Swail edges Williams in thriller

 

 

Northern Ireland's Joe Swail showed nerves of steel to edge out former champion Mark Williams 10-9 in their first-round match at The Crucible.

 

Swail, who had trailed 4-0 early on, took the first frame of the evening session to level at 5-5 before Williams went ahead with an 85 break. But Swail refused to crumble as he hit back with a superb 114.

 

Williams led 8-6 and 9-8, but crucial misses allowed Swail back to make an outstanding break of 64 in the decider. The defeat was the latest in a hugely disappointing season for Williams, who could now be under pressure for his top 16 place.

 

The Welshman showed his frustration on several occasions, slashing his cue through the air and leaning on the table with his head in his hands.

 

"I just didn't play at all - he was the better player all day and deserved to win," said Williams. "I just wasn't there, I didn't perform. I played like a fish! I'm disappointed with the way I've performed over the whole season more than anything. It's probably the worst season I've ever had."

 

Swail, who will face Matthew Stevens in the second round, had to do things the hard way in the final frame as he ran out of position on a break of 64 with just one more pot needed.

 

A tense safety battle ensued as Williams battled to stay in the tournament, but a long red rattled in the jaws and a relieved Swail sealed the win.

 

"That's probably one of the best wins I've ever had," said Swail.

 

"Everyone was saying he's had a bad season and I should beat him, but that's rubbish.

 

"He's one of the best players in the world and won the world title twice, so it was never going to be easy. I'm so delighted with the result."

 

Mark Williams (Wal) 9-10 Joe Swail (NI)

64-39 68-23 80-36 72-14 29-66 (59) 34-78 (53) 26-69 (62) 22-71 (71) 75-58 (Williams 52) 38-74 90-39 (85) 0-114 (114) 78-1 55-42 (71) 52-63 0-69 87-34 1-71 (69) 0-121 (65, 56)

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6587977.stm

But he has no chance against Matthew Stevens!

check out this Ian

http://www.snookerimages-pictures.com/albums.php?albumId=4

Robertson seals error-strewn win

 

Robertson has won two ranking tournaments this season

 

Australia's Neil Robertson was not at his best but still managed to secure the four frames he needed for a 10-5 defeat of Ryan Day at The Crucible.

Robertson resumed with a 6-3 lead, and a 63 in the first frame of the session saw him extend his advantage.

 

Day got back to 7-5 but wasted the chance to exert more pressure as he let Robertson win a pivotal 13th frame with his third attempt at the pink.

 

There was no second chance for Day, as Robertson took the final two frames.

 

Robertson, the only player to win two ranking events this season, will take on tournament favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan in the next round.

 

But the world number 13 will know he will need to find a fair amount of improvement if he is to earn a third victory of the season over O'Sullivan.

 

Neither player was able to produce his best form, with unforced errors spoiling the flow of the match in the evening session.

 

But Day, who recovered from 4-0 down in the first session, will regret the missed opportunity in frame 13, after having several opportunities to close the gap.

 

Neil Robertson (Aus) 10-5 Ryan Day (Wal)

60-37 86-23 79-0 (79) 64-56 8-66 18-86 75-0 1-117 (100) 67-60 76-30 20-75 9-50 63-47 58-25 75-38 (68)

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6592221.stm

Hendry struggles to beat Gilbert

 

Hendry was well short of his best form for much of the match

 

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry edged into the second round after a less-than-convincing 10-7 win over underdog Dave Gilbert.

Hendry had been 5-1 down in the opening session but fired breaks of 68 and 76 to claw his way back to 5-4.

 

The Scot continued his fightback to take leads of 6-5 and 7-6 but a fine 59 clearance from the world number 66 after Hendry's 52 made the score 7-7.

 

Hendry was not at his best but battled to win the final frames for victory.

 

And his clenched-fist reaction as he departed the arena highlighted his relief at claiming the hard-fought victory.

 

Hendry lost to Nigel Bond in the opening stage last year and will be grateful to have avoided another early exit after a misfiring performance.

 

The Scot was playing competitively with a new cue for the first time, and made a highest break of just 76.

 

Nevertheless, Hendry said he was not too concerned by his form, preferring to concentrate on the positive aspects of his performance.

 

"I had to dig deep," said Hendry, will who meet Ali Carter or Andy Hicks in the second round.

 

"I thought my attitude and concentration was fantastic through the whole match, which is something I had been working hard on.

