Stephen Maguire, the defending champion, and Ian McCulloch, the world No25, made light of close-season mishaps to reach the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Trophy last night. Maguire, who cracked a rib playing badminton, beat Michael Holt 5-1, concluding the contest with a break of 127.

McCulloch, handicapped by "a touch of golfer's elbow" and hobbling after breaking a bone in a foot after dropping a tyre on it while attempting DIY, eliminated the world No10, Neil Robertson. Mark Williams, twice world champion but in a prolonged slump until halfway through last season, continued his revival with a 5-2 win over Shaun Murphy, the 2005 world champion.