TABLE 4 RESULT: NIU ZHUANG 4-1 LEE WALKER: Walker wasn't at his best today. Certainly had his fair share of chances but just couldn't find his range nor rhythm. Niu Zhuang knocked in some good balls at key times but wasn't the most consistent amongst the balls. The yellow and green to win from Niu though was pure class. Both difficult range pots.
ROBERT MILKINS 4-2 YUAN SIJUN - A closing break of 36 to the yellow was enough for Milkins to get the job done. A bit of inexperience and poor safety probably cost Yuan Sijun but seeing him today confirms the talent is there for sure. On the day it's Robert Milkins who will be making the trip to India.
- It's been a pretty disjointed start to frame six. Now though Milkins has been left a decent chance from a disappointing Yuan safety and one he should be looking to clinch the match from.
Frame Milkins - After missing on 58 leading by 35 with one red left Milkins had Yuan in a position where could only force a re-spot. However, he left the red over the yellow pocket with the black on its spot for Yuan, who negotiated it well enough but still had to make a thin cut on it. A tricky pink was also negotiated on the way to forcing a re-spot. Yuan made the vital error though getting a safety on the black too thick and leaving it over the corner with an easy pot for Milkins. 3-2 Milkins
CHANCE MILKINS - Another good chance here for Robert after an early effort for Yuan. Break goes to 50 with a delicate cut on the side cushion but with the final two reds on cushions too there's plenty of work left here.
Frame Yuan - Yuan won the battle on the pink by cutting it in from range. The black was on the cushion though and while he could have gone for it he wisely chose against. After some decent safety and a couple of missed attempts that he left safe, the Chinese player knocked the black in from mid range to square it up. 2-2
TABLE 4 UPDATE - Lee Walker 3-0 down and firmly on the back foot now. He had a chance at the start of the frame after Niu missed a long red and clattered into the bunch but only made 16. Another chance came to canter late in the frame and he got down to the green which had the pink next to it and was awkward. After some safety on the green Niu knocked it in from range and added a good mid range brown to make sure Walker didn't come back for snookers.
- Yuan gets himself back in the frame by clearing the last few reds. The blue was awkward though and he attempted it at a tight angle missing it but leaving it safe. Milkins pots the blue after some safety though but misses a tricky pink in the middle. He needs pink. Yuan both balls.
- Another good chance now for Milkins. The youngsters inexperience starting to show here and Milkins is continually growing in confidence in this match. Break into the thirties with all the reds he needs in the open. Should move 3-1 and one away from booking the India trip.... Until he makes a positional error leaving a tricky red with the rest which he misses. Still controlling the frame and match though.
Frame Milkins - Just after that post Milkins pots the final balls needed for the frame and makes a 66 to lead and looking more comfortable now. 2-1
- Nice little chance for Milkins in frame three. His opponent let him in with an easy starter and thus far he's taken advantage. Nice cannon has just got the black in play and he's not far from taking the frame now.
TABLE 4 UPDATE - 2-0 now to Niu. He looks comfortable and is being made more so by Walkers errors. The fatal one being a safety on the final red caught too thick.
Frame Milkins - After offering chances on the green and leaving it over the middle for Yuan, Milkins gets a reprieve as the youngster misses a sitter of a blue in the middle. A couple of safeties follow before Yuan leaves the blue on in the middle and Milkins clears. 1-1
- Both players have now had good chances. Milkins with a good lead saw Yuan get in and then play a nice safety come snooker when he lost position. From that Milkins was a little unlucky to leave him another opening and after potting a good final red and a good yellow he misses the green. Remaining colours in the open so almost a green ball frame.
MILKINS CHANCE - Milkins gets in with the opening chance and makes 30 before missing a red with the white near the side rail. Chance now for Yuan to get his arm going again, but misses a cutback black on 9. Milkins back in.
TABLE 4 UPDATE: Lee Walker looked to have the reds at his mercy in the opener but misses a pretty straightforward pink to middle only for Niu to pass up the chance. Walker then misses a red he took a long time over and Niu gets back in and makes it 1-0.
Frame Yuan Sijun - 84 is more than enough for Yuan Sijun in a quick and confident break. Milkins plays on purely for some table time but doesn't get much. 1-0 Yuan
- Yuan Sijun in first here and has got the reds open early. He looks even younger than 17 but the early sign is it won't show in his play. Seems a confident player and should make plenty from this opening chance.
- 10 minutes to go until the start here. Milkins and Yuan are on table 3, there is no match in this session on table 1, table 2 is the stream match, and Lee Walker vs Niu Zhuang is on table 4 so I will have the odd update from there. The other matches are on the other side and the only one I'll have any reasonable view at is Liam Highfield and new professional Matthew Bolton. I'm all set and raring to go.
It's time to introduce today's Live Blog. Starting at 1pm I will be featuring Robert Milkins match with 17-year-old new tour professional Yuan Sijun.
Yuan was one of my players to watch for this season, and even though he started with two defeats he will have something to take having lost 4-3 to Oliver Lines and 5-3 to Tom Ford both matches he kept very competitive.
Robert Milkins won his two Preston qualifiers beating Aditya Mehta to qualify for Riga, where he had a Last 64 walkover before losing 4-1 to eventual champion Ryan Day in the Last 32. He also overcame Zhao Xintong to make the upcoming China Championship.
The "and others" in the title of this blog refers to the fact that I will look to provide updates from other 1pm non-streamed matches depending on where the Milkins game is situated in the arena and what matches are near it. I also hope to cover a 4pm start which will be dependant on if the Milkins game runs over (which is unlikely given his pace) and again which matches are situated where in the arena and whether or not all matches start on time. That's the boring explanation over, updates will start from 1pm with the nearest update at the top of the page so you readers don't have to scroll to find the latest details. Enjoy!!!
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