Joe Swail last '˜local' to exit Northern Ireland Open

Fans at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall were to be left disappointed as the last the home contenders, Swail, went down 4-2 to Eden Sharav.

Meanwhile, Ronnie O’Sullivan continues to put off-the-table wranglings to one side as he pushed through to the quarter-finals.

The five-time world champion has spent most of the week debating the future of the sport - while not always being supporting of its governing body, World Snooker - but has taken none of that on the table with him.

He beat Tom Ford 4-0 yesterday afternoon to make the last 16 and then saw off Zhou Yuelong 4-1.

O’Sullivan plays David Gilbert in the quarters after his win over Lu Ning, while Mark Selby beat Martin O’Donnell to tee up a clash with Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

Judd Trump beat Luca Brecel 4-2 to book his place, while the evergreen Peter Ebdon remains a dangerous opponent, beating Li Hang 4-1.