Chris Melling could not back up his victory over Matthew Stevens in the World Snooker qualifiers in Gloucester.

The 35-year-old from Keighley, who defeated twice World Championship runner-up Stevens 5-4 to book his place in the Wuxi Classic final stages in China later this month, lost 5-3 to Ross Muir in the Australian Goldfields Open qualifier, again at the South West Snooker Academy.

Pool ace Melling, who is just starting his third attempt to make it at snooker, won the third frame 67-66 to avoid a 3-0 deficit, only to lose the next two.

Down 4-1, The Magician won frames six and seven 64-12, 76-21 but lost the eighth 84-7, with 18-year-old Scot Muir making a 73 break to add to his 56 in the second frame.