Stephen Maguire showcased his resilience and skill in a gripping 5-4 victory over Zhao Xintong at the Wuhan Open. The 44-year-old Scot, currently ranked 26th in the world, delivered impressive breaks of 58, 71, 92, and 119 to push the match into a deciding frame.

Zhao Xintong, the reigning world champion, seemed poised to advance after potting the frame ball, but an unexpected cannon of the brown into the pocket kept Maguire in the game. Seizing the opportunity, Maguire executed a couple of long pots and cleared the table with a break of 45, clinching a 65-61 victory on the black ball.

"I was getting myself up for if I got a chance, thinking 'please clear up'. Thankfully I managed to do it," Maguire remarked after the match. "The crowd was obviously for him. He has a lot to carry, though. Pressure-wise he is carrying a whole country."

In other matches, defending champion Xiao Guodong advanced with a 5-3 win over David Grace, setting up a clash with Matthew Selt, who triumphed 5-1 over Marco Fu. Welshman Mark Williams also secured a comfortable 5-1 victory against Joe O'Connor, featuring breaks of 129 and 95.

Williams will next face Mark Selby, who dismissed David Gilbert 5-2. World number one Judd Trump also booked his spot in the next round with a 5-3 win over Jack Lisowski. Other notable players advancing include Gary Wilson, Stan Moody, Barry Hawkins, John Higgins, Tom Ford, Zhang Anda, Aaron Hill, Mark Allen, and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

This tournament continues to highlight the intense competition and high stakes in the world of professional snooker.