A book to remember - Jimmy White's Autobiography

00:05:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

You thought I've given up writing, didn't you? Oh, come on admit it, there's not point in saying no, when we all think it :-)) Well, I haven't and I still have one big love (snooker that is), although I've been neglecting it for some time now, due to my horrible job that has taken over my life. Grrrr!!!

Putting that aside, what do you know? It's almost 2013. We all survived December 21st, most of us that is, so raise up your glass and drink up for we have a brand new year ahead of us, full of promises of hearth, wealth and other stuff we crave for. I know I crave for a trip to Sheffield, but we'll talk about that some other time.

Now, what I was trying to say is that instead of wishing you all a happy new year and all that crap that we say to each other on this day, I decided to share with you a bit of my experience after reading Jimmy White's book "Behind the White Ball".

I know it's not a new book, since it's been on the market since 1999 or something like that, but I've just got the chance to read it sooooo I thought I put down a word or two about it.
I apologise in advance for those of you who read it and lost interest in reading my post suddenly. Oh come on, read on ... I might have some great insight about it .... neaah, or maybe just a little bit. You never know :-))

Now getting serious. What I really like about this book is the fact that is almost snooker-free. I know, how on earth could I like something like that, right? Well, the funny thing is that it's snooker-free because it's about Jimmy and ... Jimmy and snooker are an item, so you can't really separate the two of them and make two different stories, one about the man and one about the sport he’s playing. You just can’t.

Unlike other players, Jimmy proves to be the same person on and off the table. So if you see him making mistakes at the table or doing something crazy, is only because that's him. That's the real him, that's what he does in his day-by-day life.

So you see, is like snooker and Jimmy don't just co-exist, they just ARE together, forming a package that for so many years has entertained us, made us cry, made us laugh, made us angry, made us smile and so on. You can't buy stuff like that, I must say.

The way this book was written, and bare with me that I don't know if he had a ghost-writer for it, and even if he had, I have the belief that he just wrote the pieces Jimmy dictate it to him, because you can almost hear his voice though the lines ... so where was I? Oh yeah the way this book is written is just brilliant for I found myself laughing in the metro (I took the book with me while getting to work) more than once.

The style is simple, so honest and so transparent it's impossible not to fell in love with it. I know autobiographies tend to be boring, but this is not one of them. It’s refreshing and it's bloody awesome!

The funny stories about his rebel years, the sad stories about his brother, or the fact that he had cancer, about the fights with his wife Maureen, about how he missed tournaments due to multiple hangovers, all these make him human (we all tend to see a sportsman as some kind of God) and cool.

And I love the fact that even though he has a genuine respect for players that have a consistency, respect and a high discipline for the sport (like Steve Davis for example, who Jimmy calls "Saint Steve"), he admits he likes the way he is, the way he plays. Maybe it looks chaotic for some, but for him it's the real deal, because it comes from within, for inside his soul.

You won't hear White going on and on about how passionate is he about snooker and how much he adores this sport, but you can spot this in every line. It's impossible not to. It's an easiness that catches your eye so quickly and doesn't let go until you finish the book.

And after you finish the book you have a warm and cosy feeling created by the fact that you just read about a top class champion and yet you feel you witnessed a story told by an old friend from school. That’s how sincere and real this book is.

Away from the victories and the defeats, away from the dramas and the moments of intense happiness, lies a man, a simple man, a genuine "People's champion" who inspires you to never stop chasing your dreams and gives you hope that if you’re talented and you believe in yourself (a thing that he himself failed to do sometimes) you can achieve your goals no matter what they are.

So, on that note I would like to end this piece and recommend you to read this book if you haven't done it yet, for it is a book to remember and to cherish.

Happy New Year everyone! Lots of love x

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UK Championship 2012 - Jester from Leicester crowned in York

21:00:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

Mark Selby - the 2012 UK Championship winner
Mark Selby beat Shaun Murphy 10-6 in the final of the UK Championship to add one well-deserved new toy to his collection of trophies.

