Drago downs Ford 5-4 to move into third round

Tony Drago made a winning start to the 2007/08 season after he defeated England's Tom Ford 5-4 in the second qualifying round of the Shanghai Masters, currently being played in Prestatyn, Wales.

Yesterday's success will have given Drago a huge injection of confidence as he strives to secure a place in the season's opening ranking event, to be staged in Shanghai, China, between August 6 and 22.

Drago reached the second qualifying round without playing after his first round opponent, Thailand's Issara Kachaiwong, conceded a walk-over on Tuesday.

The match yesterday turned out to be a thrilling contest with Drago, who started the year ranked 68th on the World Snooker Association list, and Ford, ranked 50th, sharing the opening four frames.

After the interval, Drago stepped up his game, winning the next two frames to move just one game away from victory. But Ford had other ideas as he claimed the next two frames to send the match into a decider.

Drago's experience came to fore at this critical stage as he managed to win a nervy ninth frame to set up a third qualifying round match against Andrew Norman, of England, today.

The winner of this match will then play against Joe Swail, of Northern Ireland, tomorrow with a place in the televised event up for grabs.