Snooker: Mein and Muir reach last 32

Edinburgh’s Lee Mein has joined Musselburgh’s Ross Muir and three other young Scots in the last 32 of the European Under-21 Snooker Championships in Bor, Serbia.

Mein was second in his group with four wins out of five after beating Balázs Köles (Slovakia) 3-0 before losing his final match to Ireland’s Ryan Cronin.

The loss meant Mein had to play an extra qualifying match, beating Nathanaël Beckrich (France) 4-2 to reach the last 32. Muir had already qualified with four straight wins and was joined by Rhys Clark (Hamilton) and Dylan Craig (Glasgow). Clydebank’s Joseph McLaren survived a final frame shoot-out to beat Jeff Jacobs (Belgium) 4-3 to ensure all five Scots in the competition 
were among the last 32.

The knockout stages were due to continue this morning. Mein plays Siarhei Melnichonak (Belarus) while Muir is up against Vilius Schulte (Lithuania). Clark, Craig and McLaren meet Josh Boileau (Ireland), Lukas Kleckers (Germany) and James Cahill (England) respectively.