Last 32 – Liang Wenbo 4-0 Andy Hicks
Wenbo completely outplayed and out of sorts Andy Hicks. Wenbo himself played well, scored heavily when in, looked composed and showed remarkable patience and some excellent tactical snooker when he needed to. Of course he also treated us with a good few crackers of long pots …

Last 16 – Liang Wenbo 3-4 Jimmy White
Wenbo started strongly, with a 123. He lead 3-1 and was 47-0 ahead in the fifth frame … and lost. Jimmy is playing well recently and managed to steal the fifth, win the sixth and make a 96 to take the decider and the match. Hard on Wenbo, but the man is a legend.

Last 16 – Stuart Bingham 3-4 Tian Pengfei
Tian won this rather strange match with a century. It had all started very scrappy and in the first couple of frames the standard was poor. Stuart then seemed to find his stride and at 3-2 up looked all set to win it. But Tian found some additional resources and forced a decider. Early in the frame Stuart laid a very good snooker. Tian escaped it but left a long red to the green pocket. Stuart took it, missed it and despite the fact that at that stage the table wasn’t open by any means, it proved to be his last shot in the match.

Tournament results
24.09.2012
Wen Shanwen 2-4 Liang Wenbo

25.09.2012

Li Yan 4-2 Hu Hao
Stuart Bingham 4-0 Wong Yu Chen
Yu Delu 3-4 Ricky Walden
This was a very close game. Neither player was at their best but it’s somehow understandable. According to Ricky, conditions are very tough, pockets very tight and table playing slow. It’s extremely hot and humid outside and despite a very good airco, it feels to an extend inside as well.
Liang Wenbo 4-0 Cai Jianzhong
Zhang Anda 1-4 Zhou Yuelong
Chen Zhe 4-0 Wang Hen

26.09.2012

Stuart Bingham 3-4 Cui Ming
Li Yan 1-4 Jin Long
Liang Wenbo 2-4 Matthew Stevens
Chen Zhe 3-4 Shi Hanqing

Mini picture gallery – Grove in action

Li Yan in action

Yu Delu takes a rest

Not Anda’s day but this one went in

Wenbo scaring the balls with the biggest eyes ever

Sleepy was wide awake

someone just saw a photographer …

forget about naughty snooker, here comes acrobatic snooker

Wednesday, 19th of September 2012 – Last 32

2:30 (local time) Stuart Bingham 5-4 Tom Ford

Stuart won a tough first round match in the decider. Tom had the upper hand at the start of the match and lead 2-0. But Stuart rallied and although the match was very scrappy he was the one who prevailed eventually and that’s all that matters.

7:30 (local time) Judd Trump 5-3 Barry Hawkins

Judd wasn’t playing well at all before the MSI and was even a bit lucky to be “only” 3-1 down, it could easily have been 4-0. but winning the last frame before the MSI was a turning point and from there he found just a bit of form and managed to win.
Listen here what he had to say Judd’s press conference after his first round match

Thursday, 20th of September 2012 – Last 16

2:30 (local time): Jamie Cope 1-5 Stuart Bingham
Stuart was happy with his game and improved as the match went on. Overall an easy win but he won’t complain about that!

7:30 (local time): Judd Trump 5-2 Mark Allen
The match followed a very similar pattern as Judd’s first round match. Slow start, but he was patient and having been 0-2 behind managed to win 5-2. Here is what he had to say Judd’s press conference after his last 16 match .

Friday, 21th of September 2012 – Last 8

7.30 pm (local time)

Stuart Bingham 1-5 Shaun Murphy
Stuart lost a close first frame and from there Shaun who was playing very well took control. Stuart was a bit unlucky at times but honestly it wasn’t the determining factor. The better player on the day won.

