking. I went to the toilet afterwards to calm myself down and take deep breaths, control the breathing and take the shakes away. Then I was ready to start the next frame and ready to win the match because you know your opponent is going to make it tough, no matter how well you’re playing.”
Five-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan cruised through with a 6-0 win over Rhys Clark.
The young Scot’s nerves got the better of him in the opening frame and O’Sullivan capitalised in ruthless fashion, taking a 4-0 interval lead with breaks of 112, 79 and 82 before
After closing out the encounter with a stylish 131 clearance, O’Sullivan remained philosophical about his chances of equalling Steve Davis’ six titles but admitted there are positive signs that he is rediscovering some of his best snooker.
”I feel like my form is coming back a little bit but it’s not the be-all and end-all,” he told the BBC. “I’m happy with five but if another one comes along then I’ll take it.”
Elsewhere in the early matches, Ding Junhui overcame Ross Muir 6-2, wrapping up victory with breaks of 59, 59, 56 and 58 in the final four frames.
Mei Xi Wen is also through to the third round after beating Martin Gould 6-3 and Yan Bingtao made it through it through as he edged out countryman Liang Wenbo 6-4, while Ben Wollaston beat Paul Davison by the same score.
David Gilbert produced breaks of 94, 102 and 80 in defeating Mark Joyce and Robert Milkins won a final frame decider against Hammad Miah to progress 6-5.
In the evening session, Shaun Murphy rattled in breaks of 86, 115, 71, 83 and 119 on the way to a 6-2 victory over Robin Hull, who himself knocked in a 103.
Ricky Walden defeated Scott Donaldson 6-2 and Ryan Day overcame Kurt Maflin by the same score. It was also 6-2 between Jimmy Robertson and Mark Davis, in favour of Robertson. Marco Fu made a break of 125 en route to beating Rory McLeod 6-0.
David Gilbert produced breaks of 94, 102 and 80 in defeating Mark Joyce and Robert Milkins won a final frame decider against Hammad Miah to progress 6-5.
