Welsh Open Begins Monday

zack01

After a week of qualifiers the Welsh Open begins tomorrow in Newport. With increased prize money and a new sponsor its hoped that the tournament enjoys more exposure than it has in recent years.

Last weeks German Masters champion Ali Carter will be one notable absentee as he failed to win his qualifying match last Wednesday.

As usual Eurosport will be providing full coverage.

Here's the link to the draw and match schedule.......

http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~2253477,00.html

cherryghost

Aye well done to Fergal and Ken for winning their quali rounds yesterday.

risteard7

will eurosport show ken's match tomorrow? prob not

hdowney

I find since the beeb did away with 90% of their red button, watching the snooker is getting harder and harder

callaway92

Our boy Ken putting up a good showing against John Higgins here. Should have went 3-0 up really but a good chance to go 3-1 up anyway. Go Ken!

cherryghost

Doherty through!

risteard7

well done ken a ranking victory Higgins is struggling lately, he's not getting any younger either. Walden or Ford next, you would fancy ken against either

cack_handed

Any victory is good for Doherty i guess, but how can that be acceptable performance for Higgins? surely better not to enter these tournaments if his head or his heart isn't in it....at least that's how it appeared to me anyway!

zack01

A wins a win no matter who he's played. Tom Ford or Ricky Walden will provide a stronger challenge as obviously John Higgins wasn't really at the races today.

I wouldn't worry too much about Higgins though come Sheffield time he'll be ready for a tilt at a possible fifth world title.

cack_handed

Very true that, looks the kind of event one or two top players could struggle for motivation, particularly in early rounds. So: taking a chance on Dale to bt Trump today, outright at 3/1 on betfair, as well as a little double on Dale +2.5 & King +1.5 vs Ding at nearly 5/2. Of course, Judd will now play like a demigod but worth the chance anyway I reckon...

StephenHendry

great win for ken against higgins. he could be set for a good run this week

StephenHendry

zack01 wrote: »

A wins a win no matter who he's played. Tom Ford or Ricky Walden will provide a stronger challenge as obviously John Higgins wasn't really at the races today.

I wouldn't worry too much about Higgins though come Sheffield time he'll be ready for a tilt at a possible fifth world title.

thats true zack, there's a nice pattern to john wc winning years, 07, 09, 11 and maybe 13:p

callaway92

Is Ken's next match tomorrow? Finding time schedules online is awkward.

zack01

callaway92 wrote: »

Is Ken's next match tomorrow? Finding time schedules online is awkward.

Ken plays Tom Ford 10.30 am tomorrow morn

green123

3-3 at the moment between ken and tom ford.

no tv coverage that i can find.

not on bbc.
not on the red button.
not on eurosport.

:mad:

cack_handed

Just following odds on betfair the only way....comfortably ahead of live scoreboard. Looks like Doherty may have an opportunity to win it

cack_handed

In the bag. Another good win

callaway92

Well done Ken!

zack01

Yes ken wins 4-3 and to be honest he made hard work of that. Still he's in the quarters now.

Robertson or Bingham next

Glenman

It's been a long time since both Ken Doherty and Alan McManus were in a quarter final together? Any idea when that happened before?
Ken to face Stuart Bingham today at 1pm.
It this available on the BBC red button at all? I think it used to be on BBC Wales.

cack_handed

From cuetracker.net McManus bt Doherty in semi-final of non-ranking Pro Challenge Series in 2009. As for ranking tournaments, not certain, but they both reached the China Open semi-finals in 2005 so that may be the answer. I'm not the resident stato, all the info is on the excellent site cuetracker

cherryghost

Ken 2-0 up at the moment and his safety shots are looking great.

Glenman

2 - 2

cherryghost

Yeah seems like I jinxed it :P

Kristopherus

Some awful shots played in the last 10 minutes. Judd is four zip up on the other table.

cherryghost

Milkins robbed there. Rewound the shot that he was trying to escape from at the start of frame 6, red ball was touched but a foul was called by the ref. Now Ding is in the balls

cherryghost

Bingham vs Maguire in the final. I'm not a betting man, this could go either way. Maybe Maguire will tip it, he's made very few mistakes through the tournament. Bingham fought hard through most of his games and was lucky in some scenarios, but I wouldn't take anything away from him at this point.

Setun

If Maguire can keep his hat on he's in with a chance, but to be honest I can't remember the last time I've seen him play and genuinely thought he could go the distance, his temperament often lets him down.

hdowney

I am rooting for Bingham, but I do think Maguire could take it. At times he has played sloppily, but I think Bingham has been the sloppier of the two this tournament. I guess we will just have to wait and see. What's it best of today?

cherryghost

Oh lord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQZ8bjjlwNk

cherryghost

Interesting first session. Bingham looked down and out at the mid session interval. His long potting was terrible and his safety shots were down on his own standard. Looked a completely different player after the interval.

Both players made a few mistakes though, it's all still there for the taking. I still think Maguire could pip it.

zack01

Maguires failings appearing again, it's no wonder he hasn't won a main ranking event for so long. Bingham a strong fav now even though his bottle is always suspect Maguire hasn't really put him under any pressure.

7-5 Bingham and the interval has come just at the right time for Maguire.

hdowney

Long night! Maguire came back nicely. Very tit for tat so far. Last frame is dragging on, mistakes left right and centre. Still anyones game. May still yet be a re-rack again, if no significant points materialize soon

cherryghost

Well done for Maguire. He looked more relieved than delighted after the match.

On a seperate note I'd like to thank UPC for delivering a terrible quality broadband line that resulted me in missing 5 frames in the evening session.

giant_midget

Great final ! Bingham looked a bit upset in the interview with R.Walker. Can't belived it's 5 years since Maguire won something as well..I would say his right hand has an ice pack on it this morning :pac: