Judd Trump, Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy were the 3 big name casualties on the second day of the International Championship in Chengdu, while Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui all managed to get through. This sees the continuation of Trump and Murphy's poor starts to the season, and leaves many of their fans wondering when they will get out of this rut as many, like myself, believe that it is only a matter of time, but as some have suggested this is hardly the end for either of them. As a wise man once said "form is temporary, class is permanent." and both have class by the bagful.
So here's a look back at some of today's action:
David Gilbert 6-4 Shaun Murphy - This was a superb match, which ebbed and flowed, before Gilbert took a grip on it and took the 6-4 win. The match was a very high scoring one, and the first frame was the only exception really as it was a scrappy affair until a break of 47 gave Gilbert the 1-0 advantage. Murphy hit back immediately, with a break of 74 levelling the contest, before a break of 100 gave Gilbert the lead, before a 74 in the next helped him double that lead, and go into the mid-session break 3-1 ahead. Murphy hit back once more with a wonder 125 break reducing the deficit to 3-2, before breaks of 56 and 57 restored David's 2 frame advantage. As always Shaun kept on fighting, as runs of 83 and 90 helped the world number 6 level the contest at 4-4. However, it was Gilbert that was able to take control once more and hold his nerve, as breaks of 71 and 62 helped him to the last 2 frames and set-up a Last 32 meeting with Joe Perry. A great win once more for Gilbert who is beginning to show us his full potential.
Alan McManus 6-5 Judd Trump - This really was just a great encounter, between 2 players that played really well, with the odd mistake here and there costing them frames, in what was a very close match that the Scot McManus managed to edge 6-5. It was Alan that took the first frame, before Judd showed what was to come with a nice break of 92 to equalise, he took the next as well to lead 2-1, but as was the trend of the match, McManus levelled straight away once more. After the interval, McManus potted a red after splitting the pack from the blue, which then gave Judd the platform to make a nice 102 break to lead again at 3-2. McManus recovered though as he squared the match again with a run of 71. A 51 from the defending champion in the seventh frame, helped Trump to take it and a 4-3 advantage. A plucky break of 75 once again allowed McManus to level the match, this time at 4-4, before he took his chances again in the ninth frame to go 1 away from victory. However, Judd had other ideas making the highest break of the match, a 110, to take the match into a much deserved decider. The decider was very tense, with a lot of tactical play, and it was the tactical prowess of "Angles" McManus that gave him the upper hand, and as soon as he got the chance, the Scot took it, as a high pressured break of 31 was enough to give him the match, and a last 32 meeting with Ryan Day.
Ding Junhui 6-5 Cao Yupeng - This was another high quality encounter that saw a lot of top breaks, as Ding held on, having been 5-2 up earlier in the match, before his compatriot pulled the match into a decider. The recent Shanghai Masters and Indian Open winner started very brightly with a break of 73 giving him the opening frame, before a clearance of 52 doubled his lead, cancelling out an earlier 56 from Yupeng. Yupeng took a tight 3rd frame to get back into the match, before a run of 57 gave Ding a 3-1 lead at the interval. A nice break of 61 helped Cao reduce Ding's lead, until a 93 and then a 73 put the world number 4 a frame from victory at 5-2. Cao hung on in there though, taking the next to keep his hopes alive, before runs of 58 and 55 helped the young gun force the final frame decider. In the end it was the experience of the former UK Champion that shone through as a pressure break of 63 was enough to book Ding's place in round 2.
Neil Robertson 6-4 Alex Davies - Neil Robertson survived a massive scare as Alex Davies reduced Robertson's lead from 5-0 to 5-4 before Robertson managed to seal the 6-4 victory. The Aussie started as he meant to go on with a break of 100 giving him the opening frame, before a 77 made it 2-0. The next frame was a little more scrappy and Robertson need a few chances before he was able to take it and an early 3-0 advantage. It was a run of 68 in the next that gave the Wuxi Classic champion a 4-0 lead at the interval. It didn't get any better for young Davies as Neil made a break of 73 in the next which put him 1 frame away from victory at 5-0. Then Davies' fight back begun. A break of 49 was enough for Alex to get the score back to 5-1, before a break of 41 cut Robertson's advantage to just 3 frames, and not even a 63 break in the next was enough to see the Aussie home, before a 45 from Alex Davies helped him back to 5-4. Finally, Robertson showed his nerves of steel in the tenth frame with a magnificent 128 century break seeing Robertson through.
Kyren Wilson 6-3 Stephen Maguire - Stephen Maguire was another of the top seeds to bow out in the Last 64 of the International Championship, as Wilson pulled out another great performance to beat another top player. Breaks of 72 and 55 helped Wilson along to an early 4-1 advantage. Then Maguire fought back with a 126 and a 54 to reduce his lead to 4-3. Young Kyren held his nerve with runs of 72 and 93 giving him the 2 frames he needed to seal another classic 6-3 win for Wilson.
Mark Selby 6-0 Jamie Burnett - The reigning UK and Masters champion had no such problems in his first round encounter with Jamie Burnett, as breaks of 50, 51, 68, 69, 71 and 88 gave the Englishman a comfortable 6-0 whitewash of the Scot.
Today's Other Results:
Ryan Day 6-4 Mike Dunn
Marco Fu 6-2 Adam Duffy
Xiao Guodong 6-2 Alfie Burden
Fergal O'Brien 6-4 Ben Woollaston
Rod Lawler 6-3 Aditya Mehta
Barry Hawkins 6-2 Jimmy White
Zhao Xintong 6-2 Craig Steadman
Peter Lines 6-3 Mark King
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 6-1 Zhang Anda
Peter Ebdon 6-2 Jack Lisowski
Mark Williams 6-2 Paul Davison
James Wattana 6-5 Gary Wilson
Last 32 Draw and Predictions
Alan McManus Vs Ryan Day - Will be a close one but expecting a Day win.
Fergal O'Brien Vs Rod Lawler - Will be a slow one but think O'Brien will edge it.
Mark Allen Vs Dave Harold - Comfortable win for Allen.
Joe Perry Vs David Gilbert - Expecting an entertaining and close match but a win for Perry.
Barry Hawkins Vs Zhao Xintong - Should be an easy win for Hawkins against the young but dangerous Wildcard.
Xiao Guodong Vs Marco Fu - Will be close again, but Fu played well today, and I expect him to nick it.
Stuart Bingham Vs Martin Gould - Should be another entertaining, tight match, but think Bingham will just take it.
Mark Selby Vs Peter Lines - After today, a comfortable Selby win.
Neil Robertson Vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh - The Thai could run him close but expect Robertson to come through.
Peter Ebdon Vs Mark Joyce - Most likely a scrappy win for Ebdon.
John Higgins Vs Matthew Stevens - Expecting a nice win for Higgins against out of form Stevens.
Ding Junhui Vs James Wattana - Easy win for Ding
Kyren Wilson Vs Graeme Dott - Wouldn't put it past Wilson to get another good win, but think that Dott will grind this one out.
Mark Williams Vs Kurt Maflin - This will be far from comfortable with Williams, but with his improving form, I expect him to come through.
Mark Davis Vs Stuart Carrington - Should be an easy enough victory for Davis.
Ronnie O'Sullivan Vs Liang Wenbo - This won't be easy for O'Sullivan, and he will have to be on top form against the recent AT3 champion. Should still come through though.
It's all shaping up to be a brilliant tournament, and i'm expecting a lot of entertaining snooker from the Last 32 tomorrow. Should be an enjoyable day on the baize.
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