Shanghai Masters 2012 - Day 3

Robbo gets victory over Chen

The third day of this year's Shanghai Masters edition made its debut with a hard fought 5-2 victory obtained by Neil Robertson in front of wild-card Chen Feilong followed by an excellent recovery from Judd Trump who after being lead 3-0 by Barry Hawkins found his way back into the game and win the battle of cues by 5-3.

Unfortunately this wasn't the case for Steve Davis, the legend of snooker managing to find his way back from a 4-1 deficit against Ricky Walden in order to force the decider, but lost it after a fluent 92 break administrated by the 2008 Shanghai Masters champion.

It was with break of 88, 28 and 23 that Neil Robertson was taking a 2-0 lead in front of China's Chen Feilong during the morning session, but the wild-card fought back and pulled back a frame in time.

However, the interval was finding Robbo in charge at 3-1 after a half century break of 53 points, followed by a great 61 clearance after the 15-minute break.

Still, Chen wasn't going to make it easy for "The Thunder from Down Under" and not only did he cash one more frame, but was sure to keep holding on during the last frame too. Still, after a top break of 35 Robertson claim victory at 5-2.

The morning session sent two more players into the Last 16 round after Stephen Lee defeated Scotland's Marcus Campbell 5-3, at the same time Stuart Bingham beating Tom Ford 5-4 to join the gang.

The curse has been broken - Judd wins his 1st SM match

Judd Trump managed to "break the curse" and won his first Shanghai Masters match after climbing his way back into the match from a 3-0 lead against Barry Hawkins.

It was a scrappy affair that gave Trump enough hope to return after the interval and get serious, a set of 58, 63 and 77 putting him back into the match and practically also in the leading position at 4-3.

Another scrappy frame was going to mark the end of the match, but it didn't matter for the reigning UK Championship title holder, Judd safely landing into the next round were he's meeting Mark Allen.

"The Wizard of Wishaw" - John Higgins has been into a dark place recently, but still managed to obtain a 5-2 victory in front of Jamie Jones after a series of 80, 95 and 70 breaks and he's now facing Welshman Ryan Day who scored a 5-4 victory in front of Martin Gould after a genuinely Montaigne-rousse match in which he lead 3-0 and was lead 4-3.

Also with a foot in the Last 16 is Graeme Dott, who was sure to exit the last of the remaining wild-cards, Jin Long, by 5-2 in order to book a snooker rendez-vous with Stephen Lee.

Tomorrow's match schedule:

7.30am
Mark Williams v Ricky Walden
Jamie Cope v Stuart Bingham
Ali Carter v Stephen Maguire
Joe Perry v Neil Robertson

12.30pm
Mark King v Shaun Murphy
Mark Allen v Judd Trump
John Higgins v Ryan Day
Stephen Lee v Graeme Dott
*all hours are UK time

TV coverage:
07:30 - 11:30 British EuroSport
07:30 - 11:00 British EuroSport 2
12:30 - 15: 30 British EuroSport
12:30 - 15: 30 British EuroSport 2
19:00 - 22:00  British EuroSport 2