Graeme Dott 4-5 Judd Trump
Phew! Judd lead 4-1 but the very gritty and determined Graeme Dott pegged him back to 4-4. Judd though was able to hold himself together in the decider and very happy and relieved to be through! Listen to what Judd had to say after his match

Saturday, 22th of September 2012 – Last 4

Judd Trump 6-4 Mark Williams
Judd won an entertaining and high quality contest. He lead 5-1 in no time despite Mark playing well … when only he had a chance at a shot. But then Mark stole the next frame after Judd lead by 53 points in it and from there was able to come back to 5-4 as it seems that a few doubts were creeping in Judd’s mind. But in the tenth frame Judd held himself together extremely well after Mark made a bizarre mistake and let him in. Here is Judd’s postmatch interview

Saturday, 22th of September 2012 – the Final

Judd Trump 9-10 John Higgins
First session: Judd started strongly winning the 4 frames before the MSI in no time. John barely had a sniff at the table. After the resumption though John started to fight back and it was clear that he was getting more confident and fluent. Nevertheless the session ended 7-2 to Judd
Second session: John hit the ground running and playing outstanding snooker, he won 6 frames as wellon the trot before Judd eventually won the 16th frame with a remarkable century break – the balls were awkwardly impeding each other and, from the high values, only the pink was in pottable position. It was all the more important because he had just lost the very dramatic previous one on the final black. Judd had a chance to steal the next one, having trailed 7-64, but was unable to hold a good position on the last red and left himself a very tricky black that he missed. The next frame was extremely nervy with both players feeling the tension. It looked like John was going to win it after having fluked the last red, but the balls were awkward and the players battled on every colour. Eventually John went in-off whilst going for the last pink and victory and Judd snatched the frame to earn a decider. Judd was first in but could make only 36 and then found himself nearly touching the black. He played a good safety shot, but John could still see a red, albeit a risky one. He took it and got it though and from there managed to win. Well done John, commiseration Judd and thanks bot for a great match.
Listen to Judd postmatch interview. Disappointed obviously but gracious.

Friday 7th of September

Last 128

11am

Liang Wenbo 4-1 Eden Sharav
Eden is a very capable young amateur who plays a bit like Stephen Maguire and when he won the first frame with a 82 he gave a clear warning that he shouldn’t be taken lightly. But Wenbo responded well and took four frames on the trot to seal the win. All frames but the last were pretty much about big breaks from both…

Jack Lisowski 2-4 Zak Surety
Jack won the first two and looked set for a routine win over amateur Zak Surety. But Zak proved how good he is by winning all next four, scoring a half century+ in each. Well done.

Andrew Higginson 3-4 Chen Zhe
Sleepy was wide awake today! Breaks of 87 and 81 helped him to this very important win against the experienced and highly rated Andrew Higginson. It should boost his confidence as he starts to adjust to the Main Tour.

3pm

Anthony Hamilton 0-4 Zhang Anda
Another good win for the Grove team an Anda as he whitewashes Anthony Hamilton. Without seeing the match it’s hard to judge how it went exactly but “Ants” is usually a tough nut to crack.

Judd Trump 4-1 Anthony McGill
After a first frame where he seemed to be knocking the balls around and that he lost, Judd took a much more composed approach and totally dominated the match. In the last frame though he reverted to his usual flamboyant style which obviously pleased the audience.

Last 64

5 pm

Liang Wenbo 4-3 Michael White
Michael White is a very heavy scorer and has recently hit form, so this match was no gimme. Wenbo lead 2-0 but was pegged back to 2-2. He “stole” the next frame from way behind to make it 3-2, but Michael came back again to force a decider. Wenbo though held it together and took the match.

Chen Zhe 4-2 Ian Burns
Ian Burns is a very tough competitor and he proved it again when he came back from 0-3 down to make it 2-3. Sleepy though managed to win the scrappy and low scoring sixth frame for the match.

7 pm
Zhang Anda 0-4 Judd Trump
The story of this match was this: Anda was getting in first, building a substantial lead, but wasn’t able to secure the frames before missing or running out of position. Judd usually won the safety batteles, helped by a superior long potting and tactical game, and snatched them…

Last 32

9 pm

Liang Wenbo 1-4 Ali Carter
Despite scoring a 98 in the only frame he won, Wenbo was outplayed by Ali, who was scoring well himself (90 and 74) and was winning the tactical ones.

