Welsh Open Latest News - Day One
Stevens and Dale lift Welsh hopes in Newport
Matthew Stevens came from 4-2 down to snatch a 5-4 win over Andy Hicks, while Dominic Dale clinched a thrilling late night 5-4 victory over Liang Wenbo, to send the home fans home with something to cheer about, after they'd witnessed the shock exit of Mark Williams at the hands of David Gilbert.
The three Welsh Dragons all had their Last 48 matches held over to the venue, and there was a packed house in Newport to cheer them on.
First to breath some fire was Matthew Stevens, who strolled through the opener against Devon's Andy Hicks with smoothly compiled runs of 62 and 42.
After two protracted frames which were shared, Hicks levelled matters with a 52 break.
The next two frames dragged on for 30 and 42 minutes and Hicks won them both to leave Stevens staring down the barrel.
But then Stevens saw and opening and grabbed it with both hands. a seven minute frame saw the Carmarthen cueman piece together a frame winning 74. And he did the same in the eighth frame as his effort of 67 was enough to level the match.
With the momentum now firmly with him, Stevens got in first in the decider, made 43 which proved to be enough to see him over the line.
The thirty-one year old Welsh favourite was pleased to have not only survived the initial hurdle, but also the pressure of performing in front of friends, family and an expectant Welsh crowd.
"I am relieved more than anything", said Stevens, adding "I'm proud of myself, to come back with three decent frames to get over the line.
"You give that little bit extra when your friends and family are watching."
Looking ahead to a clash with the Chinese Dragon, Ding Junhui, Stevens admitted "I'll be the underdog against Ding, which will suit me at the moment."
Dominic Dale came through a high quality and exciting match against China's Liang Wenbo to set himself up a crack at Grand Prix Champion John Higgins.
Wenbo blazed in a run of 94 to take the first frame, but undaunted, Dale flashed back with 39 and a superb 124 to take the lead. He went on to snatch an epic fourth frame with a 31 clearance, after Wenbo had opened with 53.
Wenbo countered to win the next three frames as Dale slumped deeper into his chair and so we were treated to a dramatic, late night, final frame shoot out.
Wenbo eyed up an improbable long red, about 50-50 on the practice table, but very low percentage at the start of a ranking event deciding frame.
It went astray and Dale pounced., and how. He meticulously pieced together a match winning 104.
Sandwiched between the Welsh cheers, came the Welsh tears.
Mark Williams, showing signs of a return to his vintage form, faced up to qualifier David Gilbert.
Most pundits expected a Williams win, in front of his adoring Welsh fans. But Gilbert hadn't read the script.
The Tamworth player hit the ground running, 66 in the opener was swiftly followed by a brilliant 131 in the second.
Williams briefly rallied, making 75 in the third, but he was soon rocked back into his chair by Gilbert, who made 58, followed by his second century of the match, 115.
The Welshman wasn't going down without a fight, but when he inadvertently knocked the blue down the rail into the pocket off a safety shot on the yellow, that left an easy yellow for GIlbert to take the match.
Williams was quick to praise his opponent. "I didn't really get into the match and I was outplayed in every department."
Gilbert, who will face Joe Perry in the Last 32, was naturally thrilled with his win.
"That has to be the best win of my career. I just flew, I don't think I've ever played so well in a match."
