Hossein Vafei 4-2 Lukas Kleckers - Once that chance came for Hossein he swiftly seized it and put this match to bed. He never looked like giving Kleckers another chance and would finish in style with a fine break of 106 to clinch victory. From 2-2 he really took control of the match tactically and did not look like letting Kleckers back in. Positive signs this week for the German though with the two victories and he started the match really well with a cracking 131 so has no reason to feel too down. Hossein though is the worthy winner.
After a long period of safety Hossein gets back in with a good long pot and now has the chance to kill this match off. He's very well in control of this match whether he wins at this visit or not.
Frame 6 - You sense now that Hossein as the higher ranked player was starting to control this match after winning the last and then keeping his safety tight and getting the first chance in frame six here. He misses a red unexpectedly though but again leaves nothing for his opponent.
Frame Hossein - Kleckers then has a half chance but is unable to bring out the two safe reds from the side cushion and has to play safe still trailing by 32 with three reds left. Hossein pots a good red from distance soon after, potting the pink and the penultimate red to leave Kleckers needing two snookers. Kleckers is forced to pot the red soon after and opts to play for snookers on the yellow. The German ends up getting one on the brown before playing for one snooker on the pink to tie, but the position of the black made it unlikely. 3-2 now to Hossein.
This frame has gone quite scrappy now with reds lining up on the right side cushion. Hossein leads by 32 with the seven reds near the side cushion remaining. He's able to pot one though and release some more and is now in real control of the frame.
Frame 5 - It has been quite a tactical start to the frame but with Hossein having the upper hand on the safety and it has now earned him the first real chance of the frame. That is until he misses a red on the bottom cushion but again he leaves nothing and Kleckers has to play safe.
Frame Hossein - That missed blue does indeed end up costing Kleckers this frame and he'll be really disappointed with that. Hossein clears to the final two reds to leave Kleckers needing a snooker, but Hossein was in control of the tactical play thereafter and soon clinched the frame. We are all square again here at 2-2.
Kleckers is now in for his first chance of the frame, but he misses an easy blue on just five and hangs his head in disappointment. Hossein is in now and with the frame slightly more open now he has a good chance to level the match at this visit.
Frame 4 - A slow start to frame four so far. Hossein has potted a couple of good reds but been unable to get on colours from them. With blue, pink and black not on their spots and a few reds on cushions this could be quite a scrappy frame.
Frame Kleckers - Kleckers won the safety battle on the last two reds but could only pot one and lay a snooker on the last red. The snooker yielded 16 points though and after a long battle he then fluked the last red. Attempting to roll it in from distance he missed but double kissed the red which sent it in. With the black over the corner he was always going to be on a colour and he has cleared the remaining colours to take full advantage of his fortune and regain the lead at 2-1.
Hossein initially broke down after missing the awkward pink to the middle, but Kleckers missed his half chance and allowed Hossein back. It looked a straight forward run to the line but he snookered himself on the penultimate red behind the black on the bottom cushion, when he could have played anywhere on the right side of the table between the black and blue to have a shot on what was frame ball. Important safety battle now for the players.
Kleckers plays safe on just 9 after losing red ball position. Soon after he leaves a long red near the corner for Hossein who is in now with reds spread all over but pink and black are both awkward. Playing for the blue should not be an issue with the spread of the reds though, so this is certainly a good opportunity
For every piece of bad luck some good will follow and Kleckers has certainly made that true here. His safety plants a red into the left corner and his instant apology shows it was not intentional though he does land on the yellow and is now in with a very nice opportunity.
Frame 3 - Really unfortunate at the start of frame three for Kleckers as he gets the first chance and aggressively goes into the pack from the blue after the opening red, splitting reds far and wide but he did not have a path to pot anything so had to play safe. A better rub here or there could have left him with a great opening.
Frame Hossein - Not an especially clear cut frame as he had to rely on mistakes from his opponent, but Hossein adds another 26 to his earlier contributions and it proves more than enough to take this second frame and level up this match at 1-1. No reason for Kleckers to be disheartened though.
Hossein initially broke down on 28 after losing position. Kleckers then potted a red and was able to put Hossein in enough trouble that he has now earned a full scoring opportunity. He misses a very thin black on 9 though and Hossein should be able to finish off this frame now.
Frame 2 - A poor safety for Kleckers at the start of frame two leaves Hossein in at the business end of the table. There are a few reds open but they will need developing as the Iranian hopes to respond in kind to Kleckers opening frame century.
Frame Kleckers - The perfect start for Kleckers and this break is much better than anything he managed yesterday against Thepchaiya. He had the cue ball under much better control and made the whole break look easy with no trouble at any stage. That should give him a huge confidence boost with a wonderful 131 total clearance to start this match off and lead 1-0.
The break is now up to 40 and Kleckers has played an excellent shot to open up the pack of remaining reds. If he can keep the cue ball under control there's no reason why he should not win the frame at this visit now.
Frame 1 - First chance to Kleckers in the opening frame here as Hossein leaves him a red to the middle. It's a decent early chance and will be an indicator of his scoring early on, as it was probably the weakest part of his game yesterday.
More for the German fans this morning as Lukas Kleckers is in last 32 action against Hossein Vafei.
Both players were 4-3 winners yesterday with Hossein defeating Ross Muir while Kleckers overcame Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in a match I brought to you yesterday. Hossein also had a lucky escape winning 4-3 against Ashley Hugill and he is usually a dangerous player so Kleckers could have his work cut out for him here as he looks to achieve his best ranking run.
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