Daniel Wells and Gary Wilson have withdrawn from the BetVictor European Masters after testing positive for coronavirus.
The players were tested upon arrival at the behind-closed-doors event in Milton Keynes, with Elliot Slessor and David Lilley also having to pull out after coming into contact with Wilson, the World Snooker Tour said on Tuesday.
Michael White came into contact with Wells and has also pulled out.
All other players and officials were also tested and, as a result of the quintet’s withdrawal, five players will receive byes to the next round.
Two players test positive at snooker's BetVictor European Masters. ▶️ https://t.co/pjD0BoK38o pic.twitter.com/9Sxw4AAZJU — World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) September 22, 2020
World champion Ronnie O’Sullivan heads that list, with Mark Selby, David Gilbert, James Cahill and Duane Jones now also without a first-round opponent.
WST said in a statement the five affected players will “now undergo a period of self isolation and will receive the support of WST”.
In the pick of the action on Tuesday, Shaun Murphy edged Liang Wenbo 5-4, while world semi-finalist Anthony McGill beat Luo Honghao 5-3.
Stephen Maguire was a 5-3 winner over Cheng Bingyu and Yan Bingtao fired two centuries and a break of 91 as he whitewashed Barry Pinches 5-0.
