Liam Highfield 4-1 Chris Wakelin - Being so close already, one more chance and pots on red and pink are all Highfield needed to leave Wakelin requiring a snooker with three reds left. That battle did not last long before the handshake though and Highfield is into the last 16 tonight. He looked the most likely winner throughout the morning and was fairly dominant. Fancy his chances again this evening against either Akani or Burns after a good win.
A run of 50 from Highfield comes up just short of a the mark. His position on match ball red was out by an inch and means he has to play safe but in a very strong position as he looks to get over the line without any drama.
Frame 5 - After a bit of a slow start to the frame Highfield is now in with the best opportunity so far. It is by no means a clear cut match winning chance with a few reds in need of development but at the very least he can build a good lead here and pile the pressure on to Wakelin.
Frame Highfield - Wakelin has a good go for the second snooker but cannot put Highfield in enough trouble. Eventually Highfield doubles the red, though I'm not sure it was entirely intentional, but he'll take it. One away from the last 16 now. 3-1 Highfield.
Highfield gets a second chance rolling in a lovely long red and potting a couple more great balls soon after just to show how well he's cueing. By the time the break ends Wakelin needs two snookers, but Highfield is not happy about losing position after being put off by something in the crowd. Wakelin has the first snooker but still needs one more if he's to win this frame.
Frame 4 - First opening in this frame again goes to Highfield and he's looked solid so far. He split the reds perfectly from the green with the break in the twenties, and despite not landing ideal, knocked an excellent plant in to keep things alive. He can't quite keep hold of good position though and plays safe on 40, pushing the blue to the cushion.
Frame Highfield - Not too many more pots were needed to give Highfield the frame. It was a rather comfortable one for him in the end and he certainly looks the better of the two in scoring among the reds this morning. 2-1 Highfield
Highfield misses an easy enough pink just a few pots really from winning the frame. That allows Wakelin in but he cannot take full advantage and now Highfield should be able to move back in front.
Frame 3 - Highfield had the first chance here after a sloppy safety shot from Wakelin. He didn't make much from it but did lay a snooker which yields 22 points before Wakelin finally contacts a red. Highfield then knocks a red into the middle and is back among them again.
Frame Wakelin - Wakelin always had the slight advantage there on the safety but needed a few chances still to kill it off. Eventually though Highfield leaves the final red on and Wakelin is able to do enough to leave Highfield needing snookers. Not a memorable frame but still important. 1-1
Both players have now again had half chances but neither could bring the reds into play. Five remain and it's Wakelin that has a narrow seven point advantage. Highfield gets a second go at it, making contact but the reds just don't want to spread for either player.
Could be a real scrappy frame now. All of the reds have been pushed towards the bottom cushion and there's still eight of them left. Unless one of them opens them up it could be a cagey frame from here.
Frame 2 - An even start so far in the second frame. Both players have had half chances but have failed to convert them into anything substantial. Into a safety battle which is also pretty even at press.
Frame Highfield - Wakelin clears down to the final red and lays a couple of decent snookers on it. Highfield though escapes well on each occasion and then when he's given the first look at potting it, he does and is able to kill the frame off. Good start for Highfield. 1-0
Good stuff there from Highfield. A particularly good shot on the pink on 49 allowed him to keep the break going and despite a missed pink to middle on 63 Wakelin needs snookers.
Frame 1 - Nice start for Highfield as he crunches a long red in and gets straight into the reds from the blue. However, he has had to work hard early in the break to get ideal position but now he has this is a really good opening.
It's snowing heavily in Cardiff but unlike many places, the show goes on here at the Motorpoint Arena. My first live blog of the day sees Liam Highfield taking on Chris Wakelin. I've been wanting to see Highfield all week so looking forward to this. He had a walkover in round one but then yesterday he walked all over former champion Ding Junhui winning 4-1.
Chris Wakelin meanwhile overcame in form Xiao Guodong in round one before beating Andrew Higginson yesterday. With the winner playing Ian Burns or Akani Songsermsawad in the last 16 there's a big chance for someone lower down in the rankings in this section to have a good run.
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