 

"I could easily have chucked this match at 5-1 down, so I'm delighted with the way I dug in and won nine of the next 11 frames. I thought that was a tremendous performance."

 

Gilbert admitted he only had himself to blame after letting a winning position slip.

 

"I don't know what went wrong - I'm disgusted with how I played, I feel terrible," he said.

 

"Stephen didn't play well and was there for the taking. I felt good but it just didn't click for me."

 

But Gilbert revealed he had been playing under the stress of knowing his mother has been diagnosed with cancer.

 

"I got the bad news just before I came to the tournament," said Gilbert, whose mother Joan will undergo an operation on her breast cancer next week.

 

"We are just thankful it's operable. I just wanted to do well for her.

 

"I'm sure she's proud of me and it would have been a nice moment if I could have pulled off a shock."

 

Stephen Hendry (Sco) 10-7 David Gilbert (Eng)

83-25 (51) 38-77 45-59 8-68 16-90 0-101 (100) (68) 68-1 (76) 86-0 79-8 69-17 (70) 79-1 15-72 (55) 72-9 (59) 62-53 (52) 18-60 (51) 75-1 59-27

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6589095.stm

Selby completes amazing comeback

 

Selby looked to be out of the match at 5-0 behind

 

Qualifier Mark Selby won eight frames in a row as he beat a frustrated Stephen Lee 10-7 in the first round of the World Championship at The Crucible.

Lee opened up a 5-0 lead, but Selby suddenly found form to end the first session just one frame behind.

 

Selby continued in the same vein as he made breaks of 52 and 56 on his way to an 8-5 lead, with little going right for an increasingly-frustrated Lee.

 

Lee got two frames back, but Selby kept his momentum going to seal the victory.

 

Selby will now take on former champion Peter Ebdon.

 

Lee seemed to be heading for a crushing win over Selby, with the world number 10 taking a scrappy opener before hitting his stride with breaks of 126, 74, 67 and 71 to surge ahead.

 

Selby was restricted to just 33 points during Lee's onslaught, but something clicked in the sixth frame and the 23-year-old scarcely looked back.

 

"Considering I had been 5-0 down, I was more than happy with 5-4 going into the second session," said Selby.

 

"To get back to that score was like winning the match itself.

 

"I've been working really hard on my game, I have a lot more confidence in my game and it was just a matter of keeping the nerves under control."

 

Lee endured a mixture of bad luck and bad form, at one point jokingly offering his cue to a member of the crowd to see if he could do any better.

 

"I just played rubbish, plain and simple," said the 32-year-old.

 

"I should have kept my foot on his throat when he couldn't pot a ball. It's annoying when you can't beat someone who isn't playing well. I can't wait for the summer to come now so I can just forget about this stupid game!"

 

Stephen Lee (Eng) 7-10 Mark Selby (Eng)

28-76 0-126 (126) 5-80 (74) 36-76 (67) 0-71 (71) 73-0 (51) 89-1 (84) 74-49 47-13 67-10 (52) 91-5 (56) 63-20 56-37 26-79 (55) 73-0 (73) 47-55 58-0

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6590115.stm

Higgins missed out on a 147 in the last frame of the session

 

Higgins missed out on a 147 in the last frame of the session

 

John Higgins produced a Jekyll and Hyde performance in beating Michael Holt 10-4 in the first round of the World Championship in Sheffield.

 

The 1998 champion looked laboured in a dull opening session despite taking a 6-3 lead but resumed with more vigour to make it 7-3 with a break of 50.

 

Qualifier Holt pulled one back but it was Higgins all the way after that with three more breaks over 50.

 

The Wizard of Wishaw now faces Irishman Fergal O'Brien in the last 16.

 

Holt began the match well, making an 82 break on his way to a 2-1 lead, before a 58-minute-long fourth frame went the way of Higgins.

 

The former champion slowly played his way into form as he capitalised on Holt's mistakes to go 5-3 ahead.

 

Higgins had the chance of a 147 in the last frame of the first session, but broke down on 104 - the highest break of the match by some way.

 

The Scot said luck played a big part in his victory.

 

"It was a very nervy match - Michael had a lot of chances he should have taken because he was hitting the ball quite nicely at the start," said Higgins.

 

"I could have been behind going into this last session because I didn't play well at all. I was lucky to be 6-3 up.

 

He added: "The conditions didn't help, with the table playing very badly. But I am just delighted to win.