Zak Surety 1-4 Chen Zhe
Sleepy quickly won the first two frames with 87 and 115, but then Zak pulled one back and the match went more tactical and scrappy. Crucially though this time Zhe was able to win those as well and was the first man to book his spot into the final day.

Judd Trump 4-2 Joe Swail
Joe won the scrappy first and it looked as if he could possibly upset Judd and repeat his Paul Hunter Classic exploits. Not so though as Judd then took control and breaks of 46, 100, 56 and 60 helped him to secure the win and his pass to the Final day.

Saturday 8th of September

Last 128

11am

Simon Bedford 4-3 Ronnie O’Sullivan
What to say about this match? Ronnie played it exhibition style, taking about everything remotely pottable, and clearly more eager to entertain than to win. So we got a mixed bag of some extraordinary shots and quite a few reckless ones that he missed. He lead 2-0 and 3-2 but Simon who was playing very professionally, forced a decider, taking advantage of Ronnie’s all-attack-no-safeties approach. In the decider, Simon made a very good break off, leaving Ronnie snookered. Ronnie played to nestle into the pack, which he managed to do but left a very difficult red to Simon who got it and made a 98 from there. Well done Simon, he deserved it.

Li Yan 0-4 Adam Duffy
Li Yan had a highest break of 19 in this match … very d-bad day in office it seems.

Stuart Bingham 4-0 David Gilbert
Stuart had a 125 in the last frame but other that he built his victory with thirty something breaks. Good match play, and fast as well.

1pm

Yu DeLu 4-2 Jimmy Robertson
Going by the frame scores, this must have been a hard matchplay type of game. Yu had only one break over 50, a 69, while Jimmy scored a 90 in frame five but still lost the match.

Last 64

5 pm

Neil Robertson 0-4 Stuart Bingham
A very one sided match except for frame 3 that was epic. Robertson was first in and managed to lead 71-4 in the frame with 67 on the table, so Stuart could still tie. Stuart started to grind his way back in the frame but crucially failed to pot a colour after a red meaning he needed snookers. It was 71-37 with 27 on the table. He got the two snookers he needed but failed to pot the green. Neil succeeded in potting the green which meant that Stuart needed snookers again. He managed to force a foul on the pink and from there cleared to steal the frame. That was the turning point as it became clear in the last frame that Neil had had enough.

7 pm

Yu Delu 3-4 Ding Junhui
Despite not playing great Yu took the first two frames as Ding was missing about everything and looked very frustrated. Ding managed to win frame three though and from there he started playing more fluently. He also took the next two before Yu forced a decider with a good one visit frame winning break. But that was it though, Ding dominated the decider and the outcome never looked in doubt.

Last 32

9 am

Stuart Bingham 4-3 Alan McManus
Alan lead 3-0 before Stuart came back to win four on the trot and the match. Both players had a couple of good breaks, Stuart hit the highest break of the match, a 85 – but as was to be expected when “Angles” is involved there was some good tactical hard fought matchplay as well.

Sunday 9th of September

10 pm Last 16

Ali Carter 4-2 Chen Zhe
Sleepy gave Ali Carter a really good game and despite losing this match he has a lot of positives to take from the week-end. He’ll be back for more soon, no doubts.

Robert Milkins 4-1 Judd Trump
Rob has a good record against Judd, and he proved it once again. Judd took the opener, with the help of two glaring mistakes from Rob. But after that it was Judd making the mistakes and leaving a by then fully focused Rob with chances. Ron punished those mistakes and excellent breaks of 106, 87, 48 and 76 sealed Judd’s fate and defeat.

Rod Lawler 4-3 Stuart Bingham
The longest match of the round – not unexpected when Rod is involved. It was hard fought and good match and Stuart did well to force a decider but then, Rod was first in and knocked in a 130 to take the match. Not much anyone can do about that.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Last 128

Jack Lisowski 4-0 Oliver Lines
An easy and quick win for Jack there.

