Snooker World Open last 32 takes centre stage
The snooker World Open in Glasgow is already proving to be popular amongst the players and the fans with the excitement set to continue as the last 32 matches kick off today.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark King are the last players vying for a place in this round, and the winner will play six-time world finalist Jimmy White. O’Sullivan is always the blockbuster name in any tournament, and King will have his work cut out if he is to stop the Rocket.
White defeated Paul Davison 3-1 to seal his place in the last 32, and for a time it didn’t look as though he would. Davison, ranked 86 in the world, took the opening frame with a break of 60 and was in control in the second, looking good for a 2-0 lead, but failed to capitalise. White found his rhythm and managed to recover by taking the next three frames.
Providing O’Sullivan overcomes King, the Whirlwind is anticipating an exciting encounter against the Rocket.
“I would love to play Ronnie now. I've got a few days to reflect and calm down because I got so excited, it took me a while to stay still on the shot,” said White.
It has been a long time since White reached the televised stages of an event, and the hard practice is beginning to pay off.
“I just want to win because I want to play again, but I haven't been involved at a venue for a while. I'm cueing well and the pink I knocked in to go 2-1 up showed that,” said White.
Home favourites Stephen Hendry and Stephen Maguire delighted the crowd by advancing to the next round. Hendry beat Belgian Bjorn Haneveer 3-0, while Maguire edged out Stuart Pettman 3-2.
Seven-time world champion Hendry will play Mark Davis and was satisfied with his win and the format of the tournament.
“To win 3-0 is all you can ask for,” said Hendry. “The drive here took longer than the match and it's nice to come through unscathed. There was a very good atmosphere and it's nice to have only one table. This is an outstanding event and there's definitely room for it.”
Maguire was tied at 2-2 and on the verge of exiting as Pettman led 48-1 in the deciding frame. However, Pettman miscued a shot with the match in his hands, and missed two more chances on the final green, leaving Maguire at the second time of asking to win. “I should never have won,” admitted Maguire. “That's the first match out of the way and hopefully I can settle down now.”
Mark Williams, a man returning to his best form, beat Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo in a comfortable 3-0 win. Williams came from 2-0 down to beat Mark Selby in the Premier League last week, and he brought that form to the SECC in Glasgow. The Welshman will certainly have a tougher match on his hands in the next round, as he plays recently-crowned Shanghai Masters champion Ali Carter, who beat Thai amateur Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3-1.
Reigning UK champion Ding Junhui had no problems beating Adrian Gunnell 3-0, making a top break of 53 along the way. China’s No.1 player now plays Jimmy Michie in the next round.
The World Open began with a repeat of the World Championship final from the Crucible in May as Neil Robertson and Graeme Dott did battle in the best-of-five tie. Australia’s first official world champion Robertson prevailed 3-1, and is pleased with the way the tournament has panned out so far.
“It's a fantastic format and good to have a repeat of the world final on the first day with a big crowd,” he said. The Thunder from Down Under remains a threat in the event and will now take on David Morris.
Peter Ebdon won the battle of the former world champions as he beat Steve Davis 3-1. Ebdon dropped out of the elite-16 last season for the first time in 16 years, and has desires on getting his place back where he feels he belongs.
“It hurt to drop out of the top-16 last season because I felt that I could stay in there for as long as I wanted,” he said.
“It's time to re-focus and re-group now and I do have new impetus and motivation, not only to get into the top-16 but to be a serious competitor for the big titles,” Ebdon added.
A match against Fergal O’Brien awaits the 2002 world champion, while Matthew Stevens, who reached the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals in the first ranking event of the season, will play local player Alan McManus.
Joe Jogia plays Liu Song, while another Scotsman Marcus Campbell plays Mike Dunn. Stephen Lee plays Nigel Bond, James McBain takes on Ricky Walden, Martin Gould plays Matthew Couch, and Marco Fu plays Andrew Higginson.
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