Highfield Sets Up Lisowski Clash
Liam Highfield set up an intriguing clash against Jack Lisowski in round two of qualifying for the Wyldecrest Parks Welsh Open at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.
The pair went head-to-head last season and claimed a place on ‘Tour’ by sharing the top spots in the Pontin’s International Open Series.
Both have made a good start to their professional careers with Lisowski moving up 39 places to 57 and Highfield ten places back in the projected rankings after the German Masters.
Twenty-year-old Highfield lost the opening frame against Ireland’s Joe Delaney but eventually found his form and ran out a 4-2 winner in the shortened format being used in this year’s event.
Breaks of 52 and 58 gave Highfield the edge at 2-1 before Delaney, a professional since 1991 levelled at 2-2. An 87 break in the fifth took the Stoke potter back in front and he sealed the win in the sixth with two scoring visits to the table.
Highfield said, “My main aim this season was to get in the top 64 and keep my place on tourfor next season. With three events left I am in with a chance to do that. Every match counts towards that goal and players like Joe are tough to beat, so I am pleased with the way I played”.
Elsewhere on the opening day, Xiao Guodong and Liu Chuang came through in their all-Asian battles with Issara Kachaiwong and Zhang Anda respectively.
Thailand’s former world number three, James Wattana lost ou tin a deciding frame against his former practice partner, Simon Bedford.
Women’s world champion, Reanne Evans’ frustrations continued as she failed to claim her first win, losing to Michael Judge by four-frames-to-one.
Former European Under-19 champion, Jak Jones from Wales did manage to get his first win in major competition beating Tamworth’s David Gilbert 4-2, despite Gilbert showing signs of his class with a break of 124 in frame five.
The highest break of the day was made by Scotland’s James McBain, his 4-0 win over Justin Astley including a superb 137.
The only other century came from Leeds professional, Kuldesh Johal making a 105 in his 4-1 crushing of Andrew Pagett.
There were also wins for Paul Davison, Noppon Saengkham, Ben Woollaston, Michael White, Jamie O’Neill and David Morris.
The second round continues today.
