Welsh Open 2011 - First Round Results

After three days of exciting matches, multiple final frame deciders and relatively few shocks we know which players have made it through to the last 16 of the Wyldecrest Park Homes Welsh Open at the Newport Centre with the Welsh trio; Mark Williams, Ryan Day and Matthew Stevens all making it through.

Ding Junhui 4-3 Marcus Campbell

43-67, 1-87(63), 73-18, 73-5, 129(125)-4, 27-79(51), 123(103)-6

Masters champion Ding Junhui was up against EPTC winner Marcus Campbell in the first match of the tournament. Marcus snatched the first with a 41 clearance followed by a top break of 63 in the next to go 2-0 up. But Ding stormed back to take the next two frames with a top break of 49 and thanks to a fluked red stole the 5th to lead 3-2. Marcus took the next with a 51 to force the decider but his safety play let him down and finished the match with an emphatic 103. Ding must surely be one of the favourites for the title this week.

John Higgins 4-3 Jack Lisowski

14-75(70), 56-43, 79(58)-38, 73(50)-15, 8-79, 46-69, 80(59)-19

On paper it was meant to be an easy tie for John Higgins, but it didn't turn out that way as young Jack proved to be a handful. A break of 70 started things off for Jack but in the next frame he missed several chances to win on the colours and John leveled the match. Runs of 58 and 51 gave John a 3-1 lead, surely it would be over in the next frame. But the 19-year-old left hander had other things on his mine and took the next with break of 32 and 47 and edged out John in the 6th frame after he missed the final green. Jack had a good chance in the decider but only could make 15 before missing a risky red which turned out to be his last shot as John then knocked in a 59 for victory. Jack proved himself admirably and he will definitely be back on our screens in the months to come.

Mark Williams 4-0 Marco Fu

71-56, 69-13, 100(100)-5, 132(120)-0

Mark was full of confidence going into this tournament after capturing the German Masters in Berlin, but Marco was probably the toughest qualifier to draw in the first round so it could of been tough. It turned out not to be as he thrashed Marco in just under 49 minutes with breaks of 51 and 120. Along with John Higgins he will probably be the favourite to take the title now, but could to weight of expectation from the home fans be too much for him?

Mark Selby 4-3 Stuart Bingham

105(95)-0, 74(74)-64(64), 42-53, 0-60, 106(96)-11, 1-77(77), 67(52)-53(52)

Both players were going to be confident coming into this match. Mark having reached the final of the German Masters the previous week and Stuart having won his qualifier 4-0 and reaching the quarter-final of the UK. But unfortunately for Stuart he was also playing for a top 16 place and that pressure might have gotten to him in the final frame. Mark started well with a 95 break in the first then came from 64-0 down to win the 2nd with a 74 clearance. Stuart then took the next frame on the pink then added the next one to level at 2-2. The next two frames were shared, mark making a 96 and Stuart making a 77 to take the match to a decider. Stuart started well but missed an easy red on 52 which allowed mark to play an excellent Snooker and then made an excellent clearance of 52 with the balls in tricky places to win the match. The Jester from Leicester will be looking to put Germany behind him this week.

Neil Robertson 4-2 Nigel Bond

14-102(102), 58-70, 69-68, 81(81)-0, 130(130)-0, 62(61)-55(55)

Snooker Shoot-Out champion Bond was looking to upset an out-of-sorts Robertson of late and he nearly did but the missed Pink in the 3rd frame probably lost him the entire match. After a lovely break of 102 to start off with he won the 2nd after a lengthy safety battle on the blue. He nearly won the scrappy 3rd frame also, but he left himself a tricky Black in the middle pocket which missed by millimetres and it left it up for Neil to come back to 2-1 behind. After this Neil never looked back and he then fired in breaks of 81 and 130 to lead 3-2 then stole the 6th with a 61 clearance after Nigel made a 55. Neil will be looking to put the embarrasment of his first round lost to Anthony Hamilton behind him and will be ready to capitilize in this event.

Shaun Murphy 0-4 Matthew Stevens

53-54, 0-133(133), 0-82(60), 29-69

On paper this match looked to have 4-3 written all over it but it was a different story on the day. Matthew looked to be back to near his best and won the match in just over 78 minutes. He took the first frame with a break of 39 and then treated the Welsh fans to a majestic 133 break in the next. After Shaun missed a long red in the next, Matthew knocked in a confident break of 60 and in the next Shaun broke down on 24. The rest of the frame was scrappy but in the end Matthew nicked it with a run of 32 to take him through to the next round. Matthew could be a dark horse in this tournament.

Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-4 Ryan Day

22-109(109), 0-126(113), 100(100)-0. 0-101(46), 81(56)-0, 27-57

After thrashing Jimmy White in the qualifying round 4-0. Ryan in some peoples minds was the favourite in this match, with Ronnie not at the races in recent months and he even withdrew from the German Masters. This turned out to be a great match for the audience as Ryan started the match with an emphatic 109 break, quickly followed by a 113 in the second. Ronnie responded in true style in the next with a break of 100 but Ryan stole the 4th when Ronnie failed to get out of a tricky snooker and awarded Ryan 24 points in total. Ronnie did manage to take the next with a top break of 56 to make it 2-3 but it wasn't to be his day in the end as both players missed several chances but in the end it was Ryan cleared for his first ever professional victory over the Rocket. This made it 3 for 3 for the Welsh players in the first round!

Full results from the first round (courtesy of Global Snooker):

John Higgins 4-3 Jack Lisowski

14-75(70), 56-43, 79(58)-38, 73(50)-15, 8-79, 46-69, 80(59)-19

Ricky Walden 3-4 Dave Harold

34-93(80), 79-7, 118(78)-0, 104(56)-0, 25-66, 21-67, 60-62

Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-4 Ryan Day

22-109(109), 0-126(113), 100(100)-0. 0-101(46), 81(56)-0, 27-57

Shaun Murphy 0-4 Matthew Stevens

53-54, 0-133(133), 0-82(60), 29-69

Allister Carter 4-3 Barry Hawkins

78(70)-0. 0-90, 1-68(68), 68(56)-44, 1-66(66), 84-0, 87-6

Peter Ebdon 4-2 Dominic Dale

54-52, 0-139(139 Tournament high break!), 48-76(65),78(63)-44, 116(115)-6, 95(95)-40

Mark Allen 4-1 Rod Lawler

71(57)-17, 84(84)-0, 66(59)-2, 22-70, 66(58)-30

Ding Junhui 4-3 Marcus Campbell

43-67, 1-87(63), 73-18, 73-5, 129(125)-4, 27-79(51), 123(103)-6

Mark Williams 4-0 Marco Fu

71-56, 69-13, 100(100)-5, 132(120)-0

Jamie Cope 4-3 Rory McLeod

120(120)-2, 51-53, 45-74(74), 72(71)-35, 95-38, 14-72, 85(85)-42

Stephen Hendry 4-0 Joe Perry

126(61,57)-10, 73-39, 67-30, 78(78)-0

Stephen Maguire 4-2 Gerard Greene

59(57)-48, 97(76)-17, 54-81(81), 32-78(53), 90(72)-0 92(87)-1

Mark Selby 4-3 Stuart Bingham

105(95)-0, 74(74)-64(64), 42-53, 0-60, 106(96)-11, 1-77(77), 67(52)-53(52)

Mark King 4-1 Michael Holt

64-0, 74-23, 38-76(54), 82(64)-18, 75(69)-8

Graeme Dott 4-1 Jamie Burnett

45-56, 66-56, 67(67)-37, 69-21, 68-61

Neil Robertson 4-2 Nigel Bond

14-102(102), 58-70, 69-68, 81(81)-0, 130(13)-0, 62(61)-55(55)

Second Round Schedule:

Wed 13:00 - John Higgins (Sco) 4-1 Dave Harold (Eng)

Wed 19:00 - Mark Selby (Eng) 4-2 Mark King (Eng)

Thu 13:00 - Ali Carter (Eng) v Peter Ebdon (Eng)

Thu 13:00 - Mark Williams (Wal) v Jamie Cope (Eng)

Thu 14:00 - Ryan Day (Wal) v Matthew Stevens (Wal)

Thu 14:00 - Mark Allen (NI) v Ding Junhui (Chn)

Thu 19:00 - Stephen Hendry (Sco) v Stephen Maguire (Sco)

Thu 19:00 - Graeme Dott (Sco) v Neil Robertson (Aus)

Photos copyright: World Snooker