Mark Davis lost a 4-3 thriller in round two of the ManBetX Welsh Open but he knows he can rely on Jimmy Robertson for support.

The St Leonards potter went down to a disappointing 4-3 defeat against Igor Figueiredo under Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena lights, twice enjoying the lead but failing to hold on after breaks of 98, 75 and 57 from the Brazilian.

But he had a good friend in fellow player Robertson in the crowd, who earlier in the day booked his spot in the third round with a 4-2 win over Yuan Sijun.

And the Bexhill potter, who is ranked No.30 in the world, says he enjoys a jovial relationship with the defeated 47-year-old.

“I drove Mark up here, but he’s meant to be getting the train home - in fact, I want him to get the train home as I can’t put up with him any longer!” he joked in between their matches.

“He does my head in, but we practise with each other every day down at the club so we spur each other on.

“He plays on Wednesday night so I’ll be over to watch him in the crowd - I’ll watch a few frames but he’ll probably bore me!”

There was certainly nothing boring about Davis' initial 3-1 lead, however, keeping Robertson entertained before a fifth-frame 98 from the world No.109 marked the start of his unexpected turnaround.

And he promptly went about composing polished efforts of 75 and 57 to cap off the victory, breaking Davis’ heart at the eleventh hour to send him back home on the train disappointed.

Watch the Welsh Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds