China’s Zhou Yu was too strong for England’s Liam Pitchford in the last 32 of the Hungarian Open today as the Englishman pulled out after three sets.

The 25-year-old world No 34, who has been ranked as high as No 13, won the first three sets with relative ease and Pitchford could not continue, therefore ending English interest in the event.

Pitchford made it through to the main draw by yesterday defeating world No 106 Jon Persson of Sweden 4-2 in the preliminary round in Budapest. He previously won both his group matches.