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Ssb - no quarter given
Mark Allen should today put Ronnie O’Sullivan under more pressure than either Stuart Bingham or Jamie Cope did and – as we know from the Masters final – even great players feel pressure.
Allen has the advantage of having beaten O’Sullivan at last year’s World Championship and knows that if he can beat him at the Crucible, he can beat him anywhere.
Much will depend on O’Sullivan cutting out the odd unforced error. These were not pounced on by Bingham or Cope but Allen is more likely to punish an errant Rocket.
If John Higgins beats Mark Selby he will advance to his sixth successive ranking event semi-final. The record is eight, held by, yeah, you guessed it, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
Higgins once again demonstrated how good his all round game is last night by repelling the challenge of Graeme Dott.
He hasn’t won the Welsh Open in ten years but is playing every bit as good now as he was a decade ago.
The same can be said of Mark Williams, who was brilliant last night in whitewashing Andrew Higginson. In doing so, Williams reminded everyone of why he was the game’s top player for a period in the 2000s.
Stephen Maguire has been getting results this season but seems to be blowing hot and cold, which he can ill afford to do against an in form Williams.
It’s the first time since 1997 that two Welshmen have reached the quarter-finals. Ryan Day will also be shouldering home hopes against defending champion Ali Carter.
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Allen has the advantage of having beaten O’Sullivan at last year’s World Championship and knows that if he can beat him at the Crucible, he can beat him anywhere.
Much will depend on O’Sullivan cutting out the odd unforced error. These were not pounced on by Bingham or Cope but Allen is more likely to punish an errant Rocket.
If John Higgins beats Mark Selby he will advance to his sixth successive ranking event semi-final. The record is eight, held by, yeah, you guessed it, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
Higgins once again demonstrated how good his all round game is last night by repelling the challenge of Graeme Dott.
He hasn’t won the Welsh Open in ten years but is playing every bit as good now as he was a decade ago.
The same can be said of Mark Williams, who was brilliant last night in whitewashing Andrew Higginson. In doing so, Williams reminded everyone of why he was the game’s top player for a period in the 2000s.
Stephen Maguire has been getting results this season but seems to be blowing hot and cold, which he can ill afford to do against an in form Williams.
It’s the first time since 1997 that two Welshmen have reached the quarter-finals. Ryan Day will also be shouldering home hopes against defending champion Ali Carter.
More...