The player nicknamed "The Jester from Leicester" started his UK journey by taking down two powerful Welshmen, Michael White by 6-3 and Ryan Day 6-4, continued by defeating another dangerous opponent (seen as quite a favourite to win the tournament, if I may add), Neil Robertson with the same 6-4 scoreline and flew all the way to the final after a clear 9-4 victory over Mark Davis.

The final game was played against one of Selby's off-table friends, Shaun Murphy, the proud owner of an UK trophy from four years ago.

The cue-crossing was a tough one as neither of them could get on more than one frame away advantage.

Selby getting a bear hug from Shaun Murphy
So if Murphy was the one to break the ice, Selby was catching up immediately and if Selby went too far away, Murphy would draw level with the first chance he got.

The pattern was broken when "The Magician" expanded the gap at two points (aka. 4-2) with just a top break of 98, but by the end of the session things were all square at 4-4 as Selby replayed with 70, 38 and 39.

Hours later returning into the arena, the lads continued their safe game that limited them at being just one-frame apart, until Selby put his foot down and carry on potting one ball after another, thus winning one frame after another.

Vikki hugs her husband
It was a break of 51 that helped Mark to escalade the high mountain that would bring him the victory once he reached the top of it, while runs of 98 and 44 were putting him one step closer to winning the much-craved-for crown, 9-6.

The last frame wasn't filled with big breaks, but it was a genuine exhibition of great pots and safety shots battle, which in the end caused the inevitable thing to happen: Selby won by 10-6.

A very happy couple: Mark and Vikki
An enormous cheer could be heard from the audience, while an over-the-moon Selby was getting a heartfelt big hug from Murphy; and while Hazer Irvine was trying to get a few words from the champion, his wife Vikki came to hug the man "who's been though a lot of pain this past few months, and who deserved to win".

Though overwhelmed with emotion, Selby still managed to keep it cool and lifted the trophy that every snooker player would die to hold it in their arms: the UK Championship beautiful cup.

And if this is Selby's first UK Championship trophy, one could only wonder if next year, in May, the same man will break the curse and get his hands on the World Championship trophy too.



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UK Championship 2012 - Murphy and Selby to play final game

14:04:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

Murphy comes back for victory
The beautiful UK Championship madness started on December 1st and after being through so many tense matches and unbelievable scorelines, it's time to play the grand final.

Standing with their head up high are Shaun Murphy, who managed to obtain a fabulous victory of 9-8 over Ali Carter, and Mark Selby who easily beat Mark Davis 9-4.

It is said that sometimes, the semis carry a lot more drama and tension than the final and for the Murphy v Carter snooker encounter, this rule applies without any doubt.

Clearly in the form of his lifetime, Carter was in the position of leading Shaun 8-4, with only one more frame needed to book himself a place in today's final. But the "Magician" had other plans in mind.

The match started on a pretty balanced note, at least up until 2-2. However, after that Carter used a great 101 break to fly two points ahead, while Murphy could only respond with runs of 34 and 49 to pull back a frame.

The first session ended with Ali's 79 break that gave him full control of the match, this year's World Championship runner-up leading 5-3.

As the lads returned into the arena, Carter didn't lose any time and fired in breaks of 79 and 80 to go just one step away from the finish-line.

It was in that very moment, when the "Magician's" force unleashed itself under the form of breaks like 59, 76, 49, 105 and 78 to perform probably the most unthinkable comeback of this tournament. The scoreline was now 8-8.

Selby regains his world number one position
Shocked, but still eager to win Carter started the decider and got the run of the balls pretty quickly. Sadly for him though, he broke off at 32 after missing a red with the rest, Murphy coming to the table to end the match with runs of 39 and 29 for a great 9-8 victory and a well-deserved place in the final.

Less spectacular, but quite tense here and there, the match featuring Mark Selby and Mark Davis had a pretty clear result, 9-4, result that guarantees Selby's to get his world number one position back.

With just a top break of 121, Selby took off to a 3-0 lead, before Davis responded with a 76 to win his first frame of the day.

As the first session of the match developed Davis didn't manage to win more than one frame (which was captured with a great 80 clearance, it must be said), while Selby hit in runs of 42, 81 and 51 to go 6-2 up.

