Wednesday, 13 February 2019

LIVE BLOG: Barry Hawkins Vs Ben Woollaston

Barry Hawkins 4-2 Ben Woollaston - Hawkins goes on to pot two further reds with no colours, but laying a snooker from the second of them. Woollaston hits the black with his escape which left him needing a snooker but he left a red too and would not return to the table. A very good night's work from Hawkins, while Woollaston put up a good fight but just could not match the quality of Hawkins in all departments.

Hawkins makes a very healthy contribution of 41, taking his lead to 53 with six reds left, but the break ends after he fails to bring out the four reds on the bottom cushion and is forced to play safe.

Frame 6 - After a very tactical start to this frame Woollaston had a half chance after fluking a red but his miss on the green leaves Hawkins in now with a great opportunity to build a sizeable lead as he looks to finish this match off.

Frame Woollaston - Hawkins has a chance to clear and win potting the final two reds, but coming unstuck on the safe green on the side cushion. He opts to play for a double but jaws it and leaves it on for Woollaston who does enough to stay in the match. Now only 3-2 behind.

Woollaston was going nicely until coming to the final three reds. Two were on the side cushion and the other directly behind the pink and he fails to cannon the one behind the pink and land on it so has to play safe, leading though by 22.

Hawkins unexpectedly missed the black on 28 in his early effort but left nothing on. Good safety from Woollaston sees him earn the next chance with plenty of open reds as he looks to keep fighting in this match, but the break ends before he can take the lead in the frame. He does put in a good safety though and it allows him back to the table immediately.

Frame 5 - Hawkins is in first this time and he's just pulled out an exceptional recovery red to the yellow pocket and with a few reds open this is a good looking chance as he looks to edge towards the last 32 here.

Frame Hawkins - It always looked a fantastic chance and Hawkins quickly took full advantage. He made it look easy from start to finish and as Woollaston looked like he could get close to him in this match he stretches away again like top players often do. A break of 77 in the end is more than enough to give him a 3-1 lead.

Hawkins wins the safety battle after potting a red to middle. The table is still very open with all the reds in play as well as the pink and black so this is a golden chance now for him to regain his two frame advantage.

Frame 4 - Woollaston gets in first once again in the fourth but his positional play lets him down again this time. He leaves himself a thin black, potting it but failing to get on the next red and playing safe on 22. All the reds are open now so whoever gets in next will fancy winning the frame.

Frame Woollaston - That was much more like it from Woollaston. Albeit the reds were open but he visibly seemed to relax once the frame was over and started potting them from everywhere in nonchalant fashion. A great clearance of 77 on the eye and he keeps himself in the match only trailing 2-1 now.

Woollaston breaks down on 36 initially after playing a third cannon to the reds and landing on nothing. After a small safety battle, Hawkins misses a red to the middle and Woollaston is now back in to build on his earlier lead and potentially take this frame.

Frame 3 - Woollaston gets the first good scoring chsnce in the third as he looks to stay in this contest. He gets into the reds twice very early in the break and has now developed this nicely into a frame winning opening.

Frame Hawkins - When Woollaston finally leaves the green on from distance for Hawkins, he seizes the chance with a thundering pot, landing perfectly on the brown on the baulk cushion and clearing the colours to double his lead. 2-0 now to the Hawk.

Hawkins adds 11 before breaking down with two reds left. Woollaston later gets in and pots the final two reds and the pair are now battling on the green, with Hawkins leading by eight.

Hawkins breaks down initially after failing to break into the three reds bunched in the middle of the table but he's back in now after a cracking long pot to try and put this frame to bed.

Woollaston takes on quite a low percentage shot into the middle overall and in the process leaves the same red into the opposite middle to give Hawkins the next scoring opportunity. He's worked into the bunch nicely and looks to be cueing really nicely so this is a great chance to double his lead.

Frame 2 - Woollaston gets his first scoring chance of the match after Hawkins makes a poor effort at a mid range red. Woollaston only makes 18 though before losing position.

Frame Hawkins - Hawkins is really starting to come into form. After all this always seems to be that two or three month period in the season where he produces his best. A very well crafted break of 69 gets him up and running here and is enough to leave Woollaston needing snookers. 1-0 Hawkins.

Frame 1 - Woollaston attempts a thin safety but misses the reds altogether and the cue ball comes down the table just far enough to leave a red in the middle for Hawkins. A good first chance this for Hawkins to set his stall out fir the contest.

Barry Hawkins and Ben Woollaston it is for my final match of the day over on table four.

Hawkins was a finalist here last year losing out to John Higgins and narrowly missed out on making last week's World Grand Prix final losing to Judd Trump 6-5 in the semi-final.

Woollaston though is also a former Welsh Open finalist back in 2015 when he too lost to John Higgins. Plenty in common then between these two players but only one can come out on top tonight.

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