Steve Davis crashes out of China Open Qualifiers 2011 against James Wattana – Snooker news
Steve Davis, six-time world champion, has lost in the China Open to the Thai-Poon, James Wattana, by a frame score of 5-4 in a best-of-nine frame match of the China Open 2011 qualifying round 3.
Davis, who has been the world number 1 for seven years, was not able to capitalise the given chances in the match and after a fully stretched battle lost in the deciding frame.
The overall score-line between the players was 52-55, 72-45, 27-74, 90-31, 20-70, 62-8, 8-75, 81-36, and 10-62.
James Wattana, who also is an experienced Thai professional, previously had beaten the likes of Justin Astley and Stuart Pettman with the frame scores of 5-2 each but beating ‘The Legend’ was definitely no mean feat.
During the match there were no reasonable breaks seen by either players rather it was more like a scrappy game that went on.
In the opening frame, Steve got a chance first but he reprieved before Wattana did likewise. Chances were coming and going until Wattana had a chance to roll in the final 27 to take the opener 1-0.
Davis is one of the best safety players who have ever walked around the table. Wattana was on the table thrice in the second frame before Steve but he could only gather 35 points for himself. Steve did 22 and snookered Wattana to get a chance again in which
he added 26 more to his score. Steve used his flawless safety skills afterwards and levelled the things in the end by 1-1.
In the third frame, Steve was on the run first but he broke after making a break of 27 giving his opponent a chance who responded with a couple a quick fires 55 and 19 to lead by 2-1.
The fourth frame was taken by Davis with dominant breaks of 59 and 24 whereas the next one was again taken by the Thai and the scores were 3-2 before the interval.
It was a cagey play going on and the players traded frames all the way until they reached the decider. Nobody won two frames in a row.
With the scores 4-4, first chance for the deciding frame fell for Wattana who compiled a break of 41 points before going out of position bringing Steve on the table. Steve tried to break thrice, as he got three chances to be on the table, but he failed and
the frame was thrown away.
James Wattana added 13 and another 8 later on to stand victorious by a frame score of 5-4 against one of the snooker greats.
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