 

"A lot of very good players have already left the tournament. Hopefully, I can try to get some momentum going now. You can't do that if you are back up the road.

 

"I've got Fergal next and that will be another tough one. He had a great win over Barry Hawkins."

 

John Higgins 10-4 Michael Holt

24-81 19-100 (82) 66-57 64-48 1-76 (65) 59-53 67-24 81-12 (53) 104-0 (104) 99-4 57-65 74-11 (52) 84-4 (57) 94-0 (88)

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6593463.stm

Carter sets up Hendry encounter

 

Carter made two century breaks in the first session

 

Ali Carter booked a second-round Crucible date with Stephen Hendry after a battling 10-4 win over Andy Hicks.

The world number 15 went into the second session 7-2 in front, but found his Devonian opponent in a dogged mood.

 

A 39 from Hicks was good enough to take the 10th and although Carter won the 11th, the world number 51 bouncedback with a 57 to make it 8-4.

 

However, Carter came out on top of the tactical 50-minute 13th before wrapping up the match in the following frame.

 

Earlier, an impressive 112 break in the third frame gave Carter a 2-1 early lead.

 

Hicks levelled at 2-2, but after the interval the qualifier was all at sea as he spurned a series of chances.

 

Carter hit breaks of 79 and 129 to ram home his advantage, and then came out on the right side of three scrappier frames for a five-frame lead.

 

The big turning-point of the session was Hicks's failure to take the eighth frame, missing a vital blue to let Carter in for a 6-2 lead.

 

Carter was delighted after beating Hicks and said he was confident of defeating seven-times winner Hendry in the next round.

 

"Anyone can beat anyone these days," he said. "It's not like it used to be that the top players never lost.

 

"Andy was a tough draw because he had qualified and had it all to play for.

 

Hicks added: "I had a chance to make it 3-3 but I lost the frame and was so disappointed with the way I played after that."

 

Ali Carter (Eng) 10-4 Andy Hicks (Eng)

76-14 (51) 17-67 (53) 112-0 (112) 28-94 79-5 (79) 135-0 (129) 77-22 71-49 79-9 15-85 78-1 1-62 (57) 67-22 59-52

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6593977.stm

Murphy - Parrott 7-4

8-7 now

It ended at 8-8 and will continue at 8 o clock

Angry Maguire reaches last eight

 

Maguire has never been beyond the second round in Sheffield before

 

Stephen Maguire finally got over the finishing line as he sealed a place in the quarter-finals at The Crucible with a 13-8 win over Joe Swail.

Maguire began the final session with a 11-5 lead, but Swail was in no mood to roll over as he started with an 82.

 

Runs of 72 and 77 saw Swail get back to 11-8, with an increasingly frustrated Maguire struggling to find his form.

 

But after receiving a brief lecture about his behaviour, Maguire made breaks of 61 and 62 to clinch the win.

 

Maguire, who will face Anthony Hamilton in the quarter-final, lost control of his emotions during Swail's fightback, punching the table after a run of 32 came to an end in the 19th frame.

 

And when he unintentionally jumped the cue ball over the red in the next frame, referee Michaela Tabb chose to have a quiet word with the Scot.

 

Swail has launched numerous wins from improbable positions at The Crucible, and Maguire admitted he was glad to have avoided becoming another victim.

 

"Joe is known as a comeback player and has done that numerous times against me and other players," said Maguire.

 

"I never played really well - just well enough to win.

 

"If Joe had played better, I could have raised my game a bit - but if you can win by just playing OK then you should feel good."

 

Swail said the damaged had been done in the opening two sessions of the match on Friday.

 

"I left myself far too much to do," said the world number 30.

 

"At 11-5 down, you basically have to win every frame, but I gave it a good shot and never gave up."

 

Stephen Maguire 13-8 Joe Swail

0-104 (104) 22-70 85-5 67-54 79-19 75-12 (61) 56-42 64-29 56-47 100-0 (52) 0-81 9-82 (73) 0-75 (75) 70-35 80-3 60-8 101-0 (101) 6-82 (82) 0-128 (72, 56) 32-86 (77) 80-22 76-7

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6600627.stm

Hamilton cruises past McCulloch

 

Hamilton also reached the Crucible last eight in 2000, 2002 and 2004

 

Anthony Hamilton won the first five frames of Saturday's second session to defeat Ian McCulloch 13-8 and reach the World Championship quarter-finals.

