HOSSEIN VAFEI 4-3 GARY WILSON - Hossein made a nice break and got all the way down to the yellow before making the error and missing the pot. Wilson potted yellow and then played a snooker behind the green yielding 8 foul points and a pot on the green but couldn't get on match ball brown. Hossein then won battles on the brown and the vital battle on the blue as he followed with pink and a long black to win the match. He's delighted as is Soheil watching on, while Wilson smashes the table with his hand while picking his cue case up before leaving the arena.
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| Hossein eats into Wilson's lead in the fascinating deciding frame |
- Wilson got the pack open but couldn't stay in good position, leaving him a tough red with the rest which went wide. A chance now for Hossein to certainly eat into Gary's lead and possibly make a run for the line himself.
- Wilson in first in the decider and the outcome of the break will hinge on whether he can get the pack in play. Otherwise he's building a very strong lead.
TABLE 5 UPDATE - Peter Ebdon is going to be back in front barring snookers in a pedestrian frame that took 35 minutes to get to snookers required. A snooker on the last red from Ebdon got Akani in trouble and his eventual escape pushed the red over the corner. Should be 2-1 Ebdon.
Frame Wilson - After playing safe on the last red, a good snooker behind the black from Wilson forced a miss and the error as the red was easily left on. A comfortable clearance from Gary ensued and we're going the distance here 3-3
- Hossein lost position and missed a tough one with the rest. He had a 50 point lead but he's left Wilson in who's rapidly eating into the deficit. Last red could be an issue but colours again on their spots for the clearance
- Hossein is in first again in frame six and looking to build at least a sizeable lead as he hopes to make this the last frame. The reds need some work to kill it off in one visit... But now he has the split and landed on a red. Could be the end for Wilson here.
Frame Hossein - Wilson missed his first chance at the counter clearance after trying to power a pink into the corner for reasons I couldn't work out as he left nothing for Hossein. Another chance came to Wilson's cue and he cleared the three remaining reds before missing a straightforward enough yellow by the standards of the afternoon. He stuck the yellow up too and the Iranian had a comfortable run to a 3-2 lead. 3-2 Hossein
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| Wilson was unable to capitalise on Hossein's mistakes in frame five |
- Hossein made a positional error and was forced to play safe 53 ahead with plenty on. Both players then had chances at reds with a little difficulty. When Hossein missed his he left over the middle and Wilson now has a chance for the counter. 1 red could be an issue but the rest ideally placed and colours on their spots.
- This match has been a pleasure to watch so far and it's far from done yet. Hossein has a nice lead in frame five and is at the table with reds in decent positions and the black and pink fully available. By this games standards he probably won't be far from taking a 3-2 lead.
TABLE 5 UPDATE - Nice contribution from Akani just now, took what was there very nicely. By the time he misses with his unique rest technique Ebdon needs a snooker with three reds left. Should be 1-1.
Frame Hossein - Like I say these two guys are not missing. Hossein taking it all in his stride with a quality response. 93 break and only denied a century by his failure to hit the yellow hard enough for it to get to the pocket. 2-2
- After a bit of early pendulum swinging Hossein now looks to have a decent opening here in frame four. The reds need perhaps a little work but like I've said both guys look in good form.
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| Hossein at the table in the fourth frame, trailing Wilson 2-1 |
Frame Wilson - Meanwhile there was no positional error from Wilson and as previously mentioned he didn't look like missing. So, an 82 clearance it is to put him back in front. 2-1 Wilson
TABLE 5 UPDATE - Ebdon wins the black ball opener. I'm not sure what Akani tried on the black. It was either the cross double onto the back cushion or for the pot. Either way it went straight toward the corner rattled and stayed close to the corner. Ebdon wobbled it in on the stretch for 1-0.
- Hossein's mistake could be Wilson's gain here. After both players have had chances, Wilson earns his second and has the reds pretty handy as he tries to regain the lead. Neither looks like missing when in so the Iranian must hope for a positional error.
TABLE 5 UPDATE: A pedestrian first frame between Ebdon and Akani and easy to see why. We know about Ebdon while Akani has an odd pre shot routine that sees him rehearse his action almost, before he gets down. Anyway the opener all hinges on the black.
Frame Hossein - 50 he makes in his ever cool style and with the earlier 31 that's more than enough to make it 1-1 in double quick time. If it wasn't quick enough, Hossein is helping the referee set the balls up for frame three. Somewhere to be have we lads? 1-1
- Hossein is looking to strike back straight away here in frame two. After an early 31 he's now back in and the reds aren't looking too bad. He'd certainly be hoping to level the match at this visit.
Frame Wilson - Another chance for Wilson having already got a 26 point lead. Hossein missed a long red to leave him in. An assured run of 39 was more than enough to take this opening frame 1-0
(Side note: Hossein's World Cup partner and fellow countryman Soheil Vahedi has come and sat two seats to my right to watch his good friend).
- We're underway and Gary Wilson is first in and scoring after a great finish yesterday. He'll be feeling confident coming into this and think this will be a high scoring game all round. Wilsons missed on 33 but not many loose reds left and Hossein plays safe.
We're just a few moments away from my second live blog of the afternoon with Gary Wilson taking on Hossein Vafei of Iran on table 6. Both of these guys qualified for India but only one can secure a Belgium trip. Should be a blockbuster.
I'll also have updates from Peter Ebdon and Akani Songsermsawad on table 5 whilst table 7 is the streamed game with Mark Allen and Daniel Wells.
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