World Open Day 3



Marco Fu is in the last 16 after defeating Mark Williams 5-2.
Image: World Snooker

Home hero Ding Junhui squeezed his way through to the last 16 after defeating Michael Holt in a match which went the full distance. Breaks of 76 and 95 gave Ding an early lead but his opponent hit back to win the next two before the interval. The next four frames were shared sending the match to a final frame decider but a break of 50 helped Ding to victory.

Lu Haotian’s hopes of another successful run in a tournament were swiftly brought to an end after being whitewashed 5-0 by Mark Selby who finished the wildcard entry off in only 67 minutes. The Jester rolled off breaks of 52, 69 and 73 to lead 4-0 at the interval whilst two breaks of 57 and 73 secured the win.

Barry Hawkins also eased through his first round match with a 5-1 win over Ian Burns. Although the Preston man took the opener, Hawkins rattled off five on the bounce with top runs of 60, 93 and 112 and will play Selby tomorrow.

Mark Williams’ dreadful run of form continued as he was dumped out of the competition by Marco Fu, who won 5-2. The first two frames were shared but the man from Hong Kong secured the match by winning the next three.

Meanwhile John Higgins came out in the all-Scottish affair with Alan McManus, running out 5-3 winner. Higgins was 3-1 up at the break however McManus kept himself in the match, making it 3-2 and 4-3 but a break of 68 from Higgins put the game to bed.

He’ll face Stuart Bingham in the last 16 after the Essex man dispatched amateur Zhao Xintong 5-2. The teenager had beaten Andrew Higginson yesterday but found himself 3-0 behind after Bingham knocked in breaks of 63 and 126 early on. He began to mount a comeback, winning the next two, but Bingham secured the following two, including a 96 break on the seventh.

There was another all-Scottish meeting in the other evening session match as Stephen Maguire overcame Marcus Campbell 5-3. The scores were level at the interval but Maguire advanced to a 4-2 lead. Campbell pulled the seventh back to make it 4-3 but a break of 50 gave Maguire the match.