Li Yan 4-3 Justin Ashley
Very close and hard fought match this. Li Yan will be happy to be through.

Yu Delu w/o Tian Pengfei

Last 64

Jack Lisowski 2-4 Ryan Day
Looking at the detailed frames scores this must have been a rather closer match than the score suggests, with a very scrappy and hard fought last frame. Ryan came out the winner and he also scored the only break over fifty in the match, a 65.

Li Yan 4-1 Matthew Stevens
75, 74 and 66 helped Li Yan to beat Matthew Stevens quite convincingly.

Yu Delu 4-2 Paul Davison
Good win by Yu against the on form Paul Davison. Paul had the only century of the match, but Yu managed to win the hard fought, fragmented ones and it paid.

Last 32

Li Yan 3-4 Jamie Jones
Li lost this very close and hard fought match against Jamie Jones in the decider. Both players, young and very capable. A bit unlucky they had to meet in the last 32 …

Yu Delu 1-4 Ken Doherty
Ken who earlier today had made his first competitive 147, started the match with a century, a 103. The other frames were a lot closer but it was Ken again who won all but one. Old tactical head on old shoulders.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Last 128

Luca Brecel 4-0 Zhang Anda
Anda wasn’t playing badly but nearly every mistake was punished by a very heavy scoring and confident Luca. Anda could have made it 1-1 probably if he hadn’t be unlucky with a split of the pack and missing the only shot available (bar safety), a tricky plant from distance and maybe, maybe, it would have been a different match. Because from 2-0 up it was all Luca’s, with 91 and 97 to seal the match.

Joe Perry 4-0 Chen Zhe
The score doesn’t reflect how close the match was. Frame scores were 68-56, 59-54, 100-1, 68-58. In the last frame Sleepy won 16 points in penalties … but he eventually lost on the final black. Alas, all this won’t matter, only the final score does.

Stuart Bingham 4-3 Marco Fu
As the live scoring system failed, only 3 frames scores are available at the time of writing. So it’s hard to be sure how it went really but for what is available it was close and big breaks on both sides.

Liang Wenbo 4-1 Alex Davies
Going by the frame scores, this was a rather scrappy match with Wenbo winning the match with a best break of 36… he will need to improve

Judd Trump w/o Hossein Vafaei Ayouri

Last 64

Liang Wenbo 1-4 Judd Trump
Judd won this very tense yet entertaining match with a century to finish. The players offered the audience a bit of everything: excellent shots, some good safeties, unexpected misses and messed up safeties also. The first frame was very scrappy, all other ones featured some big breaks. The last frame was probably the more surprising. Wenbo having done the hard work and opened the reds looked set to make it 2-3 but playing a red at very close range he underhit it so badly that it didn’t reach the pocket by quite a distance, leaving Judd a golden chance that he grabbed with both hands.

Stuart Bingham 4-2 Graeme Dott
Good breaks and heavy scoring from both when in. Must have been a quality match if the story told by the frames scores is to be trusted.

Last 32

Judd Trump 3-4 Barry Hawkins
Judd had a 122 and 92. Barry had a 98 and 85. But the last two frames were fragmented and very hard fought and it’s Barry who took them both.

Stuart Bingham 0-4 Dominic Dale
The sad thing is that Stuart was ahead and with a big lead in all frames but the last and somehow managed to lose them all. All credit to Dominic though, big fighter.

Friday, 17th of August, 2012

11 am – L128 – Liang Wenbo 4-2 Liam Monk
Overall the match was hard fought and a bit scrappy but breaks of 73 and 81 from Wenbo made the difference.
11 am – L128 – Liu Chuang 0-4 Zhang Anda
Breaks of 76 and 84 helped Anda to secure a solid win against Liu Chuang. This is his best win in a very long time and hopefully it will boost his confidence.

