Stephen Lee edges Mark Williams in a final frame thriller – China Open 2011
Stephen Lee has beaten Mark Williams by a frame score of 5-4 in the last 32 of the Bank of Beijing World snooker China Open held at Beijing Students University Gymnasium, Beijing, China.
The defending champion, Mark Williams, who was playing in the top of his form and also was one of the tournaments favourite, had crashed in the first round. However the world number 23, Stephen Lee, on the same note made an extraordinary performance to see
off the Welshman in a cut-throat competition. The overall score-line between them was 100-32, 113-0, 13-111, 34-60, and 49-60, 104-8,137-0, 16-84 and 70-72.
The first two frames were over within a blink of an eye as the Welsh Potting Machine, Mark Williams, took a flying start by storming into a 2-0 lead. He made mind boggling back to back century breaks of 100 and 113 in the opening two frames respectively.
However he lost control of his emotions in the third frame, breaking down on 6 and when the chance presented itself, Lee slotted a carving break of 86 to come within one frame by 2-1.
The first chance in the fourth frame fell to Williams but he again could only manage a break of 25 whereas Lee responded with a couple of quick fires, 46 and 14, to level things by 2-2. He also took the following frame with a decisive break of 52 and turned
the two frames deficit into a one frame advantage by 3-1.
The world number two, Mark Williams, after a great start lost three frame straight, bounced back this time, with all of his zeal, energy and strength, and once again produced superb back to back century breaks of 104 and the tournament high 137 in the sixth
and seventh frame respectively.
The match was almost through there, as William’s supreme break building abilities and confidence left Lee one frame down with two to play.
But it turned into a comeback story when Williams lost his nerves in the following frame, breaking down on 16. Lee punished him with a couple of quick breaks, 32 and 48, and forced the decider.
The final frame was quite dramatic. A bout of safety play was seen in it a both players showed there flawless safety skills until Williams earned himself a match winning chance, but he couldn’t clinch the frame as he broke down on 53 bringing his opponent
on the table. Lee showed nerves of steel and pulled the victory on the final black ball with a break of 61.
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