Bexhill's 16-year-old professional Jimmy Robertson was the youngest competitor in the Benson & Hedges championships in Mansfield.

Robertson received a bye into the second round at the event, for professionals ranked outside the top 16, where he faced 26-year-old Harlow player Sanjay Meghani and won 5-3 with the help of breaks of 87, 52, 40, 87 and 59.

The Bexhill youngster exited the competition in the third round when he came up against world No. 52 Stephen Maguire.

Glaswegian Maguire, 21, is a practice partner for Stephen Hendry and although Robertson took the first frame, Maguire responded with magnificent 125 and 40 breaks to take a 2-1 lead before the youngster levelled to go into the interval at 2-2.

The Scot stepped up another gear after the interval, hitting breaks of 59, 81 and 78 to win the match 5-2.

Robertson, who is sponsored by Classic Racing Bookmakers and The Q-Ball, said: "I didn't get a chance after the interval because Stephen's potting was exceptional.

"It's my first season on the main tour and even though I'm holding my own it's tough getting wins at this level. One mistake and you are in trouble."

Robertson now faces a struggle to keep his place on the main tour and if results do not improve he could be relegated to the challenge tour.

It all started so promisingly for Robertson at qualifying school in Burton back in September when he got off to a flying start on his debut, beating Craig Butler 5-2 in the first round of the L.G. Cup.

Unfortunately the youngster then bombed out of the next three events, the British Open, UK Championships and Regal Welsh Open at the first hurdle, losing 5-3 to Paul Davies, 5-3 to Rory McCloud and 5-1 to Butler respectively. Then in the second round of the L.G.Cup Robertson was defeated 5-1 by Jason Weston.

He has four events to try and keep his place on the main tour.