Tuesday 16 February 2016

Welsh Open: Day 2: Live Blog

9am - Back again and nearly time for me to grab some breakfast but before I do it's time to introduce my live blog for the day. I'll be spending most of my day on the front five tables today, as there will only be three games on out at the back as we go down to eight tables. Then in the evening we're down to four so i'll park up nice and early to see the best action. These are some of the games i'll have an eye on.

In the morning session I will obviously be watching Shaun Murphy again as he takes on Mitchell Mann. I'd like to see Michael Holt and Jimmy Robertson at the same time but fear that could be on the back tables.

At 1pm I like the match up between Luca Brecel and Mark King a lot, think that could be a cracking game (and my mate is a massive Luca fan who'll want updates). Wouldn't mind watching Mark Davis and James Cahill if that is nearby after watching both of those guys yesterday.

Then at 2pm we have Ding Junhui against Joe Swail, I fancy that to be a great match and would like to get to watch it, though if it's on table two it may be tough with Ronnie being on the main table to get anywhere near it for Rocket fans, especially after yesterday. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Anthony McGill could be a good one too.

At 7pm we go down to four tables so i'll find a spot to have a view of all four. In that session we have Neil Robertson against Stuart Carrington which will probably be my focus.

Following that in the designated 8pm session I will watch Robin Hull after missing his first round and trying to watch over my shoulder. He takes on Mark Allen in a match that could go the distance.

That's what you can look forward to hearing from and I know none of my picked out matches are on the TV table so it should be a good day to keep you all informed.

10.30am - All set and ready here to watch the Magician. Just popped up to the Players lounge and had a good laugh with Holty. He's out on table seven unfortunately.

11.40am - All going well for Murphy so far. Cueing nicely. Highlight a 135 early on. Mann not done much wrong. Missed a pink when in in frame four which has proved the difference at 3-1. Walden just now making a nice break after losing a 40 minutes second frame but still trails 1-2. Gilbert not got going this morning and the usual stuff from Doherty sees him 2-0 ahead. Wenbo and Wilson both cueing nicely but particularly Wenbo. One to watch this week.

1pm - Murphy through. Made a bit of hard work of it there but a cool break in the decider to get through. Mann played well took the chances he had. Just one bad positional shot in the decider costing him. Wenbo looked great value for his 4-1 win. Saw from afar that Michael White got through a quality affair with Tom Ford and we've got a couple of deciders coming in now as I pop up to the lounge to congratulate Shaun.

1.40pm - slow start to the afternoon with Mark Davis and Mark Kings matches just starting out. Hawkins has just made a lovely 87 to level with Robbie Williams who is a little bit scratchy so far. King looking good for 1-0 on Luca. Higgins and Baird a really scrappy start.

2pm - Mark Davis is playing as well as he ever has. Seniors win seems to have given him great confidence, brilliant yesterday and started with a 134 today. Higgins and Baird still grinding away the opener. 50 minutes and counting. After a bit of bad luck potting a red going into them from the pink, Luca comes back for a second chance and makes the most of it for 1-1.

Just as I'm about to submit Higgins has got a snooker and potted the green. Should clear for 1-0... And does. 52 minutes in all.

2.30pm - May have been a slow start for Higgins but he's just gone with consecutive centuries to lead 3-0. Haven't got the exact numbers as there's been scoreboard issues on that match in the arena. Davis still looking good at 2-0. Mark King had chances in frame three but Luca took it. He is in now though to try and level at 2-2. Also 2-2 with Williams and Hawkins. Reckon that will go the distance.

2.55pm - Higgins through in style and that means Matthew Stevens and Martin O'Donnell are now on table 2. Both Luca and King are missing balls as that goes close. 3-2 Brecel but you just fancy a decider. Robbie Williams now looking the stronger player against Hawkins 3-2 and in with another decent chance. Frame three been a battle with Davis and Cahill but Mark now has a chance for 3-0. A chance he's missed. Battle on the green continues.

3.05pm - 3-3 King and Brecel and looks the same is coming in the Hawkins game. Who do I fancy? Luca and Robbie. Don't hold me to it. Cahill just won a marathon to stay in his match with Davis at 1-2.