The players were locked at 8-8 after a scrappy and mistake-ridden opening session with Hamilton recording breaks of 60, 61 and 63.

 

Hamilton had a storming start to the second session and breaks of 111 and 107 put him on the brink of victory.

 

He sealed a last eight place for the first time since 2004 with a run of 91.

 

"The match was rubbish until halfway through but I enjoyed the battle," said world number 16 Hamilton, who has found his form in the last couple of months after a poor start to the season.

 

"Ian is such a rock-solid player who won't let go of you and I'm the same, so you sort of sadistically enjoy those sort of games.

 

"But today was better. I can't remember the last session I played here that was good. I've played rubbish here for three or four years and it starts to get to you.

 

"I feel stronger this year and it doesn't feel like I've reached a goal by getting to the quarters."

 

McCulloch, who defeated reigning champion Graeme Dott in the opening round, was philosophical in defeat.

 

"Personally I think Anthony is different class to Graeme," said the world number 26 from Preston. "He hasn't achieved as much but he's a far harder player to beat.

 

"He's as hard as nails and if he starts scoring you've got your hands full.

 

"I had chances and I'm not going to make excuses. I was beaten by someone who played much better than me."

 

Anthony Hamilton 13-8 Ian McCulloch

8-75 (68) 63-42 55-79 69-9 (60) 25-70 73-57 55-62 70-1 (61) 71-20 72-14 32-58 53-64 (64) 64-62 (63) 51-62 26-74 (56) 61-18 65-40 (65) 111-0 (111) 54-43 107-25 (107) 91-5 (91)

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6598115.stm

Murphy makes Crucible last eight

 

Murphy (right) beat Matthew Stevens to the crown two years ago

 

Shaun Murphy booked his place in the last eight at the Crucible with an awesome display against John Parrott in the last session of their match.

The pair were level at 8-8 before Murphy fired in a 131 clearance and then added a 60 to go two frames clear.

 

A tense safety exchange in the 19th saw Parrott make a mistake on the final brown, allowing Murphy to move 11-8 up.

 

The 2005 winner won the next, after Parrott wasted an opportunity, before Murphy sealed an impressive victory.

 

Earlier, the Rotherham resident raced into a 4-0 lead with three breaks over 50 including a ton in the fourth.

 

Parrott scrapped his way back by taking the next three and scoring his first 50 of the match in the sixth, before Murphy clinched the eighth.

 

The 1991 winner then produced a fantastic fightback to level with Murphy during the second session.

 

Parrott hit back with a 40 in the ninth before Murphy re-established his two-frame lead in the 10th.

 

They shared the next four frames, but Murphy's poor positional play in the 11th allowed the 42-year-old to steal.

 

And in the final frame of the session, Parrott rolled back the years with a 123 clearance.

 

Murphy said he had to hit top gear against Parrott after going into the final session level.

 

"I just decided to go for it and obviously it paid off," said Murphy, who will meet wither Matthew Stevens or Mark Allen in the last eight.

 

"My mate Richard told me to go back to playing the way I did when I was 11. It worked but every credit to John.

 

"I knew it would be tough but he really pushed me hard."

 

Parrott said he felt unusually jittery in the final session.

 

"It's been a very long time since I've been that nervous. I felt as though I'd got a family of ferrets in my waistcoat," said Parrott.

 

"Of course I'm disappointed but I got through two qualifying rounds just to be here, then beat Steve so I can't complain. It's been fun."

 

Shaun Murphy 13-8 John Parrott

65-32 (55) 66-1 (65) 100-0 (100) 108-24 34-84 5-75 (74) 4-83 75-37 23-62 57-23 61-58 25-88 16-91 (68) 80-49 43-73 0-123 (123) 131-0 (131) 95-1 (60) 55-52 65-37 72-14

Jeeeeeesus Hamilton - McCulloch till 8-8 was great match

 

Today plays The Rocket :sneaky:

Stevens comes through Allen test

 

Stevens has an excellent record at The Crucible

 

Matthew Stevens set up a quarter-final meeting with Shaun Murphy after a hard-fought 13-9 win over qualifier Mark Allen at The Crucible.

 

Stevens resumed with a 9-7 lead, and won the opening two frames of the session with breaks of 83 and 64 to put the pressure on the 21-year-old.

 

Allen responded well initially, digging deep to close to just 11-9 behind.

