Tom Ford 4-2 Ashley Carty - Ford did not kill the frame in one visit but it was not long after that before he left Carty needing snookers. Carty had his chances tonight for sure and Ford was not at his best, to the point that I feared for him early on tonight. It's a mark of his quality and experience that he still came through that one but he will definitely need to improve going forward in this event. Not the most memorable match but nevertheless it is a deserving victory in the end for Tom Ford.
Frame 6 - Carty misses a half chance at a plant early in the sixth and as a result he has left a golden first chance to Ford who must fancy his chances of clinching frame and match at this visit. He's certainly speeding around the table too sensing the final blow.
Frame Carty - Carty survives a small scare there by potting one of the two remaining reds which is enough to leave Ford needing snookers and after putting him in one, Ford misses and concedes the frame. Carty still hanging in there but Ford is still one away from the win at 3-2.
Carty finishes up with a lead of 44 but with still three reds left as he loses position and has to play safe. Plenty left as Ford now gets a chance to counter, but he fails to get on either of the last two reds.
Frame 5 - Another extremely scrappy start to a frame here. Both players have had half chances and the balls are all over the place here. Carty has the latest opportunity and it is not a bad one with the black open and a few open reds in that half of the table. Obviously a must win frame so has to seize upon openings like this.
Frame Ford - Without wanting to make an awful pun, that was speedy stuff from Ford. As soon as he got in you felt he had to take advantage of the opportunity in front of him and this time he did with a break of 82. Whether it has given him a bit more confidence remains to be seen as he still does not seem too happy, but he is one away from the winning line at 3-1.
Frame 4 - The chance Ford has here at the start of the fourth is one he would eat up for breakfast at his best. He has not quite been at that level tonight so far but this is an opportunity to make a really good break, win a frame in one visit and boost his confidence.
Frame Ford - Again there was very little to write home about in that frame. Ford still does not look comfortable out there and he needed three or four chances in the end but if Carty keeps providing them then it will not matter. Ford may be stuttering but he's still 2-1 in front.
At best this frame has gone quite scrappy. Ford is at the table but with the remaining reds on or near the bottom cushion there's work to do if he wins the frame here at this visit. As it is he's run out of position with three reds left but with a healthy 29 point cushion.
Frame 3 - Ford really is struggling badly now. He's missed another pretty simple red and gestures as if to say he's just not cueing straight at all. That will give Carty confidence especially as he is not having to work too hard for his chances. The key though now with reds open here again is that he takes full advantage.
Frame Carty - From that golden opportunity Carty made a solid break of 54, never looking like he was in trouble and he is looking like the better of the two in these opening stages. Ford briefly played on for snookers but he could not keep Carty out for long. 1-1
Frame 2 - Carty had the first little opening of the frame but lost position on 16. Ford though followed that with the worst shot I've seen this week by hitting the pack of reds so thick with his safety he did not reach the pink spot. Carty has to take advantage now with the reds spread as they are.
Frame Ford - In the end Ford pots the penultimate red to leave Carty needing a snooker. He plays on but never looks like getting the snooker. Very little to write home about in that frame. A scruffy start but Ford will be happy enough to lead 1-0.
Needing just the pink and one more red to clinch the frame, Ford inexplicably misses an easy pink and now Carty is back in to try and punish that mistake. The last two reds are not ideal though and he fails to gain position on either. Still life in this frame though.
Ford misses again on 24 leaving Carty in but when he goes into the reds from the blue on 7 the cue ball trickles into the corner pocket and Ford is now back in amongst them.
Frame 1 - A couple of early misses, first for Ford and then Carty has left Ford in now with a decent early chance. There are a few open reds in both halves of the table as he looks to lay down an early marker.
Final live blog of day two in Cardiff as Tom Ford takes on Ashley Carty.
Ford has been a UK Championship semi-finalist this season and as such qualified for last week's World Grand Prix where he beat Joe Perry 4-3 before losing out to eventual champion Judd Trump. He will certainly be a favourite here tonight and is always a dark horse for a big tournament run, like what he achieved in York.
Carty meanwhile was one of my players to watch this season, so I thought I would take that in a literal sense tonight. It's the young man's first year on tour but he has reached the last 32 at this venue before, doing so as an amateur a few years ago. He'll be hoping for some more of that form here and he will need to be at his best in this one I feel.
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