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Ssb - sweet 16
Judd Trump left it late but, as it transpired, not too late to book his place in the second round of the Shanghai Masters yesterday.
Barry Hawkins was good value for his 3-0 lead but Trump won the fourth frame on the blue and played much better thereafter to win 5-3. He was cheered on by a huge crowd, appreciative of his shot making qualities and tendency to entertain when the frame is won.
John Higgins was a late starter this season - and didn't do much when he did start- but would have been satisfied with the way he played to beat Jamie Jones 5-2.
There was one key shot: the thin green Higgins potted in winning the fourth frame for 2-2, after which he scored very heavily.
It was the sort of ball missable under pressure but Higgins's self belief had seemingly not gone walkabout, even if his form had.
Those who write off truly great players do so it their peril: Higgins once went three years without winning a ranking title when he was a much younger man so last season may not be such a great concern to him.
The last 16 features 12 of the top 16 seeds and only four qualifiers. Each of those four are former top 16 players.
Trump's match with Mark Allen later today should be one to savour if you like all out attacking snooker.
Ricky Walden, already the winner of this season's Wuxi Classic, scraped through against Steve Davis yesterday but beat his opponent today, Mark Williams, in the UK Championship last year.
It appears tickets were sold on the basis of Mark Selby and Ding Junhui winning their matches, which of course they did not.
This explains why Jamie Cope - victorious over Selby - will play Stuart Bingham on a televised table while Stephen Maguire's match against Ali Carter (and Neil Robertson v Joe Perry) is round the back.
Shaun Murphy will play Mark King, Ding's conqueror, on a TV table while Higgins v Ryan Day is on table 3.
The tables are assigned by the Chinese organisers and broadcasters in consultation with World Snooker.
It seems rather inflexible to select the last 16 line up before the event begins, bearing in mind no results are guaranteed.
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Barry Hawkins was good value for his 3-0 lead but Trump won the fourth frame on the blue and played much better thereafter to win 5-3. He was cheered on by a huge crowd, appreciative of his shot making qualities and tendency to entertain when the frame is won.
John Higgins was a late starter this season - and didn't do much when he did start- but would have been satisfied with the way he played to beat Jamie Jones 5-2.
There was one key shot: the thin green Higgins potted in winning the fourth frame for 2-2, after which he scored very heavily.
It was the sort of ball missable under pressure but Higgins's self belief had seemingly not gone walkabout, even if his form had.
Those who write off truly great players do so it their peril: Higgins once went three years without winning a ranking title when he was a much younger man so last season may not be such a great concern to him.
The last 16 features 12 of the top 16 seeds and only four qualifiers. Each of those four are former top 16 players.
Trump's match with Mark Allen later today should be one to savour if you like all out attacking snooker.
Ricky Walden, already the winner of this season's Wuxi Classic, scraped through against Steve Davis yesterday but beat his opponent today, Mark Williams, in the UK Championship last year.
It appears tickets were sold on the basis of Mark Selby and Ding Junhui winning their matches, which of course they did not.
This explains why Jamie Cope - victorious over Selby - will play Stuart Bingham on a televised table while Stephen Maguire's match against Ali Carter (and Neil Robertson v Joe Perry) is round the back.
Shaun Murphy will play Mark King, Ding's conqueror, on a TV table while Higgins v Ryan Day is on table 3.
The tables are assigned by the Chinese organisers and broadcasters in consultation with World Snooker.
It seems rather inflexible to select the last 16 line up before the event begins, bearing in mind no results are guaranteed.
More...