Morning all, an early one here at the hotel as I prepare for the 9am start in at the Motorpoint Arena for the Welsh Open Last 128. All 64 first round games are being played today and looking at the schedule 12 tables will be in use at different times.
What i'm going to *attempt* to do today is some kind of Live Blog from the venue. This is purely experimental and depending how long we last depends on how much Mobile Data I end up using!!!
I will try to focus on the ymatches not televised and give that extra insight that those of you watching from your armchair will not get.
Up at 9am this morning Mark Davis takes on Zhao Xintong so I wouldn't mind looking in on that one while my tournament tip Stephen Maguire also plays in this session, as well as the "KingDog" Mark King.
I will be watching some of my favourite players later on in the day with newly crowned Shoot-Out champion Robin Hull due on at 1pm against Hossein Vafei Ayouri, Michael Holt plays in the second afternoon session against Hamza Akbar. Then in the evening we have one of the blogs great supporters Shaun Murphy against Itaro Santos, and then two more in the second evening session with Joe Perry and World Champion Stuart Bingham (arguably match of the day there with Hamilton after his game the other day).
7.30am - Anyway my stomachs certainly woken up now so it's time for breakfast before I head literally across the road to the venue.
9am- Plonked myself in a nice position to see all the outside tables. As you'd expect there's a growing group by the Jimmy White/Gary Wilson table. No play yet on the TV table of course. Mark Davis Vs Zhao Xintong looks a good match to be following, and I'll also have eyes for Mark King.
9.45am - Mark King playing some decent stuff this morning. 51 clearance in the opener and then a break of 60 odd to go 2-0. Few distractions with people trying to come in a fire door just behind that match. Davis playing well to take advantage of any silly errors from Xintong. Ford just won a 45 minutes opening frame. Cahill and Xiao Guodong both struggling.
10.30am- Cahill found his range now and playing really nicely. Runs of 54 and 68 to go 3-1 on Guodong. Can't see much of Wilson and White but seems Gary is playing nicely. Then again you have to with that haircut. Century from Ford to put him 2-1 on Weston who nearly went in-off on the pink when clinching frame two. They've also just started a fan or heater up in the arena. Loud is an understatement.
10.50am - few winners here on the back tables. Wilson through with a century to finish off Jimmy. Cahill played nicely with two brilliant long range plants to finish off Guodong 4-1. Davis finished with an 85 and had to play well to beat Xintong 4-2. Meanwhile Fu and Joel Walker have just come on to table 11. Walker of course a quarter-finalist in Newport in 2014. King all done with a 45 minute closing frame but still played well to beat Donaldson 4-0.
11.15am - Fu started off nicely against Walker though Joel isn't playing too well. McGill underway against Highfield with Angles in the crowd watching. Dunn and Wakelin heading for a decider. Battle of the Leeds boys Grace and Peter Lines underway too. Sydney Wilson is on the far table playing Gerard Greene and Syd seems to have started well.
12pm - Mike Dunn has just won on a re-spot against Chris Wakelin after needing a snooker on the pink in that decider. Meanwhile Weston missed a pink on the rail to stay in his match with Ford and after a long battle Ford potted pink and black to win 4-1. Fu had an easy ride against Joel Walker winning 4-0. Thor Chuan Leong appears to be going well too. Leading Sam Baird 2-1 there after Sam took the first.
1pm- Just had a quick break while not much was happening to have a bite of food. Come back and McGill makes a century for 2-2. Mann levels at 1-1 with Yuelong. King and Angles in watching while Dunn and Lines junior are watching Lines senior and Grace. Battling on the green in frame three but Grace needs snookers. Peter needs the win there desperately.
1.45pm - Highfield now 3-2 ahead but finding any excuse to wave his arms in disgust. Grace has just made a century clearance to stay in it. Swail going nicely against Surety. Luca and Higginson are underway after playing in the Shoot-out last night. Getting tight between Mann and Yuelong. Not watched much but it's been a great standard.