1 pm – L128 – Cao Yupeng v Chen Zhe
Chen Zhe gave Cao Yupeng a good game and was a bit unlucky to find himself 2-2 when he could have been 3-1 actually. But Cao is a very dangerous player and he proved it again, taking the last two frames and the match.
1 pm – L128 – Li Yan 3-4 Tony Drago
This looks like a strange match and it’s hard to understand exactly what happened. Li won the first three frames, then lost the last 4 in no time…
1 pm – L128 – Stuart Bingham 4-0 Marc J Davis
An easy win for Stuart against amateur Marc J Davis. “Ballrun” won’t complain though after last PTC bad luck.

3 pm – L128 – Yu DeLu 4-1 Aditya Mehta
This was hard matchplay. Yu only scored a highest break of 47 in this match but it won’t matter: he won convincingly and earned a clash with Neil Robertson.

5pm – L64 – Liang Wenbo 4-1 Mark Allen
Great win for Wenbo against one of the best. Breaks of 75,73, 62 and 62 says it all: solid scoring. He is bound to Poland and the television stage.
5pm – L64 – Zhang Anda 2-4 Dave Harold
“Big Dave” denied Anda his trip to Poland by taking the 6th and last dramatic frame on the black.

7pm – L64 – Stuart Bingham 4-2 Tony Drago
Stuart is the second Grove player to book his trip to Poland despite a spirited fight from Tony who scored the highest break of the match, 92, but still lost.
7pm – L64 – Yu Delu 3-4 Neil Robertson
Yu Delu ran the 2010 World Champion very close and had the upper hand in the early stages of the match. Neil however is a very tough competitor: he fought back, forced a decider and eventually took the match with a 75 break in the final frame.

Saturday, 18th of August, 2012

1pm – L128 – Judd Trump 4-1 James Cahill
Judd made 102 and 107 in beating amateur James Cahill but also took the last very fragmented frame with a best (frame) break of 18 Contrasts.

3pm – L128 – Jack Lisowski 2-4 Graeme Dott
Jack will not make the trip to Poland as he lost to Graeme Dott, always a difficult opponent. Graeme was scoring heavily when in and basically won three frames in one visit.

7pm – L64 – Judd Trump 0-4 Rory McLeod
Judd highest break in the match was 21 … says it all.

Friday 10th of August 2012

1 pm – L128 – Michael White 4-0 Chen Zhe
It’s fair to say that Chen Zhe was completely outplayed by Michael White in this match. Not scoring heavily enough when in, and not being able to win the safety battles, he had to answer to Michael outstanding potting power.

3 pm – L128 – Yu Delu 4-3 Michael Wild
Excellent win for Yu. He won the first frame but after that Michael Wild showed what a dangerous opponent he is as he took three frames on the trot with some solid scoring. From there though, Yu battled back and after forcing a decider, he took the match with a break of 95

7 pm – L64 – Yu Delu 4-1 Rory McLeod
Another excellent win. “The Dentist” is always a difficult opponent, but Yu refused to be dragged into his opponent slow play style and imposed his game in most frames. He also managed to win most the ones that went scrappy.

10:30 pm – L32 – Yu Delu 2-4 Nigel Bond
Nigel Bond, who had just beaten Mark Selby in the previous round, proved too strong for Yu. Nigel is a very old head on very old shoulders and when he has the potting to back his tactical nous, he’s a handful for anyone.

Saturday 11th of August 2012

9 am – L128 – Stuart Bingham w/o Mohamed Khairy
Visa issues still not resolved for Mohamed Khairy, it seems, and Stuart gets a bye.

11 am – L128 – Judd Trump 4-1 Rhys Clark
Overall a quick and easy match for Judd except maybe frame 2 that he lost having given his opponent 50 points penalty (12 fouls…) after Rhys laid a devilish snooker first and fluked another hard one next.

11 am – L128 – Mark Joyce 4-2 Zhang Anda
Another disappointment for Zhang, another first round exit. Having fought back from 0-2 down to make it 2-2, he scored only 25 points, including penalties, in the last two frames.