At returning into the arena, things didn't seem to change must, Selby continuing to cruise towards victory with runs of 64, 76 and 41, to which his opponent was unable to address more than a 50 break during frame 10 and won a scrappy affair two frames later. Final scoreline 9-4.

And so Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby are seeing their names in shiny letters today, as the 35th edition of the UK Championship is waiting for a new champion to lift that beautiful trophy.

Be sure to watch the lads in action from 2:15pm (first session) and from 10pm (the last session) – UK time.

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UK Championship 2012 - the quarter-finals

16:09:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

The tense quarter-finals are over, four players prevailing the test of endurance and earning a spot in the next round: Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter, Mark Selby and Mark Davis.

All of them had to go through a lot during this week and although there's still much to be done until one of them grabs that "Holy Grail", entertainment is a guarantee this end of week.

Davis wins again
Mark Davis v Matthew Stevens

It must be Davis' week of winnings and this match proved it once more, as the English player succeeded to put an end to Matthew Stevens' run and get himself a place in the semi-final.

The start of the match was a balanced one, as Stevens used breaks of 81 and 52 to go 2-0 up, while Davis used just a top break of 101 to draw level as the mid-session interval was kicking off.

By the time the players re-entered into the arena the roles switched and this time, was Davis' turn to take the lead, breaks of 98 and 80 offering him a two frames advantage.

Still, Stevens fought back like a lion and equalised the situation at hand at four apiece, but this didn't seem to make much difference to Mark's state of mind that was set on the victory.

So with a top break of 70, the OnQ Promotions player won by 6-4 and got a place in Saturday's semi-final.

Shaun Murphy v Luca Brecel

Murphy reaches the semis
It's been a wonderful week for Belgium's Luca Brecel and surely one of the best of his life as a professional snooker player, but this match went in favour of the Magician.

Still that doesn't mean it wasn't one hell of a battle, the players going hand in hand up until 5-5, Murphy making his way through the last frame with a notable 122, while Brecel applied breaks of 39, 44 and 64.

It must be said though that Brecel was pretty unlucky to missed the chance of winning 6-4, when he missed the pink, thus giving Murphy the chance to force the decider, and also in the last frame, when Murphy got a horrible kick at 42, Brecel sending the pink into  pocket that refused with all its powers to take it in.

But Luca's bad luck was Murphy's luck, to which he added a lot of confidence and great snooker skills that helped him win 6-5.

Ali Carter v Stuart Bingham

Carter is flying high
A wonderful Carter seems to be reborn from his very own ashes, as he beat Stu by 6-4, in order to set up a meeting with Murphy in the first semi-final.

Even though Bingham broke the ice with a 74 to conquer the first frame, it was Carter and his 134 that was setting the scoreline at 3-1 as the interval was starting.

After the break Bingham pulled one back, but Carter was sure to restore the two frames difference with the first chance he got, and when the Premier League champion managed to perform a great comeback for a 4-4 scoreline, Ali stormed in and got to the finish line first.

Mark Selby v Neil Robertson

Comeback of the tournament, performed by Mark Selby
Incredible win for Mark Selby over the Australian player, as he had to come back from 4-0 down, for a 6-4 victory. Typically Selby, if I may say so.

With two runs, of 65 and 105, Robertson was flying 4-0 up in what seemed to be a one-way street for the Australian to reach the semi-finals stage, but when Selby started his comeback his opponent froze.

Breaks of 58 and 106 were sure to get him a great start, as the scoreboard was indicating now 4-4, while a frame decided by the colours was sending Selby one step away from a a place in the next round.

So with just one frame needed, Mark hit a great 101 break to put an end to Robertson's UK Championship dream, by 6-4.


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UK Championship 2012 - Day 5

14:39:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

I don't think it would a better word to describe the last four of the Last 16 round, other than "long", but considering what is as stake, who can blame the players?!

So, it might have taken Neil Robertson, Mark Selby, Luca Brecel and Mark Davis quite some time to safely land in the quarter-finals, but a snooker player has to do, what a snooker player has to do.

John Higgins v Mark Davis

A thrilled Mark Davis
A scrappy snooker affair that proved once more that even if you hit a maximum break, there's no guarantee you'll be winning the match too - that's the story behind this encounter in short.

