Welsh Open Day 1

Steve Davis came unstuck in his last 64 match against Mark
Selby and was defeated 4-0. Image: World Snooker

The Bet Victor Welsh Open got underway in Newport on Monday morning with the day featuring the final eight last 64 matches that had been held over to the main venue.

The morning session saw Liang Wenbo upset the form book as he defeated world number 23 Ryan Day 4-1. The Chinese took the opener and although a break of 61 pulled the Pontycrymmer Potter level, Wenbo’s impressive break building saw him compile runs of 75, 105 and 72 in the next three frames to secure the win.

Meanwhile on the other table, Ding Junhui was a 4-2 winner over Dechawat Poomjaeng. Consecutive breaks of 107 in the first two frames put Ding in the driving seat and although Poomjaeng pulled it back to 2-1 and 3-2, Ding won frame six to take the match.

John Higgins had no problems in making his way past Welsh amateur Gareth Allen in the afternoon session. Allen, who had been invited into the tournament due to insufficient entries from current tour players, had already defeated world number 38 Rory McLeod but found himself 2-0 down. He did pull a frame back to make it 2-1 but Higgins won the next two, including a break of 93 in frame five.

Home hero Mark Williams cruised to a 4-1 win over Liu Chuang on the other side. A break of 66 put Williams ahead although Liu won the next to square the scores. The Welshman secure the match by taking the next three frames including breaks of 54 and 72.

Another Welshman, Matthew Stevens, also progressed to the last 32 where he will face Wenbo after defeating Alfie Burden 4-2. The Carmarthen man found himself 3-0 up and although a mini-revival saw the Londoner pull the close the deficit back to 3-2, Stevens took frame six to secure the win.

Mark Selby made short work of six-times World Champion Steve Davis in the other afternoon session match, whitewashing him 4-0. Davis had chances in frames one three and four but was unable to fully punish Selby allowing the recent UK and Masters Champion to compile breaks of 53, 144, 85 and 50 and will play Joe Perry in the last 32.

There was another whitewash in the evening session as Judd Trump saw off Mike Dunn. The Redcar man missed too many opportunities allowing Trump to book a place in the last 32 with a top run of 58 in frame four.

He will face Dominic Dale in the next round after the Welshman, who now lives in Germany, recorded a 4-1 win over fellow compatriot Daniel Wells. Dale won the first two frames, including a 61 break in the opener, but Neath’s Wells pulled a frame back by taking the next. Dale, who has been in good form of late and is up to 20 in the world rankings, remained in control as he took the next two frames, including a run of 86 in frame five.