Neil Robertson produced the performance of the second round as he brilliantly finished off Mark Allen 13-7, but his 100th century still evades him. Allen played arguably the better snooker in the first two sessions but found himself trailing 9-7. Australian Robertson closed up to 99 centuries during those opening 16 frames, with runs of 100 and 137 but was unable to grasp the 100th during two opportunities in the final four frames, where he played almost faultless snooker to close out the match. In frame 19 he was on a break of 94 before rattling the black which would’ve seen him cross the line, and then in frame 20 he missed a tricky red down the cushion which saw him end the break of 92.
He faces Judd Trump in the quarter-finals after the Bristolian dispatched Ryan Day 13-7. Trump was 10-6 up heading into the final session and won three frames he needed to progress.
Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will be thanking his lucky stars after scraping through his last 16 tie with Joe Perry. Cambridgeshire potter Perry really took the game to O’Sullivan and may have felt a little aggrieved to be only 9-7 up after the second session. But the Rocket finally showed his class and won six frame out of seven, with top breaks of 82, 124 and 113 to seal his progress.
Next up for O’Sullivan is Shaun Murphy, who defeated Marco Fu 13-8 on Monday evening. Murphy was also 9-7 ahead going into the final session and knocked in runs of 69, 75 and 66 to secure the win.
Mark Selby remains in the hunt for his first world title, after beating Ali Carter 13-9. Carter didn’t do an awful lot wrong, his highlights being breaks of 102 and 110 as he trailed 9-7, but Selby won four out of six in their final session to make it through.
He plays Alan McManus next after the Scot prevailed in the battle of the tour veterans, as he overcame Ken Doherty 13-8 to secure his place in the quarter-finals here at the Crucible for the first time since 2005.
Barry Hawkins prevailed in a close match against Ricky Walden, a repeat of one of last year’s semi-finals and will take on Dominic Dale in the final eight after he beat Crucible debutant Michael Wasley 13-4.
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Friday, 25 April 2014
World Championship Day 6
Neil Robertson fired home another two centuries on Thursday evening as he beat Robbie Williams 10-2, increasing his season’s tally to 97. Already 7-2 ahead, the Aussie fired in the three frames he needed in double-quick time, with breaks of 61, 140 (New tournament high) and 102 as he closes in on a remarkable 100 centuries in a season.
The last man through to the second round is Dominic Dale who beat the seeded Mark Davis 10-5. Ever the extrovert Dale, was sporting a pair of zebra-striped shoes, and won the first two frames of the second session to go within a frame of victory. Sussex’s Davis was not ready to throw in the towel and hit runs of 69, 61 and 42 to close to 9-5 but Dale clinched an all-important 16th with a break of 57.
Elsewhere in the second round, Joe Perry played excellently as he leads defending champion 5-3. Cambridge’s Perry won four of the first five with top breaks of 57 and 82 although O’Sullivan hit back winning the sixth and seventh with efforts of 117 and 75. However it was Perry who finished the better to ensure an end of session lead with a break of 99 in the eighth.
And a five frame rampage from Mark Selby helped him to a 5-3 lead over Ali Carter. The Captain won the opener with a 102 but Selby won the next five without reply with top runs of 84, 50 and 58. But Carter managed to stop the rot and took seven and eight, the latter with a 110 break, to trail by just two.
The last man through to the second round is Dominic Dale who beat the seeded Mark Davis 10-5. Ever the extrovert Dale, was sporting a pair of zebra-striped shoes, and won the first two frames of the second session to go within a frame of victory. Sussex’s Davis was not ready to throw in the towel and hit runs of 69, 61 and 42 to close to 9-5 but Dale clinched an all-important 16th with a break of 57.
Elsewhere in the second round, Joe Perry played excellently as he leads defending champion 5-3. Cambridge’s Perry won four of the first five with top breaks of 57 and 82 although O’Sullivan hit back winning the sixth and seventh with efforts of 117 and 75. However it was Perry who finished the better to ensure an end of session lead with a break of 99 in the eighth.
And a five frame rampage from Mark Selby helped him to a 5-3 lead over Ali Carter. The Captain won the opener with a 102 but Selby won the next five without reply with top runs of 84, 50 and 58. But Carter managed to stop the rot and took seven and eight, the latter with a 110 break, to trail by just two.
