Defending champion Neil Robertson was dumped out of the Grand Prix in the group stage after he was beaten by Stephen Lee.
Australian Robertson out in defence of Grand Prix trophy.
Defending champion Neil Robertson was dumped out of the Grand Prix in the group stage after he was beaten by Stephen Lee.
The Australian landed two ranking event title last season after some fine form, but could not repeat his Aberdeen heroics this time around as a 4-2 defeat by Lee sent him crashing out of the group stages.
Joe Perry beat Joe Swail 4-2 in the final round of Group A matches, but the result meant that both men made the last 16, at Robertson's expense.
Left-handed Robertson was named the Snooker Writers' Association Highland Spring Player of the Year after his achievements last season, but could not get a real run at defending one of his titles.
"I'm absolutely gutted because when I came back from Australia I really wanted to do well in this tournament," said Robertson. "It's not often you get to defend a title.
"But my snooker hasn't been good enough all week. My only half decent performance was against Joe Perry.
"The confidence is still there, but I played absolutely terribly in some of my group matches.
"I was diabolical at times - I've only got myself to blame.
"My shot selection wasn't the best at times, but also my preparation hasn't been great because I've not been able to practise.
"I'll be working really hard towards the next tournament in Belfast."
Hendry battle
Stephen Hendry clung on to his Grand Prix hopes, but only just, as he cleared from the final red to beat Barry Hawkins in a deciding frame to stay in the tournament.
The seven-time world champion needed the clearance of 35 to beat Hawkins 4-3 and stay in the competition.
Graeme Dott, the 2006 world champion, has lost his chance after he fell to a third consecutive defeat with Anthony Hamilton claiming a 4-0 win.
"This is a good tournament but I'm finding it difficult to get my head round the fact I can lose a match like that and still qualify for the last 16," Dott said.
"This is a horses for courses event which doesn't suit me at all.
"When I played Anthony today I could understand people thinking I wasn't trying.
"But mentally it's so hard when you know you can't get through. Rest assured, I was trying my best out there and I think if we could choose which event to play in and there were any number to choose from, I would give this one a miss."
Missed 147
Current UK champion Peter Ebdon looked nailed-on for a maximum 147 break when he somehow missed the easiest of pinks.
Although he did record a 4-2 victory over Mark Selby in his final group game, Ebdon was gutted at missing out on a maximum break.
"I'm not very pleased with myself," admitted Ebdon. "I missed the pink by a mile, it was an unforgivable miss.
"I haven't made one (a 147) for 15 years, and I've always wanted to make one on TV.
"I'm gutted to be honest. I'll have a few sleepless nights about that. I couldn't have missed that more if I'd deliberately tried to miss it."
John Higgins made it three wins out of three with a 4-0 drubbing of Mark King, thanks to breaks of 119, 76 and 64, and he currently tops Group G.
Ryan Day joins Higgins at the summit of the table after he beat Tian Pengfei of China 40 to give the Welshman an identical record with world champion Higgins.
Ken Doherty lost a close contest with Ian McCulloch 4-3 to see his last 16 hopes go up in smoke as he has now lost all three matches and is bottom of his group.
Former Crucible finalist Matthew Stevens is also out despite winning his final group game 4-1 against David Harold.