Higgins' form was a poor one, as he himself admitted after the match was over, while Davis had a lot of confidence in his playing scheme and kept on fighting even when the odds were against him.

So with just a top break of 61 points, Davis was ending the first session with a 3-1 lead, lead that he maintained, even after Higgins pulled one back, with two beautiful tons of 106 and 103 to go 5-2 up.

But then, Higgins made his move, a move that would bring the four-time world champion and extra-cheque of £10,000 and another of £3,500 for the highest break of the competition (if his record is not equalled), for the magnificent 147 he hit during frame eight.

And it seemed like this bought the Scottish player some confidence, as he continued his comeback plan with a top break of 72 to force the decider at 5-5. Sadly when he had the chance to clear up for victory, he missed the pink off its spot, in an attempt to obtain a good position for the black, Davis winning, by 6-5.

Luca Brecel v Mark King

Brecel adds more more victory to his great collection
The 17-year old lad from Belgium made yet another victim and confiscated Mark King's crown with a 6-4 final result.

Although Mark took a good and solid start for a 3-1 lead, Brecel was sure to perform a brilliant comeback by firing in runs of 65 and 75 and even put his nose in front with an 80 break.

King put his foot down and took his chances in frame eight as to make the scoreline go 4-4, but for Luca it was just one of those days when you don't feel the pressure and you just keep doing your thing. And he did his thing, hence won the match with just a  top break of 42 to capture the last two frames.

Mark Selby v Ryan Day
Selby gets his cue in the QFs

This snooker encounter had the most unwanted start ever: a 45 minutes first frame that also included a re-rack. Still, by the end of the first session, Day managed to squeeze past his opponent and go 3-1 up.

Not at his best, but clearly wanting to make a statement that he's trying, Selby pushed his boundaries and not only succeed in drawing level, but also managed to go one step away from victory, at 5-3, using breaks of 99 and 103.

Day had one last attempt to stop him as he pulled one frame back, but Selby was sure to end the snooker encounter with a run of 51, for a 6-4 scoreline.

Robbo strikes again



Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins


Robertson beat Hawkins 6-2 to book himself a place in the quarter-finals, although he didn't perform as well as he did against Tom Ford.

However, with just a top break of 57 points he went 3-1 up at the interval and after Hawkins' win in frame five, he used just two breaks, of 67 and 49, to clear his way to the next round, where he's meeting with Mark Selby.





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UK Championship 2012 - Day 4

14:35:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

Captain Carter flying on a perfect blue sky
Yesterday marked the start of the mighty Last 16 matches, at the end of it four players finding their way into the next round.

Amongst them was 'Captain' Ali Carter who seemed to fly totally undisturbed over Mark Joyce, who has sadly played nothing like (the other day) against the defending champion, Judd Trump.

Carter took a 4-0 lead with breaks of 58, 57 and 73 to welcome the mid-session interval with a huge relief and although after the break Joyce tried his best, he didn't manage to perform his most-wanted comeback.

Two runs, of 50 and 7,6 brought Mark a couple of frames, which resulted to be his firsts and his lasts, while Carter used a top break of 73 to smooth his way into the quarter-finals with a decisive 6-2 victory.

Stuart Bingham seems to be winning everything these days, this time his victim being Scotland's Stephen Maguire (actually one of the favorites to win this year's trophy) who was defeated 6- 4.

Stuart started his journey with a 73 that guaranteed him a 2-0 lead, but Maguire was sure to catch up with him by firing in breaks of 67 and 50.

A "copy-paste" situation was about to happen after the interval when Bingham jumped two frames up at 4-2 by using breaks of 65 and 63, and as before, Maguire replayed in order to make the scoreline go 4-4.

The Englishman hit a beautiful 120 break to go one away from victory and continued potting (60 and 54) until reaching the finish-line, now having to face Carter in the quarter-finals.

Stevens is happy with his win
Also with a place in the quarter-finals is Shaun Murphy, whose 6-2 victory over Graeme Dott was enough proof that he's up for the job.