Thursday, 24 April 2014
World Championship Day 5
Judd Trump claimed he was bored at times during his first round match against Tom Ford, but he eventually progressed as 10-8 winner. Trump was 6-3 up at the start of the second session but Ford won three of the first four to close to 7-6. A break of 72 put Trump 8-6 up but Ford drew level as he knocked in runs of 76 and 56 in the next two frames. This was the point Trump said he became bored, so the Bristolian wrapped up the match by taking the next two frames and will face Ryan Day in the next round.
Last year’s runner-up Barry Hawkins also secured a place in the second round by winning five frames without reply to beat Dave Gilbert 10-4. The Hawk had already won the last three frames in the previous session and he hit top runs of 93, 50, 71 and 53 to secure the win. He’ll face Ricky Walden next in a repeat of one of last year’s semi-finals.
An under-the-weather Mark Allen also won five frames on the bounce as he dumped out Michael Holt 10-4. The Ulsterman won the four scrappy frames before the interval before taking the 14th with a run of 65. After the match he revealed he’s been suffering from food poisoning and had even had blurred vision during the match.
Marco Fu also progressed to the next round be beating Martin Gould 10-7. The Hong Kong man was 6-3 up heading into the session but the first two frames were shared, with Fu making the top breaks of 88 and 116. Gould dug in and took frames 14 and 16 but Fu rattled in a break of 80 to seal the win and he will play Shaun Murphy in the last 16.
World number one Neil Robertson raced to a 7-2 advantage over Wallasey’s Robbie Williams. The Australian hit top breaks of 132 and 103 increasing his century tally to 95 for the season.
Dominic Dale also enjoys a 7-2 advantage in his first round match over Mark Davis – the Welshman with top breaks of 71, 69 and 67.
Last year’s runner-up Barry Hawkins also secured a place in the second round by winning five frames without reply to beat Dave Gilbert 10-4. The Hawk had already won the last three frames in the previous session and he hit top runs of 93, 50, 71 and 53 to secure the win. He’ll face Ricky Walden next in a repeat of one of last year’s semi-finals.
An under-the-weather Mark Allen also won five frames on the bounce as he dumped out Michael Holt 10-4. The Ulsterman won the four scrappy frames before the interval before taking the 14th with a run of 65. After the match he revealed he’s been suffering from food poisoning and had even had blurred vision during the match.
Marco Fu also progressed to the next round be beating Martin Gould 10-7. The Hong Kong man was 6-3 up heading into the session but the first two frames were shared, with Fu making the top breaks of 88 and 116. Gould dug in and took frames 14 and 16 but Fu rattled in a break of 80 to seal the win and he will play Shaun Murphy in the last 16.
World number one Neil Robertson raced to a 7-2 advantage over Wallasey’s Robbie Williams. The Australian hit top breaks of 132 and 103 increasing his century tally to 95 for the season.
Dominic Dale also enjoys a 7-2 advantage in his first round match over Mark Davis – the Welshman with top breaks of 71, 69 and 67.
Wednesday, 23 April 2014
World Championship Day 4
Alan McManus secured his first win at the Crucible for nine years as he beat fellow Scot John Higgins 10-7 to book a last 16 tie with Ken Doherty, which was coincidentally the last man he beat in the World Championships. McManus led 6-3 after the first session and runs of 47 and 88 pulled him further clear at 8-3. Higgins finally found some form and hit back to win four of the next five with top breaks of 111, 67 and 94 to close the gap to 9-7. However 43-year-old McManus, still wearing his tartan trousers, kept his calm and won frame 17 at a couple of visits.
Ricky Walden is also through to the second round after a titanic battle with Crucible debutant Kyren Wilson, winning 10-7. Walden, semi-finalist here last year, was also 6-3 up after the first session and he edged closer to the finish line as he shared the first four frames with his opponent to be 8-5 up at the interval. Wilson won the next two to turn the heat up to go 8-7 ahead but Walden won the next with a top break of 44 before finally taking a mammoth 17th frame, which lasted 73 minutes, less than two minutes short of the Crucible record.
Last year’s beaten finalist Barry Hawkins recovered from a slow start to end his first session against Dave Gilbert 5-4 ahead. The Hawk had not played a competitive match for over three and a half weeks after winning the Players Championship as he decided to opt out of the China Open. Tamworth’s Gilbert looked dangerous early on and led 3-1 at the break but Hawkins sharpened up in the second half of the match, and breaks of 72, 72, 115 and 69 put him ahead.
Judd Trump leads Tom Ford 6-3 at the end of their first session but it could’ve been much worse for the Leicester cueman, who won the final two sessions from 6-1 down to only trail by three.
