Day One Review - Monday
The Wyldecrest Parks Home got off to an emotional start with defending champion edging passed 19-year-old star in the making, Jack Lisowski in the new-look arena at Newport Centre.
Ding Junhui v Marcus Campbell
Sleepy Ding Progresses
Ding Junhui became the first man through to the Wyldecrest Park Homes Welsh Open second round this lunchtime although he admitted it was not quite the right time of day for him.
The Wembley Masters champion was under the cosh after the opening couple of frames as Scotland's Marcus Campbell rattled in breaks of 41 and 63 to go 2-0 ahead and just a couple of frames away from causing the first shock of the event.
But Ding dug deep, scrapped his way back level and then smashed home an excellent 125 break to go 3-2 ahead.
Campbell levelled with a 51 but a missed shot with the rest was the last resistance from the Scot as the Beijing potter took the decider with a 103 break.
And later Ding admitted his sluggishness may have been to do with the time of the match rather than anything else.
"The first two frames, I didn't play very good but I was not worried," said the 23-year-old. "We both had chances in the last frame and, if he potted the ball with the rest, he could have made the break to win it.
"I had the one chance and I took it but there was no pressure. Maybe I was still feeling a bit sleepy."
Ding has slipped slightly down the world rankings after the German Masters to fifth from fourth but Campbell has no doubt the Chinese ace will be back up among the leaders soon.
"He's definitely top three or four in the world," said Campbell. "I can't complain because I had a chance in the last frame but didn't take it and he cleaned up."
Ricky Walden v Dave Harold
Walden Devastated By Harold Defeat
Ricky Walden was left devastated after he lost a 3-1 lead to Stoke's Dave Harold.
The writing was on the wall for the Englishman as Walden stormed within a frame of victory with breaks of 37, 32, 78, 56 and 47 after Harold had taken the first.
But Walden let his opponent off the hook but even in the final frame, the North Wales-based ace was odds-on to complete the job, leaving 60-19.
After a long safety battle, Walden potted a red and had only to pot a colour to be relatively safe. However, he missed a green into the yellow pocket from behind the baulk line and, with only 43 left on the table, Harold held his nerve to clear up and take it by two slender points.
Walden was obviously deeply distressed. He said: "I played like a dog. I have no thoughts about that match because it's one of the worst games I have lost."
On that missed green, he said: "I just lurched at it. Now I have a couple of days off and have to get ready for qualifying for China and the worlds."
Harold would not give up and the victory means he should now be in the top 48 - and miss one qualifying round for China and the World Championships - at the expense of Irishman Joe Swail.
"In frames two and three, I didn't have a shot or a chance. But, at 3-1, I still fancied getting back into it but I must admit that on that last break, I was shaking like a leaf."
Ryan Day v Jimmy White
Day Makes Quick Work Of The Whirlwind
Ryan Day gave his daughter a snooker debut to be proud of by whitewashing the Whirlwind at Newport Centre.
Day said: "My daughter (Francesca) has been nagging me to watch me play so I said when I am nearer home, I will let her. So she was here today."
And dad did his girl proud by turning on the style with two century breaks that sent legend Jimmy White packing.
So emphatic was 30-year-old Day's victory that, after White hit 22 in the first frame, he scored just one point in the rest of the match while Day amassed 398 to win 4-0.
And now he takes on another icon in Ronnie O'Sullivan, hoping to do a similar demolition job and defuse The Rocket.
Day won three frames in one visit, with breaks of 125, 68 and 102 and was far removed from the man who struggled to get past lower ranked men during the summer when his slump from 12th in the list to 25th started to hit.
Modestly, he said of his victory: "I played very well but I still felt nervous and the anxiety I had was getting worse the longer the match went going on. But I'm pleased to have won in that fashion."
Now he faces another roaring amphitheatre with O'Sullivan in the opening round but has the advantage of playing in the German Masters last week which O'Sullivan missed and also getting to grips with the Newport Centre table before The Rocket.
Day added: "The majority of matches I've had against Ronnie have been quite close. If I can play and score like I did today against Jimmy, then I have a chance."
He is also happy to be back facing the top end of the Main Tour. The Welsh ace said: "I've always been a consistent performer but I have been getting beaten by players who I would normally knock for six.
"Hopefully, this win now will steady me and stand me in good stead."
John Higgins v Jack Lisowski
Higgins Emotional After Edging Jack
John Higgins fought back the tears tonight (Monday) to dedicate his snooker return to his dad.
The world number one carried the coffin of John Higgins Snr, who died of cancer, at his funeral last week.
It is the first time that the player potted a ball since the tragedy, and he admitted it was extremely tough to keep his emotions in check as he began the defence of his Welsh Open title by beating Gloucestershire rookie Jack Lisowski.
Higgins, who walked on to the strains of 'Needles and Pins' by The Searchers - his father's favourite song - withdrew from the German Masters last week after hearing the news from home.
And, holding back the tears after his first round win, the 35-year-old said his father would not want him to withdraw from this tournament as well.
"I was not really concentrating out there," said the Scot. "My mum told me to come down here. I have not picked up a cue since it happened but withdrawing it is not what my dad would have wanted."
Higgins has 24 hours before he is back on the baize to face Stoke's Dave Harold in the last 16.