With just a top break of 62 Murphy got on a 3-0 advantage, while Dott just managed to squeeze a frame in his bag as the mid-session interval was kicking off.

A great century break of 130 points was extending Murphy's lead at 4-1, to which the Scottish player responded by taking the next frame in order to reduce the deficit. Still, it was too late as the "Magician" cashed the last two frames to secure himself a place in the next round.

Last but not the least, Matthew Stevens performed quite a remarkable win over Marco Fu after a very delightful match.

Flying at  4-1 up with just a top break of 72, Stevens was sure to make a statement as what he's really after to, but all of the sudden his opponent raised from the dead and started winning frame after frame.

With runs of 97 and 60 Fu secured his comeback at four apiece, but that just made Stevens more eager to win, what he ended up doing after hitting in breaks of 74, 59 and 34.

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UK Championship 2012 - Day 3

00:52:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

It might have been Monday, a day many of us don't fancy due to the fact that we have to go back to work, but for the snooker players that enrolled into the second most important tournament on the colourful cue sport calendar, it was just another busy day at the office.

The surprises didn't stop in showing themselves, Luca Brecel managing his best performance ever and sending home a Top 16 player, Ricky Walden by 6-5, on the opposite corner Mark Williams crashing out of yet another event after being defeated 6-3 by his namesake, Mark King.

Neil Robertson took a great start after hammering Tom Ford 6-1, the same scoreline being recorded in the snooker meeting between Matthew Stevens and a very ill (suffering from shingles, as he himself admitted) Dominic Dale.

Ricky Walden v Luca Brecel

It was one of those matches that makes you wonder about how great is to have a clash between experience and youth’s boldness and although in snooker, in many cases, experience is often the one prevailing, this time it was the other way around.

Walden stormed in as to take a 2-0 lead with runs of 45 and 79, but his younger opponent found no difficulty in coming back and ending the first session on a tight 2-2 scoreline.

After the 15-minute break the cue-crossing continued with the same Walden flying two frames up (breaks of 64 and 94 being part of the package), followed by a similar replay from Belgium's prodigy who caught up with him at four apiece.

The world number 12 put his nose back in front, being now just one away from victory, but Luca managed not only to force the decider, but also to win it in order to obtain his greatest ever achievement in a ranking event.

Mark Williams v Mark King

At the near table the two Mark's were also trying to entertain the audience, as well as getting a place in the next round. And for the "King" the dream came true.

Although Williams was the one to break the ice and get the first frame under board, the next three were all cashed by King with just top break of 57.

After the interval things only got worse for the Welshman as King took a 5-1 lead by hitting a beautiful 103 century. However he did find the strength to carry on and get two more frames in his bag and also hit a century (105), before King closed the deal at 6-3.

Neil Robertson v Tom Ford

Robertson had the time of his life by playing Ford, the Australian player scoring no less than four century breaks in a match that was almost one-sided.

With runs of 129, 112 and 74 Robbo got on a comfortable 4-0 lead, while a perfect 100 put him just one away from the finish line.

Poor Ford only grabbed a frame, before another century, this time an 127, stroked the scoreboard as the "Thunder from Down Under" was winning 6-1.

 



Matthew Stevens v Dominic Dale

Far from his best, but in a better state of mind than his opponent, Matthew Stevens obtained the last of the remaining spots in the Last 16 with a 6-1 result in front of a very ill Dominic Dale, now having to face Marco Fu in the next round.








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UK Championship 2012 - Day 2

00:16:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

Sunday (aka. the second day of the UK Championship) proved to be one hell of a day, merely because the event turned out to be quite a surprising one. Why you ask? Well, because the brand new world number one and defending champion, Judd Trump was sent home by an outstanding Mark Joyce.

Ali Carter was also amongst those who took a great start, the 2012 World Championship runner-up beating legend Steve Davis 6-2, while Marco Fu performed a brilliant victory of 6-3 in front of Mark Allen.

Shaun Murphy v Robert Milkins

It's been a while since we've seen Murphy win something big and maybe this time he'll get lucky. His start against Robert Milkins was a good one, the "Magician” setting a 6-3 final scoreline and keeping his nose in front throughout the entire match.