Other first round matches on Tuesday see Mark Allen lead Michael Holt 5-4 whilst breaks of 124, 83 and 88 helped Australian Open winner Marco Fu to a 6-3 advantage over Martin Gould.
Ricky Walden is also through to the second round after a titanic battle with Crucible debutant Kyren Wilson, winning 10-7. Walden, semi-finalist here last year, was also 6-3 up after the first session and he edged closer to the finish line as he shared the first four frames with his opponent to be 8-5 up at the interval. Wilson won the next two to turn the heat up to go 8-7 ahead but Walden won the next with a top break of 44 before finally taking a mammoth 17th frame, which lasted 73 minutes, less than two minutes short of the Crucible record.
Last year’s beaten finalist Barry Hawkins recovered from a slow start to end his first session against Dave Gilbert 5-4 ahead. The Hawk had not played a competitive match for over three and a half weeks after winning the Players Championship as he decided to opt out of the China Open. Tamworth’s Gilbert looked dangerous early on and led 3-1 at the break but Hawkins sharpened up in the second half of the match, and breaks of 72, 72, 115 and 69 put him ahead.
Judd Trump leads Tom Ford 6-3 at the end of their first session but it could’ve been much worse for the Leicester cueman, who won the final two sessions from 6-1 down to only trail by three.
Other first round matches on Tuesday see Mark Allen lead Michael Holt 5-4 whilst breaks of 124, 83 and 88 helped Australian Open winner Marco Fu to a 6-3 advantage over Martin Gould.
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
World Championship Day 3
Michael Wasley caused the one of the biggest Crucible shocks in recent history as head beat world number two Ding Junhui in a dramatic late-finishing final frame decider. The Gloucester man, a debutant at the Crucible, had to win four matches to even reach the main venue and fully took the match to the five-time ranking event winner this season. Ding had led 6-3 going into the final session but Wasley was quick to overturn that deficit winning three in a row, including a 135 clearance, to level at six a piece.
Ding won the next two to go 8-6 in front but Wasley hit back again, claiming the next two to go 8-8. Ding took the ninth but play was suspended as it was going to overrun into the evening session. The pair returned at almost 11:00pm that evening and Wasley hit a composed 103 break to force a decider. Ding led 51-46 but Wasley cleared up to the blue to leave the Chinese needing a snooker. He battled bravely on and managed to lay a couple but Wasley escaped from all of them, before eventually sinking the pink to seal his remarkable win.
Mark Selby also needed a decider to overcome qualifier Michael White. The Jester from Leicester started very brightly, going 5-1 ahead with top breaks of 88 and 78 but White finished the session on top, winning the final three frames to close to 5-4. Again Selby started the second session well with breaks of 74, 68 and 51 putting him 8-4 in front but White, who reached the quarter-finals here last year, rallied again and won four on the bounce to make it 8-8. Selby edged ahead again but breaks of 40 and 34 from Welshman White forced a decider. But despite his valiant comeback, Selby dominated the final frame and eventually won it to book a last 16 meeting with Ali Carter.
Joe Perry was another man to record an impressive comeback, as he won six successive frames to overhaul a 6-3 deficit and beat Jamie Burnett 10-7. The Cambridge potter made top efforts of 87 and 70 to go 9-6 up and although Burnett stopped the rot with a 111 break in the 16th, Perry knocked in a 81 break to seal the win. After the match a demoralised Burnett conceded he was no longer enjoying playing and said he wouldn’t be too bothered if he ended up falling off the tour.
The experienced Alan McManus played very well as he took a 6-3 lead out of his first session in an all-Scottish affair with John Higgins. McManus, Masters champion in 1994, came out into the arena sporting some fantastic tartan trousers although they were slightly baggy and he ended up having to borrow a belt from a member of the production team, to avoid a potentially embarrassing trouser slipping incident. Higgins won the opener but McManus went on a rampage as he won the next six without reply to lead by five. After previously running aground on 49 in a 147 attempt in frame six, Higgins was chasing another maximum in the next but missed a red on 80. He took that frame and the ninth to trail 6-3 ahead of their concluding session on Tuesday morning.
Ding won the next two to go 8-6 in front but Wasley hit back again, claiming the next two to go 8-8. Ding took the ninth but play was suspended as it was going to overrun into the evening session. The pair returned at almost 11:00pm that evening and Wasley hit a composed 103 break to force a decider. Ding led 51-46 but Wasley cleared up to the blue to leave the Chinese needing a snooker. He battled bravely on and managed to lay a couple but Wasley escaped from all of them, before eventually sinking the pink to seal his remarkable win.
