PTC Grand Finals - Day 3

Xiao Guodong battled on with his broken hand to record an
impressive victory over world number 3, Judd Trump (not my
picture)

Xiao Guodong once again made the headlines at the PTC Grand Finals as he knocked out the man who topped the order of merit, Judd Trump. The result being even more impressive considering the 23-year-old is playing with a cast on his hand after breaking it a few weeks ago. A number of missed long pots by Trump allowed the Chinese player to secure a 2-0 lead but Trump won the third frame to close the gap. Xiao won the fourth before Trump made it 3-2 with a good break in frame five. Xiao went 67 ahead but missed what was frame ball which Trump capitalised on by sinking some excellent pots and after winning penalty points on a snooker, had the frame at his mercy on the final black however the Bristolian missed the crucial pot. After a bout of tactical play, Trump left on a thin pot which Xiao managed to clip into the pocket which ensured his place in the quarter-finals.

Earlier on in the afternoon a slow-starting Stephen Maguire fought back to beat Mark Davis. The Scot lost the first two frames as Davis made a good start but Maguire began to hit form as the match went on and won the following four frames on the bounce to win 4-2. Mark Selby got revenge over Ding Junhui who had beaten him in the final of the Welsh Open a few weeks ago, in the next last 16 match of the day, with a 4-1 victory. Ding won the first frame but Selby won the next two with breaks of 77 and 68 before clinching a lengthy fourth frame which lasted almost 48 minutes. With the momentum behind him, Selby clinched the fifth frame with a 92 break to book his place in the last eight against Stephen Lee.

Andrew Higginson also ensured his progress to the quarter-finals after knocking out Jamie Jones in the evening session which went right down to the wire. Widnes based Higginson won the first two frames but Jones, who performed a giant killing over John Higgins yesterday, made it 2-2 by securing the following two. Higginson won the fifth and looked good for the match when he was less than ten points from securing the frame but a missed pot allowed Jones to force a decider. A foul from Jones in the seventh frame gave Higginson a great chance which he gladly took, knocking in a break of 95 to win the game. The final match of the day was supposed to feature Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ricky Walden however O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the tournament through illness. The Rocket missed the World Open in China a few weeks ago after developing glandular fever and has been unable to shake off the infection therefore Walden has received a bye to the Quarter-Finals.

Tomorrow’s Quarter-Final matches see Xiao Guodong take on Andrew Higginson, Mark Selby against Stephen Lee whilst Neil Robertson faces Joe Perry and Stephen Maguire plays Neil Robertson.