Ben Woollaston 6-3 Alfie Burden - Woollaston ended up breaking down on 52 but the next safety from Burden leaves Woollaston back in again and he did not need much more to close the match out. On the whole he scored better than Burden but also had a lot more chances as his safety was just that bit stronger too, but to beat some of the higher ranked players in this event he will need to score heavier and win frames in one visit like he did more with the 130 break, as he will not get that amount of chances against higher ranked guys. Still a good win for Woollaston though after the fightback from Burden.
Frame 9 - Another frame and another easy opener for Woollaston after Burden misses and leaves a red in the Jaws that somehow didn't drop (even after Alfie shouted "drop then" at it). Woollaston was looking good as the break entered the forties with reds open but he's giving himself a scare or two positionally.
Frame Woollaston - Woollaston ended up losing position on 56 and would play safe before a long red shortly after gave him another half chance. He missed a thin black though but left nothing for Burden and at the third time of asking Woollaston left Burden needing three snookers. 5-3 Woollaston.
Frame 8 - Burden is left with his hands behind his head as he realises he's left Woollaston an easy opener right at the start of the eighth. So far Woollaston is taking advantage and taking control of the match again as this looks like another potential one visit frame.
Frame Woollaston - That was certainly more like the Woollaston of the first three frames. A fluent and very speedily compiled break of 69 was enough to leave Burden needing snookers and unlike a little earlier in the match, the battle was a short one this time. 4-3 to Woollaston.
Frame 7 - Right when he needs to, Woollaston is putting something together early on in a frame. In first he needs to start taking his chances like he did in the opening three frames and regain that confidence. He doesn't make life easy for himself, even though this should be a frame winning break.
Frame Burden - Woollaston has to play safe on the green and then a few shots later takes on a very aggressive but risky pot, misses and leaves it for Burden who is easily able to clinch the frame. 3-3 now.
Burden built a nice 64 but didn't land on frame ball red and had to play safe. A few shots later a poor safety has left Woollaston a magnificent chance to steal the frame and regain control.
Frame 6 - Burden ends up snookered behind the green early in the frame, hits the black from the escape and leaves a red underneath it to allow Woollaston the first opening of the frame as he looks to halt the Burden charge. He misses on 23 though and looks to be feeling it a little now.
Frame Burden - He did not end up clinching the frame at that visit and after Woollaston threatened to make a comeback in the frame, he missed an ambitious red into the green pocket, leaving it over the middle for Burden to pull another frame back. 3-2 now to Woollaston.
An in-off from Woollaston gave Burden another chance and with plenty of open reds he looks like pegging Woollaston back further.
Frame 5 - Burden earned the first opening after a long bout of safety with a brilliant long straight red. The resulting break only amounted to 20 though, but his miss left nothing for Woollaston and they're back to safety.
Frame Burden - That's much more like it from Burden. He looked in really good touch amongst the reds and showed Woollaston that he's still got something to think about in this match. Burden wobbled the last red which is the only thing denying him a century, but a break of 97 keeps him in it. 3-1 Woollaston.
Frame 4 - This is the first really good chance Burden has had so far and he could do with winning the frame in one visit to tell Woollaston he is not done yet. Break up into the forties and looking in good shape
Frame Woollaston - The long battle for snookers ends when Burden leaves the red close to the middle and after jokingly pointing at the spot on the cushion Woollaston would need to come off to pot it, Ben does exactly that. 3-0 Woollaston
After a long battle that took the frame beyond the 30 minute mark Woollaston knocks a great red into the middle and already with a healthy lead he leaves Burden requiring snookers with two reds left.
Woollaston ends up losing position and now leads by 37. Briefly the referee on the next table was his wife Tatianna after the referee assigned to that game had a coughing fit and left the arena.
Frame 3 - A tough miss on a red along the cushion from Burden leaves Woollaston in again with the first good chance in the frame and he's looking in really good shape again with a few reds open.
Frame Woollaston - Excellent from Woollaston. The cue ball was hardly on a string in the middle of the break as he really did some mileage but a cracking shot on the pink in the middle to split the reds opened the rest of the frame up, taking him into the fifties and resulting in a 136 total clearance. He looks very good for the 2-0 lead.
Frame 2 - With a red behind the black just dropping for Woollaston he's first in again and has got the reds spread early on to make this a great chance to double that early lead in no time.
Frame Woollaston - An additional 53 does the job for Woollaston to take the opening frame. Was pretty comfortable with reds spread but he looks to be cueing well nonetheless. 1-0 Woollaston
A great long red from Woollaston to come down for the black leaves him in an excellent position now with plenty of open reds as he looks to take the opener.
Frame 1 - After a nice leak from roof caused me to change seats a miss from Burden in the middle allowed Woollaston in first. His pack split on 25 saw him finish on nothing though and he was forced to play safe.
After Ken Doherty overcame Yuan Sijun in my live blog match earlier I'm looking forward to tonight between Alfie Burden and Ben Woollaston.
Woollaston has had a hit and miss season, being whitewashed in a couple of early season qualifiers but he also boasts a win over Mark Selby in the English Open - making a sensational clearance in the decider. He also had a great chance to beat Neil Robertson in Belfast before losing 4-3.
As for Burden, he recently made the last 16 of the International Championship beating Sam Baird and David Lilley before losing to eventual champion Mark Allen and he's had some tough draws this year too. This shapes up to be a tight tussle.
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