Mark Selby also needed a decider to overcome qualifier Michael White. The Jester from Leicester started very brightly, going 5-1 ahead with top breaks of 88 and 78 but White finished the session on top, winning the final three frames to close to 5-4. Again Selby started the second session well with breaks of 74, 68 and 51 putting him 8-4 in front but White, who reached the quarter-finals here last year, rallied again and won four on the bounce to make it 8-8. Selby edged ahead again but breaks of 40 and 34 from Welshman White forced a decider. But despite his valiant comeback, Selby dominated the final frame and eventually won it to book a last 16 meeting with Ali Carter.
Joe Perry was another man to record an impressive comeback, as he won six successive frames to overhaul a 6-3 deficit and beat Jamie Burnett 10-7. The Cambridge potter made top efforts of 87 and 70 to go 9-6 up and although Burnett stopped the rot with a 111 break in the 16th, Perry knocked in a 81 break to seal the win. After the match a demoralised Burnett conceded he was no longer enjoying playing and said he wouldn’t be too bothered if he ended up falling off the tour.
The experienced Alan McManus played very well as he took a 6-3 lead out of his first session in an all-Scottish affair with John Higgins. McManus, Masters champion in 1994, came out into the arena sporting some fantastic tartan trousers although they were slightly baggy and he ended up having to borrow a belt from a member of the production team, to avoid a potentially embarrassing trouser slipping incident. Higgins won the opener but McManus went on a rampage as he won the next six without reply to lead by five. After previously running aground on 49 in a 147 attempt in frame six, Higgins was chasing another maximum in the next but missed a red on 80. He took that frame and the ninth to trail 6-3 ahead of their concluding session on Tuesday morning.
Monday, 21 April 2014
World Championship Day 2
Ken Doherty proved there was still life in the old dog as he
secured his first win at the Crucible since 2006, beating Stuart Bingham 10-5
on Easter Sunday. Despite trailing 5-4 overnight, the Dubliner dominated the
second session, winning six frames in a row to guarantee his spot in the last
16. He hit runs of 55, 60, 57 and 60 on course to victory.
Ryan Day is the second qualifier to make his way past a seeded
player at this year’s tournament, as he staved off a brilliant comeback from
Stephen Maguire to beat him in a decider. Pontycrymmer Potter Day led 6-3 after
the first session and looked fairly certain to take the victory in relative
comfort as the first four frames of the second session were shared, leaving him
8-5 ahead. But breaks of 134, 58, 74 and 91 saw Scot Maguire win four of the
next five to force a decider. However Day kept his nerve, an knocked in a 92 in
the decider to complete a dramatic win.
Another match to go the distance on Sunday night was Shaun
Murphy v Jamie Cope, with the Magician eventually prevailing. Cope came into
the session 5-4 up and the match continued in a tight fashion as the first four
frames of the session were shared, leaving Cope 7-6 ahead. The Stoke potter,
who once made a 155 break in practice, will have been kicking himself though as
he was on course for a 147 in the opening frame of the session, but missed a
fairly simple red, allowing Murphy to counter with a frame winning 75. Sale’s
Murphy then began to get a hold on the match, winning three of the next four,
to go within a frame of victory. However a top run of 49 from Cope forced a
decider which Murphy eventually clinched on the last few colours.
Ali Carter is also through to the second round following a
testing win over Chinese prospect Xiao Guodong. It was another tense match but
runs of 80 and 36 saw Essex Carter eventually complete victory over his tough
opponent.
Elsewhere, Ding won his first session against Crucible
debutant Michael Wasley 6-3. Wasley led 2-1 and 3-2 at points but Ding won four
on the bounce, including a top break of 136, to finish three ahead.
Jamie Burnett also leads his first round match 6-3, against
the seeded Joe Perry. Similar to the above mentioned match, Burnett won the final
four frames of the session with top breaks of 76, 61 and 94 to hold a three
frame advantage.
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Wasley set for Crucible Debut Against Ding
Michael Wasley will make his debut at the World Snooker Championship later today as he faces five-time ranking event champion this season, Ding Junhui.
He beat close friend and fellow Gloucester player Robert Milkins in teh final qualifying round to reach the Crucible.
The victory was undoubtedly the biggest win of his career although Wasley says he’d rather it not come against Milkins, one of his closest friends on the snooker circuit.
“I’ve grown up playing with Rob for years so it was really hard to play against him,” said Wasley. “Neither of us wanted to lose so it’s just a shame there had to be a loser.
