Australian Goldfiels Open (Day 2)

Mark Selby escaped defeat by Ian Burns after trailing 3-0 at
one point. Image: World Snooker

Mark Selby dodged a bullet after coming back from 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to beat Ian Burns in Tuesday evening’s session. The world number two didn’t do a lot wrong but Burns was clinical in the early frames and was 3-1 ahead at the interval. Selby won the next two to draw level at 3-3 but Preston’s Burns went within a frame of victory by taking the seventh. However, Selby hit back and won frame eight with a run of 63 and then the decider with the benefit of a fluke and will face Zhang Anda in the last 16.

The other evening game saw Alfie Burden beat Michael Holt 5-2. Burden led 3-1 at the interval with a top run of 136 but Nottingham’s Holt closed the gap by taking frame five on the final black. But it was to no avail as Burden hit runs of 66 and 68 to secure a spot in the second round.

Ricky Walden’s poor start to the season continued as he was beaten after a final frame decider against Fergal O’Brien. The Irishman won the first two frames although World Championship semi-finalist Walden restored parity by taking the next two. The next four frames were shared but O’Brien took the match on the colours in the final frame.

He’ll face Dominic Dale who also needed all nine frames to beat Mike Dunn. Redcar potter Dunn was never behind in the match, always being either level or a frame ahead until the final frame which Dale won 64-25.

Joe Perry’s superb summer continues this week after he whitewashed Xiao Guodong. A top break of 71 saw him dispatch the world number 37 with ease and will now face Stuart Bingham in the next round.

Shaun Murphy also made short work of his last 32 match after defeating World Championship quarter-finalist Michael White 5-1. White won the opener but Sale potter Murphy made breaks of 57, 129 and 87 to cruise to victory.