CHRIS Melling, complete with a new cue to replace the one that was lost on the way to last week's Riga Open, has bowed out of the Shanghai Masters qualifiers.

The 35-year-old from Keighley lost 5-1 to 16-year-old former world under-21 champion Lyu Haotian, who has the potential to follow in the footsteps of fellow Chinaman Ding Junhui.

Having lost the second frame on the black to trail 2-0 at Barnsley Metrodome, Melling won a low-scoring third frame 38-30 but could only score 64 points in the final three frames.

Last week, Melling reached the fourth round in Latvia, defeating former World Championship and UK semi-finalist Joe Perry 4-2 before losing 4-1 to Doncaster's Ian Glover.

Glover, also 35, made breaks of 106 and 65 to win frames three and four after Melling had taken the opener 71-55.

Trying to find his cue only added to Melling's frustration. He tweeted on Saturday: "Go to Riga airport they say my cues on the belt they sent it? Don't turn up. So I get to Amsterdam they say we just sent it to Riga. Fuming!"

Alluding to Melling's natural ability, however, and how he can often thrive with a cue first time around, 'Gentleman Joe' Perry tweeted: "you don't need it mate, u can play with anything!"