Leeds cueman David Grace bows out of UK Championship after Xiao Guodong defeat

The Leeds player, who memorably reached the second ranking event semi-final of his career at the Northern Ireland Open, struggled for his recent fluency in Milton Keynes to leave him with a mountain to climb in the race to six frames.

World No.65 Grace beat Ian Burns and defending champion, Sheffield’s Ding Junhui to reach the last 32 but stuttered against Xiao, ranked 30 places above him, under the Marshall Arena lights.

Grace, 35, came out of the blocks rapidly as a first frame break of 65 saw him carry on from where he left off against world No.10 Ding and take a 1-0 lead.

But the Asian player hit back as a rock-solid visit of 59 in the second levelled the scores.

Grace, who reached the last four of the UK Championship back in 2015, was then left slumped in his chair as fine efforts of 67 and 121 from Xiao propelled him into a 3-1 lead at the interval. The Yorkshireman made a break of 61 in the fifth but a steady 50 from Xiao, 31, repelled his advances and clinched the frame by just seven points.

Xiao won the next frame too, but Grace narrowed the gap to 5-3, including a break of 88 in the eighth. However Xiao would not be denied, with a 104 in the ninth, to seal his place in the last 16.

Judd Trump is also through after a comprehensive 6-1 win over Liang Wenbo.

Watch the UK Championship LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport app. Follow all the latest tournament news on Eurosport.co.uk

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