2.30pm - Joe Swail racing here and playing well much to the enjoyment of his good friend Mark Allen who's watching from the front row. McGill has missed a red along the rail in the decider to give Highfield a great chance until he plants one red to the other and they both drop. Ian Burns getting plenty of chances against Luca but seems to be playing well. Higginson has been rattled by a bad mistake on the pink to gift Wells frame two. Still way behind here as Lines and Grace are still going from an 11am ish start. Grace needs a snooker though or Peter has won a huge battle.
3.10pm - bit of a quiet period really. Lawler and Lam having a marathon second frame after the reds grouped near a corner pocket. Ricky Walden and Ali Carter should be out to start their matches soon meanwhile after wins for Swail and McGill.
3.40pm - Big win for Daniel Wells 4-2 against Higginson who just missed too many today. Miah is in control against Kurt who looks very unhappy in his chair. Luca has his chance in the decider now having forced it from 1-3 behind. Trying to keep an eye on Hull on table 5 proving tough but the Shoot-out champion is looking good.
4.10pm - Another good comeback from Luca Brecel who after being 3-1 behind and only a ball from losing clears blue, pink and black after a long safety battle to win 4-3. Carter in full control against Yupeng leading 2-0 while Kyren is dominant also at 3-0. Should be 2-0 Walden coming up also.
4.45pm - Hammad Miah had a couple of really good chances to kill off his match with Maflin 4-0 but he's got a real test on now at 3-2 ahead and behind in the sixth. Maflin looks the most likely there now. Carter's still in full control of Cao. The Chinaman just not looked threatening. Walden starting to look a little frustrated against Wattana who's won the third there. Lawler and Lam slowing the afternoon down massively. Still only 2-2 there. Yu DeLu meanwhile got Ian Glover in a horrible snooker and has gained enough points to leave Ian needing a snooker of his own. Looks like 1-1 there.
5.40pm - Going to have to go for food soon so I'll make it quick. Just wish everyone else would. Lawler and Lam still going. Decider coming there. Holt now in action against Hamza Akbar. Wattana has levelled after a mammoth battle on the colours against Walden. Though Walden looks good in frame five here. Wilson in a decider from 3-0 up. Fernandez must have him shellshocked. Leo with a chance to clear and he does with a brilliant pink. Wilson is out.
7pm - All set and ready to watch Mr Murphy this evening. Just watched a bit of Holt also. Made a joke of how cold it is in here.
9pm - Murphy through a 4-1 winner. Played nicely with a century in there while Santos missed the final red for a maximum in the only frame he won. Gould seemed to be carrying on his German Masters form in a 4-1 win over Duffy. Higgins nice and quick for his win. Robertson in a match with Patrick who's played quite nicely from what I've seen.
Tony Drago meanwhile is wearing a red backed waistcoat and a red shirt. Watching too much Caddyshack? "See the ball Tony. Be the ball".
9.15pm - Great snooker on the yellow just now from Poomjaeng behind the brown close to the baulk cushion. Went on to clear the colours and beat Steadman 4-1. Meanwhile home favourite Matthew Stevens is now set to begin, while Fraser Patrick is taking Neil Robertson to a decider.
9.40pm - As ever it's a professional and gutsy finish from Neil Robertson to win 4-3. Good break from Stevens to lead 1-0. Dale and Burden are underway and Trump will be underway soon.
12.40am - Back to the hotel and we're all done for the day here in Cardiff. An unlucky in-off in the decider gave Burden the chance to build a lead against Dale and he didn't let up. Eventually falling over the line after potting the pink with Dominic needing snookers.
The big story of course is the exit of the World champion to a fine performance from Anthony Hamilton and a great clearance in the last. I also called that result in my preview so can't say I'm surprised.
It's not good night yet though as I will be doing a very quick last 64 Preview
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