 

But a missed black in the pivotal 21st frame cost him as Stevens pinched it before making a gritty 40 in the last.

 

Stevens needs a good showing at The Crucible to guarantee his top 16 place next season, and the Welshman looks somewhere near his best after a mediocre season.

 

Allen, who knocked out former champion Ken Doherty in the first round, showed his talent with some superb potting, but his inexperience was exposed by some questionable tactical decisions as the pressure grew.

 

"I missed quite a few blacks but I can't be too disappointed," said the world number 61.

 

"My two matches have shown I'm capable of competing with the top players now.

 

"I probably scored as well as Matthew, I just have to cut out a few mistakes. I know I'm going in the right direction and it's encouraging for the future."

 

The Northern Ireland player displayed real character in the second session, reeling off the final three frames to haul himself back into the match, but Stevens had too much know-how in the end.

 

"Mark kept me under a lot of pressure, but that black was a big shot to miss," said Stevens.

 

"But it's his first time here and I think he's an unbelievable player.

 

"I'll be the underdog against Shaun but I'm looking forward to it - I'm feeling good about myself."

 

Matthew Stevens 13-9 Mark Allen

78-1 83-34 (83) 65-16 84-21 (56) 18-101 (101) 0-105 (63) 0-118 (118) 112-22 (85) 101-0 (101) 76-9 71-6 0-85 (83) 79-57 (73, 57) 1-90 (78) 11-76 27-64 92-17 87-19 (64) 9-98 30-97 62-39 65-1

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6601417.stm

the tables are causing all sorts of problems tonight, just like last nights sessions

but they changed buckram,didnt they?

Robertson was carping that they arent very good quality

today we got brand new school table at school! i think I wont come home tommorow lol

In-form Carter ends Hendry hopes

 

I'm obviously lacking in confidence - I haven't won a tournament in three years - Stephen Hendry

 

Ali Carter ended Stephen Hendry's dreams of an eighth world title as he sealed a deserved 13-6 win to reach the quarter-finals at The Crucible.

 

Hendry had put himself in an impossible position, going into the final session 12-4 behind and needing to launch an unprecedented fightback.

 

The Scot, who switched to a new cue just before the tournament, showed commendable attitude to close to 12-6.

 

But Carter clinched the inevitable win with runs of 35 and 20 in the last.

 

Hendry made breaks of 39 and 47 to take the first two frames of the session, but he was only playing for pride.

 

The damage was done in the first two sessions, with Carter winning both by 6-2 margins against a misfiring Hendry.

 

The 38-year-old looked out-of-sorts throughout as he gifted a series of chances which Carter punished clinically.

 

But a philosophical Hendry refused to blame the heavy defeat on his decision to change cues just three weeks before the start of the tournament.

 

"I've played like that with the other cue as well," he said.

 

"It was the story of my season really.

 

"I can't reproduce my practice form in matches for some reason. I don't cue with the same freedom and therefore I don't play my natural game - it's like giving everyone a 50-point start.

 

"I'm obviously lacking in confidence. I haven't won a tournament in three years - it plays a huge part in any sport, no matter how many titles you've won or how good you are.

 

"I don't want to take anything away from Ali because I thought his performance was fantastic. His safety play was some of the best that's ever been played against me.

 

"I don't think I've ever been snookered so much in my life."

 

Meanwhile, Carter said he was delighted with his display.

 

"I was really pleased with my performance," Carter told BBC Sport.

 

"People might talk about Stephen's cue but I put him under pressure. It's hard for anyone to play when you're under pressure."

 

The world number 15, who is in the process of obtaining his pilot's licence, said he had needed to keep his focus despite his enormous lead.

 

"Everyone was texting me saying 'well done' but I was well aware that stranger things have happened - people can make comebacks," he said.

 

"But I was confident in my form and just wanted to get out there."

 

Stephen Hendry (Sco) 6-13 Ali Carter (Eng)

34-69 (68) 92-0 (92) 98-0 0-78 (78) 0-72 (72) 52-72 (72) 39-61 3-136 (111) 1-59 69-41 0-66 (66) 0-136 (53, 83) 71-31 (57) 0-61 0-74 12-116 (83) 78-1 65-32 7-63

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6603987.stm

Higgins clinches emphatic victory

 

Higgins scored heavily at almost every opportunity

 

John Higgins needed just 10 minutes to seal a 13-4 win over Fergal O'Brien and reach the quarter-finals of the World Championship at The Crucible.