1 pm – L128 – Li Yan 4-0 Adam Duffy
Li Yan had a clean win over the talented Adam Duffy although it was more about good matchplay that heavy scoring. Li’s 51 in frame two was the only half century of the match.

1 pm – L128 – Liang Wenbo 4-3 Oliver Brown
Liang will have to improve if he is to go deep in this tournament. Oliver was playing well and lead 3-1. Fortunately, Liang found something and managed to get back to 3-3. Experience talked probably as he dominated the decider. But phew!

3 pm – L128 – Jack Lisowski 1-4 Tom Ford
Despite taking the first frame with a good 69, Jack lost this quick match 1-4. It featured breaks over 50 in every frame but one, with a 114 from Tom as a highlight.

5 pm – L64 – Judd Trump 4-3 Mark King
Judd booked his place in the last 32 but not without a scare. Mark King, always a tough competitor, ran him extremely close in a match both tense and entertaining. Judd took a very composed approach to it and, despite being visibly annoyed by a few misses, he held it together when it mattered.

5 pm – L64 – Callum Downing 4-2 Stuart Bingham
Stuart who had got a bye in the last 128, decided to travel to Gloucester today and was delayed on the highway by a flat tyre problem. Hard yo know if this had any bearing on his concentration, but, whatever, he couldn’t get the better of his amateur opponent.

7pm – L64 – Li Yan 2-4 Simon Bedford
Li Yan didn’t pot a ball during the first two frames and scored only 14 in the third against a heavy scoring opponent. From there though he mounted a brave comeback and managed to win the next two frames (they went scrappy). But he had left himself too much to do and Bedford took the sixth frame for victory.

7 pm – L64 – Liang Wenbo 4-0 Fergal O’Brien
After Liang won a very slow going first frame, he took control of the match and scored heavily when in. He needed to against Fergal who is very dangerous when things go scrappy … so, breaks of 64, 114 and 50 did the job.

9 pm – L32 – Judd Trump 4-1 Tony Drago
This was a bizarre match. More often than not the balls went awkward, spread about everywhere as if they had been knocked about randomly, with the colours rarely on their spots. But it won’t matter to Judd as he is through to the final day, clinching the match with an excellent 71, having trailed 0-57 in the frame.

10 pm – L32 – Liang Wenbo 4-2 Matthew Stevens
Liang wins the last match of the day to join Judd in the last 16. His highest break was 130.

Sunday, 12th of August 2012

10 am – L16 – Judd Trump 2-4 Ryan Day
Judd made a 140 clearance, but he also made too many mistake against an on form opponent. Ryan deserved the win, well done to him.

10 am – L16 – Liang Wenbo 1-4 Ben Woollaston
It was always going to be hard for Wenbo. Ben is not only talented, he is also a former PTC winner, so he has been there and done it.
Wenbo won the opener but that was it. He had a great chance to come back to 2-3, but Ben took his chances better and clinched the frame and the match.

Read it all here.

Friday, 20th of July, 2012

9 am
Last 128 – Chen Zhe 0-4 Alan McManus
Sleepy must not be a morning person… He struggled badly against an opponent who’s tactical game is always strong and never really found his game.

3 pm
Last 128 – Yu Delu v Lee Page
After a slow start, Yu Delu found his stride and came to beat Lee Page 4-2 from 1-2 down.
Last 64 – Yu Delu 2-4 Andrew Pagett
Pagett was in great form – allegedly after practicing with Mark Williams – and the better player won.

Saturday, 21th of July, 2012

9am
Last 128- Zhang Anda 2-4 Steve Davis
And lead 2-0 but the tactician Steve Davis found a way back and to victory.
Last 128 – Liang Wenbo 4-1 Tian Pengfei
Some excellent safeties from Wenbo were key to this win. And some great pots of course…

1 pm
Last 128 – Jack Lisowski 4-0 Zak Surety
Fast, furious and accurate. Jack was great to watch and great full stop.
Last 128 – Li Yan v Callum LLoyd

Last 128 – Stuart Bingham 1-4 Cao Yupeng
Bit of a struggle for Stuart against a good and composed Cao.