“But on the upside I’ll be playing at the Crucible next week. I went to watch Paul Hunter play many years ago and my friend Judd Trump when he qualified in 2006 against Shaun Murphy but I’m just so happy to be playing there now instead of watching.
“I’ve played at a few main venues this year at the Germans Masters and the Welsh Open but it’ll have nothing on the Crucible; I know how tight it is for space there.”
The victory itself over Milkins in the final qualifying round couldn’t have been more dramatic, with Wasley snatching the win on the very last ball.
With the frame scores locked at 9-9, he potted a tricky blue and pink and then the black to tie the deciding frame score at 64-all. In this situation, the black ball returns to the table and whoever pots it first, wins.
Wasley was left with a tricky shot on the final black, which was about 6ft away from the pocket, however he kept his nerve to sink the black to seal the win.
“I thought if I’ve got any shot on the black then I’m going for it,” he said. “That was the biggest match of my career and it went down to a re-spotted black, so it couldn’t have been any closer.
“At 9-8 up I was a bit wobbly there but I managed to hold it together. I was a little but unlucky throughout a couple of the frames but I was delighted to pot such a good black in the end.
“I feel my form has been pretty good this season and have felt I’ve lost quite a few close matches. I feel like I’m playing well and felt I was due a run and what better way to finish the season than a run in the World Championships?”
The 24-year-old openly admitted that nerves could be his biggest obstacle ahead of his first World Championships experience next week but may turn to juggling to calm himself before his match.
Wasley can also complete a Rubik’s cube in under two minutes and believes little tricks such as these have helped him to keep focussed in between his matches.
He said: “I like to set myself challenges in between snooker to keep the brain busy. I’ve learnt to juggle and I’m now trying to juggle with four balls instead of three, it’s just little gimmicky things that keeps my brain busy.
“I used to be able to do a Rubik’s cube in under two minutes but it’s a while since I’ve done that now because you forget the moves!
“It just takes your mind of things a bit. I’m going to be nervous before my first match there but it’s just part of the experience.”
He beat close friend and fellow Gloucester player Robert Milkins in teh final qualifying round to reach the Crucible.
The victory was undoubtedly the biggest win of his career although Wasley says he’d rather it not come against Milkins, one of his closest friends on the snooker circuit.
“I’ve grown up playing with Rob for years so it was really hard to play against him,” said Wasley. “Neither of us wanted to lose so it’s just a shame there had to be a loser.
“But on the upside I’ll be playing at the Crucible next week. I went to watch Paul Hunter play many years ago and my friend Judd Trump when he qualified in 2006 against Shaun Murphy but I’m just so happy to be playing there now instead of watching.
“I’ve played at a few main venues this year at the Germans Masters and the Welsh Open but it’ll have nothing on the Crucible; I know how tight it is for space there.”
The victory itself over Milkins in the final qualifying round couldn’t have been more dramatic, with Wasley snatching the win on the very last ball.
With the frame scores locked at 9-9, he potted a tricky blue and pink and then the black to tie the deciding frame score at 64-all. In this situation, the black ball returns to the table and whoever pots it first, wins.
Wasley was left with a tricky shot on the final black, which was about 6ft away from the pocket, however he kept his nerve to sink the black to seal the win.
“I thought if I’ve got any shot on the black then I’m going for it,” he said. “That was the biggest match of my career and it went down to a re-spotted black, so it couldn’t have been any closer.
“At 9-8 up I was a bit wobbly there but I managed to hold it together. I was a little but unlucky throughout a couple of the frames but I was delighted to pot such a good black in the end.
“I feel my form has been pretty good this season and have felt I’ve lost quite a few close matches. I feel like I’m playing well and felt I was due a run and what better way to finish the season than a run in the World Championships?”
The 24-year-old openly admitted that nerves could be his biggest obstacle ahead of his first World Championships experience next week but may turn to juggling to calm himself before his match.
Wasley can also complete a Rubik’s cube in under two minutes and believes little tricks such as these have helped him to keep focussed in between his matches.
He said: “I like to set myself challenges in between snooker to keep the brain busy. I’ve learnt to juggle and I’m now trying to juggle with four balls instead of three, it’s just little gimmicky things that keeps my brain busy.
“I used to be able to do a Rubik’s cube in under two minutes but it’s a while since I’ve done that now because you forget the moves!
“It just takes your mind of things a bit. I’m going to be nervous before my first match there but it’s just part of the experience.”
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