An ill Milkins, although managing to break the ice with a break of 54, was soon found 3-1 down, after Murphy’s runs of 73 and 91, forced to entering into the 15-minute break with a lot on his mind.

However, after the interval he did his best to catch up with his opponent and actually managed to get at three apiece, before Murphy ended the business with breaks of 66 and 85 in order to get his cue ready for the Last 16 round.

Mark Davis v Cao Yupeng

Getting a place in the tournament due to Stephen Lee's undetermined suspension, Davis proved to everyone that not only he deserves to be there, but he also deserves a nice and steady place in the Top 16.

We all know Cao's strength and skills when he's rocking around the green baize, but for Davis this didn't seem to be a problem and he refused to be intimidated by his opponent's grandeur from the very first start.

The mid-session interval was founding Mark on top of the situation, at 4-0, the last session the Englishman being careful enough as not to let Cao get more than one frame in his bag. 

So with just a top break of 79 (to which Cao responded with a 49), Mark Davis set foot into the UK Championship fair and square.

Ali Carter v Steve Davis

He might have won two qualifying matches to get to the main event, but Sunday was surely not a lucky day for the six-time world champion, Steve Davis.

For much as he tried and tried, he only managed to win two frames, one of which with a good 85 break, the rest of them falling into Ali's arms as he hit in runs of 40, 47 and 38 for a 6-2 final result.

Judd Trump v Mark Joyce


Seen as favourite to win this match and more over, the tournament Judd Trump surprised us all by being out of form.

The "naughty” player from Bristol was kneeled down by a very ambitious Mark Joyce, who although found himself being lead 5-2, carried on until the last frame.

As the interval ca kicking off, the defending champion was on a very relaxing lead of 3-1 and as the match developed, he extending that lead up until 5-2.

Joyce, a qualifier that many tend to overlook, didn’t give in through and started his comeback. With breaks of 74, 57, 44 and 39 he managed to force the decider and also win it, leaving the entire arena stunned with amazement by what determination and talent can achieve.

Mark Allen v Marco Fu

Another surprise was yet to be cooked, as Allen and Fu got together in a veritable cue-crossing that ended on the Chinese's favour at 6-3.

With breaks of 91, 131, 121, 59 and 61 Fu furiously obtained what he came for at York: a place in the next round and his confidence back.

Allen, on the other hand, is sadly forced to wait for another year until turning his UK Championship dream into reality.

Stuart Bingham v Jack Lisowski

He's just won the Premier League and he's got no less than two APTC titles in his bag. Many say he's the man to beat and after a great performance against youngster Jack Lisowski, I tend to say the same thing.

Stuart Bingham got a comfortable 6-2 win after showing class against a much younger but tough opponent, using just two top breaks of 88 and 58 in the process, now following to face the taciturn Stephen Maguire, in the next round.

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UK Championship 2012 - Day 1

15:52:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

Barbican Centre - York
Saturday marked the start of the second most important and most prestigious ranking event of the snooker calendar, the UK Championship. An event that's very dear to my heart and that I shall try to cover as much as possible during the working week.

However, thank God for the weekend, for I had the chance to watch snooker on a full-time basis and treat myself with some good old fashioned BBC reports on it.

John Higgins, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui were amongst those who tried to make a statement for themselves during the first day, but unfortunately it wasn't possible to see all three of them qualified for the next round of cue-crossings.

On the other hand, the surprises didn't avoid York this year either, so players like Ryan Day and Stephen Maguire paved the road to the Last 16 with well-deserved victories.

John Higgins v Michael Holt

Not at his best - Higgins
The partially Scottish, partially English snooker affair started on a pretty balanced note, with the lads sharing frames up until the interval. So if Higgins was the one to break the ice with a 42 break, Holt was responding with a 67, and if the "Wizard of Wishaw" was making a brilliant 116 clearance, Holt was using a break of 43 to draw level at two apiece.

After the mini-break the situation didn't change much as the snooker gladiators went hand in hand up until 3-3. From this point on though, Higgins tried his best to avoid letting his opponent to have too much time table.

