Overview
- Littler dropped just three legs in dispatching Mensur Suljovic and remains yet to lose a set at Alexandra Palace this tournament.
- He comfortably handled Suljovic’s slower tempo that drew earlier complaints, closing sets with ton-plus checkouts including a decisive 124.
- Stephen Bunting, the No. 4 seed, was beaten 4-3 by James Hurrell, making him the highest-ranked player eliminated so far and reshaping that section of the draw.
- Eighteen of the 32 seeds had been knocked out by the time Littler took to the stage, underscoring a volatile third round packed with upsets.
- The championship features an expanded 128-player field and a record £5m prize fund with £1m to the winner, with full live coverage on Sky Sports.