Higgins resumed with a commanding 12-4 lead after an outstanding display in the second session.

 

O'Brien battled gamely to close his arrears, but a misjudged safety shot let the in-form Scot back to the table.

 

And Higgins made no mistake as he set up a meeting with either Ronnie O'Sullivan or Neil Robertson.

 

Higgins' form in the second session on Sunday marked him out as a genuine contender for the title.

 

Resuming 6-2 behind, O'Brien closed the gap with an 85 but Higgins accelerated away by winning five of the next six, including breaks of 98, 135 and 84.

 

And Higgins ended his superb display with a 100 in the last frame of the session.

 

Higgins was in excellent touch during his break-building, while his safety play tied the battling O'Brien in knots on several occasions.

 

The Scot said his superb form was partly thanks to a new and more confident mental approach.

 

"It was good to feel like that again - it's been a little while," he said.

 

"I felt I wasn't going to miss. I feel my game is there and I'm just trying to keep myself focused and calm.

 

"In the past, I've looked at the draw too much, but now I'm just trying to get focused on every match. If I play well, I have every chance of winning."

 

O'Brien was magnaminous in defeat, admitting he had been thoroughly outplayed.

 

"John was brilliant in the second session, it was fabulous stuff," he said.

 

"It was good to watch on one level because it gives you good motivation to go back and improve because that's where the bar is.

 

"It's all good experience and it beats watching someone else being beaten on TV! I felt I was playing well but I ran into John when he was flying and in the blink of an eye he was gone."

 

John Higgins (Sco) 13-4 Fergal O'Brien (Ire)

6-67 (54) 89-0 (89) 81-21 28-68 70-36 60-20 52-18 70-50 8-109 (85) 67-6 98-0 (98) 23-68 75-0 135-0 (135) 85-0 120-1 (100) 103-20

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6604593.stm

Stevens piles pressure on Murphy

 

Stevens is a proven performer at The Crucible

 

Matthew Stevens surged into an 11-5 lead over former champion Shaun Murphy after dominating the second session of their quarter-final at The Crucible.

 

Stevens, who resumed level at 4-4, got out of the blocks much the quicker and soon moved two frames clear.

 

Murphy pulled one frame back, but it was all Stevens from then on as he tightened his grip on proceedings.

 

Breaks of 52, 57 and 81 helped the Welshman win the remaining five frames to move within sight of the semi-final.

 

Stevens needs just two more frames to move into the semi-final - where he would face Mark Selby or Ali Carter - and gain some measure of revenge for his loss to Murphy in the 2005 final.

 

Murphy had his fair share of chances, but his usually reliable long potting began to desert him as the pressure grew.

Welsh Dragon is my second choice for wc

Quarter-final’s:

 

Shaun Murphy (Eng) bt Matthew Stevens (Wal) 13-12

 

Frame scores (Stevens first): 97-4 (118) 118-0 (64) 70-37 12-86 (82) 54-68 (108) 108-0 0-123 (89) 25-59 (61) 75-47 89-31 37-68 (62) 89-21 54-52 (52) 76-5 (57) 95-0 (81) 81-0 0-117 (92) 58-64 (63) (52) 73-50 60-76 14-76 (61) 15-94 (94) 48-60 19-47 0-87

 

 

 

Stephen Maguire (Sco) bt Anthony Hamilton (Eng) 13-7

 

Frame scores (Hamilton first): 11-54 75-68, 0-106(106), 79-1, 62-36, 57-67, 40-98(89), 15-61, 77-63, 8-143(143), 0-80, 72-41, 68-0, 5-74, 56-70, 60-17, 0-96(96), 4-72, 137(137)-0, 113(108)-4

 

 

 

John Higgins (Sco) bt Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 13-9

 

Frame scores (Higgins first): (91) 91-0 5-103 (89) 68-26 (73) 77-0 22-119 (54 & 65) 17-84 (60) (110) 126-6 8-77 (76) 81-37 (71) 71-49 103-2 (53) 74-24 1-87 (75) (65) 65-58 (58) (94) 94-0 (62) 63-61 (61) 32-78 25-70 (70) (58) 86-33 0-65 0-109 (93) 57-1 ,

 

 

Where are you Ian?

Come on Johnny boy! The Wizard of Wishaw! Been following him for years and it would brilliant if he could get another world title.