Newport, Wales, UK – February 19->March 2, 2014
The tournament is played under flat draw, with all 128 players at the venue. All Grove players were involved. Neil, Judd, Wenbo and Li Hang won their first match. Li Hang lost to Anthony Hamilton in the last 64. Neil lost to Mark Williams in the last 32. Judd lost to John Higgins and Wenbo lost to Barry Hawkins in the last 16.

Last 128

Gerard Greene 4-2 Li Yan
115(67)-1, 44-68, 82(77)-36, 67-40, 0-74(74), 66(56)-29

Yu Delu 3-4 Ian Burns
11-114(53,51), 87-8, 75-32, 32-74(64), 0-90(85), 65-57, 1-92(92)

Liu Chuang 4-2 Cheng Zhe
0-94(58), 67-26, 53-9, 50-80, 71-46, 71(71)-0

Dave Harold 4-2 Zhang Anda
76-54, 72-0, 0-84(80), 82-16, 18-66, 70(58)-0
The first frame lasted over 62 minutes and although the others were shorter, it was still a very slow match. Anda made the highest break of the match, 80, but lost all the same.

Neil Robertson 4-1 Lyu Haotian
71-0, 55-65, 84(78)-1, 83(83)-0, 84(84)-0
Neil very disappointed not to make 3 centuries… and feeling for his very young opponent.
You can listen to his post-match here:

Jamie Jones 4-0 Cao Xin Long
87(80)-18, 55-1, 70-37, 74-1

Liang Wenbo 4-2 Jak Jones
33-69(52), 83(83)-0, 85(54)-39, 49-56, 80-0, 74-15

Judd Trump 4-2 Kyren Wilson
A confident display by Judd, with two centuries to boot.

Peter Ebdon 0-4 Li Hang
50(50)-67, 60-73(59), 32-94, 32-69
Another good win for Li Hang.

Last 64

Judd Trump 4-1 Jamie Burnett
62-55, 71-0,0-80(80), 65-50, 73-30

Fergal O’Brien 0-4 Liang Wenbo
10-80(56), 8-120(113), 8-81(50), 0-113(113)

Anthony Hamilton 4-1 Li Hang
12-68(68), 63-55, 65-17, 77-38, 56-36
Obviously after the first frame it was a right scrap…

Neil Robertson 4-0 Rory McLeod
77(57)-6, 72-9, 73-51, 104(104)-0

Last 32

Shaun Murphy 3-4 Liang Wenbo
58-72, 63-27, 71(65)-0, 86(86)-16, 31-69(55), 23-81(81), 9-76(52)
Great result from Wenbo especially considering that he got to a bas start and was 3-1 down.

Neil Robertson 3-4 Mark Williams
56-75(60), 126(112)-0, 71-13, 38-75(50), 63-67, 73-24, 2-77
Neil said after the match that he let it go scrappy and that was the key to MJW’s win.

Judd Trump 4-1 Anthony McGill
0-99(98), 62-39, 71-6, 92(73)-4, 88(53)-9

Last 16

Judd Trump 3-4 John Higgins
0-76(66), 20-77(63), 64-28, 64(59)-1, 5-64, 60-51, 37-68

Liang Wenbo 2-4 Barry Hawkins
78(52)-1, 77-31, 0-80(69), 29-58, 67-74(64), 10-69
Wenbo lead 2-0 and then had a good chance to go 3-2 … but it wasn’t to be. Barry is a tough, tough competitor.