Although far from his best and struggling for most of the balls, Higgins managed to fire in runs of 51, 75 and 57 to take three frames on a row and seal a 6-3 victory against Michael Holt, a player that even though played some good snooker, missed to take advantage of his opponent's mistakes.

Barry Hawkins v Liang Wenbo

Better look out for this guy
Well, what a start for the current Australian Open champion, may I say! Hawkins was practically flying, at least in the first part the match, when with a series of 101, 51 and another 51 he managed to put Wenbo on a corner and take a 3-1 lead as the mid-session interval was kicking off.

Later on though, Wenbo raised and shined with breaks of 71, 68 and a great 102 total clearance, breaks that didn’t just put his back into the match, but also offered him what seemed almost unthinkable, a one point lead, 4-3.

Still, Hawkins didn't panic and started doing his thing, which in this case meant winning one frame after another, until the score board froze at 6-4.

Ding Junhui v Ryan Day

Welshman on loose
It was some kind of déjà-vu between Ding and Ryan, making us remember this year's World Championship match, where as now, Ding suffered defeat while Ryan emerged as winner.

Although Ding put his cue into action enough to give himself a 2-0 advantage by hitting in breaks of 59 and 106, by the time the mid-session interval was starting, Ryan would have caught up with him by using just a top break of 90 points.

15 minutes later, as the lads entered the arena Day put his nose in front for the first time, but Ding's 91 break restored the balance of the match at three a piece, the Welsh Open reigning champion getting the next frame on board as well.

What happened next was a typical case of letting your guard down, for after Ryan managed to draw level with a perfect ton, he kept on marching for victory winning a safety shots battle and scoring an 88 break, writing his name on the Last 16 list. Final scoreline 6-4.

Stephen Maguire v Fergal O'Brien

The scoreline (6-2) of the Scottish-Irish snooker encounter reveals what happened throughout the entire match, but only partially, for it doesn’t say anything about the fact that during the first session Maguire was out of his form ... and badly.

Struggling and being far from his best Maguire barely managed to draw level at 2-2 by winning the forth frame on a re-spotted black, but after the 15-minute break something happened and the brilliant player we all know came into the spotlight.

With no less than three century breaks of 102, 104 and 131 he took control of the match, leaving Fergal way behind at 5-2, while a break of 70 was sending him right into the next round. Top class!

Mark Selby v Michael White

Still inconsistent, but still there
The former world number one and the talented youngster - what a treat! And it was indeed a treat for this match was the perfect balance between training, experience, ambition and talent.

For Selby's fans this wasn't their idol's best performance as the "Jester from Leicester" shown a pretty inconsistent act and failed to produce the "roar" we all know he’s capable of. Still, in the end the experience prevailed and he managed to win by 6-3.

The interval found the lads all square up at 2-2 and as the match developed later, the situation persisted: when Selby was amongst the balls he suddenly had a kick or miss an incredible easy ball, letting White in. Sadly, the "kiddo" would pot only for a limited time before losing position, or as his opponent, missed a ball.

White has a future in snooker

However, from 3-3 things changed and Selby seemed a bit more composed, breaks of 55, 27, 27 and 105 standing as proof not only for that, but also for his victory, a victory that puts him into the next round right beside another Welshman, this time Ryan Day.

Graeme Dott v Martin Gould

The last match of the day and the one that kept us awake featured probably one of the most balanced matches of this tournament. And as, it should, it finished on a decider.

Dott, not very happy with his performance
The players went on sharing frames up until Gould took a two frames advantage at 5-3 and put himself just one away from victory.

His opponent, although not in a brilliant form still found the strength to carry on and with runs of 39 and 36 to force the decider.

Gould was the first in, but missed a red on 23, this putting Dott at the table, who, this time, made the most of the given change. A break of 55 gave him confidence, enough to add a few more points after Gould’s turn at the table, in order to win by 6-5.

Today, the cue action continues with:

11.00
Shaun Murphy v Robert Milkins
Mark Davis v Cao Yupeng

14.00
Judd Trump v Mark Joyce
Ali Carter v Steve Davis

19.00
Stuart Bingham v Jack Lisowski
Mark Allen v Marco Fu

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