Welsh Open 2011: Day Three
Six matches including a stunning one from the last-16 were played on day three of the Wyldecrest Park Welsh Open 2011 at Newport. The rest of the games were of the first round. Stephen Hendry and Matthew Stevens started the day with their impressive performances
beating Joe Perry and Shaun Murphy, respectively.
The 51-year-old Scot, Stephen Hendry, the only player to hold the most (36) ranking titles, whitewashed Joe Perry of England 4-0 in his first-round match of Welsh Open 2011. The three-time Welsh champion started strongly in the first frame hitting 61 and
57 breaks before winning the second frame 73-39.
The World Number 13 faced a tough third frame but got through smartly. He won the 4th frame and the match in one-visit with a break of 78. Hendry has been struggling in the current season but he seems to be back in form. Stephen Hendry will face
his country-mate, World Number Eight, Stephen Maguire in the last-16 round of the tournament.
In one of the matches for a top-16 place, Matthew Stevens defeated Shaun Murphy whitewashing him 4-0 in the first-round match. The Welsh qualified for the second round with an impressive performance in the last-32 match. The dominating element was the century
break of 133 in 2nd frame that the Welsh snatched in a one-visit.
The World Number 21 surged into the tournament winning his qualifier to Anthony Hamilton 4-2 and is now ready to face his country-fellow, Ryan Day, who has been superb so far throughout the tournament. Day whitewashed Jimmy White and now, he upset the Rocket,
Ronnie O’Sullivan in his first round match of Welsh Open crashing him 4-2 in his last-32 match.
The Welsh fired two centuries of 109 and 113 in first two frames before Ronnie hit his own of 100 in the third to take the score to 2-1. Despite his struggle, the effort could not book him a place in the second round against Stevens as he gave away 24 points
in 6 fouls during the fourth frame.
Day took advantage and with breaks of 31 and 46 snatched the frame. However, the fifth frame was dominated by Ronnie followed by Day winning the sixth one that led him to the round 2 spot against Stevens. Ronnie, seeded third in Welsh Open 2011, will be
seeded not higher than ninth in Sheffield.
Elsewhere, Stephen Maguire beat Gerard Greene 4-2 in his last-32 match to hit a last-16 spot where he will meet Scotsman, Stephen Hendry. The first last-16 match was played against defending champion, John Higgins and 1993 Asian Open champion, Dave Harold
of England. John claimed an excellent victory 4-1 against the English cueist and was the first player to get through to the quarter-finals. The winner of Ryan-Stevens match will meet him on Friday, Feb 18.
In the second last-16 match, Mark Selby triumphed over Mark King 4-2. Despite giving away 36 foul points, King managed to win the first frame 69-89 but Selby bounced in the next two frames and took the score 2-1 before King levelled the game 2-2, winning
the fourth frame. Selby took back to back frames with a century break of 102 in the last one and snatched victory along with a quarter-final spot in the Welsh open 2011. He will face the winner of Dott-Robertson match on Friday.
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