3.35pm - Luca wins it. King didn't really have a chance and the Belgian knocked in some great pots. Hawkins looking good to beat Williams. Mark Davis has breathing space again at 3-1.

4pm - Lovely start from Joe Swail against Ding Junhui, cueing just as well as he did yesterday. Ronnie blitzing it on the TV. Stevens coming back at O'Donnell well. Mark Davis has just beaten James Cahill 4-1 in what turned into a scrap. Hawkins doubled the last red to win his decider with Robbie Williams and now Marco Fu Vs Daniel Wells is on that table.

4.25pm - Ding Junhui absolutely flying now. 80 followed by a 98 clearance to lead Swail 2-1. Could he go under the radar this week. Dott has taken the opener against Ross Muir and Wells is 1-0 on Fu, though Fu has a great chance to level up.

7pm - Swail will be disappointed to lose tonight but there was nothing much he could've done in the last couple of frames. Fu was as solid as ever against Wells.

Was a little gutted for Joe as he played well and was pulling out all the shots. Quick in and out after that match finished to grab food and I'm ready for tonight focusing probably on Neil Robertson and Joe Perry but I have a nice view of all four matches.

7.30pm - Opening frames done on all tables. Robertson business like to lead, Li Hang took what was there after getting a chance with reds spread. Day was the most impressive in his break of 70+ to lead Mike Dunn

7.50pm - Dunn has levelled after a scrappy second with Day, who conceded when needing a snooker on the pink thinking he'd accidentally potted, and getting the brown out of the pocket to signal a concession. Only then did he realise that the pink had wobbled and gone safe. Oops.

Perry has also levelled in a frame where both players missed chances.

It also seems the match I really want to see this evening between Hull and Allen is going on the spare arena table, table 5 on time at 8pm to save time later it seems. Looking forward to that. Hull actually played on that same table yesterday against Hossein Vafei Ayouri.

8.15pm - Quick opener in the Allen match goes his way. Very much a case of little in large in terms of the vast height difference. Perry looked more comfortable in going 2-1 up as Hang missed another easy ball on the way. Neil Robertson is 2-0 up after a scrappy second when the reds ended up on the side cushion.

8.35pm - Robin Hull really is a joy to watch when he's like that. Magnificent 114 clearance with some great shots and perfect positional play to make it 1-1. You could almost feel the sigh of relief from Day as he potted the blue to stop Dunns continued search for snookers and go 2-1 ahead.

8.50pm - Allens just as good to watch after a missed long pot from Hull leaves him in. 65 does the job to lead 2-1 after some good recovery pots. Perry will be glad to go 3-1 after Hang had a huge battle for snookers which he nearly got. Day goes 3-1 up to capitalising on a Dunn error with an 85 break.

9pm - This really is sensational. Allen misses a long pot this time and Hull shows his break building prowess with a 77 to make it 2-2. Best shot of the break really was the first black. Was a tough shot thin but played it confidently and into the reds. Match of the tournament for me of the one's I've seen.

9.15pm - Snooker really is a cruel game. Hull going well on 55, great pack opener but a red falls in, Allen brings the red off of the cushion early and clears with 60 to lead 3-2. Stunning standard. Frightening.

10.10pm - Match of the tournament all done here. Mark Allen gets through 4-3. Frame six was an interesting one as Allen had a great chance before missing a red just as Ryan Day won and about 962,000 people charged down the stairs like it was black Friday at the Trafford Centre.

Hull went on to clear much later with a cool 46 and had a great chance in the decider but missed a brown trying to force his way around the table and Allen did the rest with 65 to leave the Fin needing snookers.

On the night though they both did themselves proud and I'm glad I concentrated on this match solely. My favourite of the event so far.

10.25pm - As if the standard couldn't get better Selby opens up with a 133 on table two against Lines in a match not being filmed despite being on a TV table.

Even more bizarrely Lisowski Vs Gould and Woollaston Vs Burden are out on tables 8 and 9 around the back. No idea.

1am - A bizarre evening finishes with a granite display from Mark Selby, the snooker on the green was genius and near impossible to escape from in frame five for Lines. Tough on him as he really could do nothing more. Back at the hotel and after some sleep before we go again tomorrow for the Last 32.

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