WORCESTER snooker ace Dave Finbow returned to form to reach the next round of qualification for the China Open in Newport last night.
Finbow scored a comfortable 5-1 victory over David McDonnell in his third round tie, setting up a fourth round meeting with Stuart Bingham.
Victory on Saturday would pitch Finbow into a battle with the legendary Jimmy White, the winner qualifying for the final stages.
Finbow was due to start his campaign in the Regal Welsh Open today with a third round clash against Belgium's Bjorn Haneveer.
Veteran Willie Thorne was also a third round China Open winner after surviving an extraordinary battle against Jonathan Birch.
He clinched a 5-4 win on the final black having seen his 4-0 lead wiped out.
In the decider, he was forced to clear from 54-0 behind before clinching victory after a five-minute battle on the last ball.
Thorne's win was particularly impressive considering he has clocked up over 1,400 miles during the last week commuting from Brighton where he commentated for ITV at the Champions Cup.
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