Welsh Open Day 2

Pankaj Advani caused a huge upset in his last 32 match as he
defeated Shaun Murphy 4-3

There were a number of surprise results on the second day of the Welsh Open as the tournament entered the last 32 stage on Tuesday.

In the evening session, world number 71 Pankaj Advani defeated Shaun Murphy, ranked fourth, after a final frame decider. Advani won frames one three and four, including a 121 in the third. Murphy won the next two, with an 89 in frame five but the Indian player pulled out the shock of the tournament so far and won the decider.

There was another upset on the other side as veteran Alan McManus defeated Barry Hawkins 4-2. Although the world 55 trailed 2-1 after three frames, he re-took the lead by winning the next two before taking the sixth after snookering Hawkins on the final yellow.

Earlier in the day, John Higgins lost out surprisingly to Ken Doherty after he lost to the Irishman 4-1. Doherty won the first two tight frames although Higgins pulled one back the third 60-46. However Ken ground out the following two frames to progress to the last 16.

Also in the afternoon session, Sam Baird, ranked at 89, defied the odds whitewashed world 54 Gerard Greene. Top breaks of 76 in the opener and 73 in frame four saw him progress to the next round.

Another afternoon session match saw Stephen Maguire defeat Anthony Hamilton 4-2. Hamilton led 2-1 at one point thanks partly to a 100 break in the third but Maguire fought back, with a 100 of his own in the fourth and secure the win by winning the next two.

Welshman Matthew Stevens also progressed following a close match with Liang Wenbo. Wenbo also led 2-1 at one point but runs of 72 and 52 in the next three frames saw him book a last 16 match with Maguire on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Mark Allen overcame the challenge of Marco Fu as he progressed 4-2. The scores were tied at 2-2 but Allen secured the match by winning the next two. Also, Neil Robertson overcame Preston’s Ian Burns 4-1, to make it into the last 16.