3 pm
Last 128 – Judd Trump 4-0 Gareth Greene
The difference in ability and experience was telling. The outcome never in doubt despite a brave effort by Greene.

5 pm
Last 64 – Liang Wenbo 2-4 Ali Carter
Liang missed too many blacks off the spot, too many close frames, got involved in a bit of controversy, had to change his tip … a match to forget!

7 pm
Last 64 – Jack Lisowski 4-3 Li Yan
Jack won from 0-3 down and it went to the last black. Hard fought and a pinch of luck…
Last 64 – Judd Trump 4-1 Marcus Campbell
Judd had a bit too much for Marcus, who didn’t play badly though. In the end, the definite loser of the match was an annoying insect that perished under Marcus towel…

9 pm
Last 32 – Judd Trump 4-2 Craig Steadman
Tiredness showed as both players made uncharacteristic errors. Judd lead 2-0, was pegged back 2-2 but won the last 2 to book his place in the final day.
Last 32 – Jack Lisowski 4-1 Matthew Couch
Another match marked by tiredness but Jack managed to take a more composed, slower than usual approach to his game and was rewarded with a good win and a place in the last 16.

Sunday, 22th of July 2012

10 am
Last 16 – Jack Lisowski 4-1 David Grace
Jack assessment was that he played OK although he missed a few that he shouldn’t have. Everyone is tired
Last 16 – Judd Trump 4-1 Luca Brecel
Judd also admitted that he’s feeling tired and, as a consequence, he played a lot more conservatively than usual. It paid though.

Quarters – Jack beats Judd 4-3 in the quarter finals
Their manager was hiding behind the sofa as usual… he can’t handle the pressure
It was a brilliant match, with never more than a frame between them. Jack held himself together in the decider when getting the chance and compiled an excellent 74 to clinch the match.

Semis – Jack Lisowski 4-3 Mark Williams
Another excellent match. Jack was 2-3 down and won the last 2 with some outstanding (and brave) long pots as well as well constructed breaks. The highlight of the match was a wonderful 128 by Jack.

Final – Jack Lisowski 3-4 Stephen Maguire
An excellent match that went to the last black in the decider! Congratulations to Stephen Maguire the winner. Well done also to Jack. No doubt he will win one soon playing the way he did. And a big thanks to both player for the great entertainment.

09.07.2012
L32: Matthew Stevens 5-3 Liang Wenbo.
First in action on Monday was Liang Wenbo against Matthew Stevens. Matthew lead 3-1 at the MSI. Liang pulled one back after the resumption, but not without a scare. Matthew needed one snooker with one red on the table, but he got it and looked set to make it 4-1 before missing the final pink. Liang managed to win the safety battle and potted a difficult pink and black to seal the frame. Having lost the next one, Liang produced an excellent 71 to stay in the match, still trailing 3-4. Matthew was first in again in the next frame and lead 46-0, but again Liang won following safety battle and looked all set to force a decider. He missed the last yellow though – maybe due to a kick as he asked the referee to clean the cue ball – and from there Matthew made no mistake and won the match.

10.07.2012
L32: Mark Davis 5-2 Jack Lisowski
Mark Davis, the recently crowned six-reds World Champion, is a man on form and Jack had no answer to his confident game at the start of the match. Mark was flying and built a 3-0 lead in no time. At that point a whitewash looked very possible. Jack fought back to win the next on the black and got some enthusiast applause when he left for the MSI “cup of tea” at 3-1 for Mark. Mark though won the first after the resumption and, despite pulling another frame back, Jack had left himself too much to do. The match was sealed at 5-2 to Mark.

L32: Stuart Bingham 4-5 Matthew Selt
It was a tense and dour match that ended in bitter disappointment for the defending champion who lost it in the decider. With both players pot success being around 83-84%, it’s right to say that it was a struggle. Stuart potted more balls, had the highest break of the match, a mere 74, but in the end, it doesn’t matter … Matthew is through and Stuart isn’t.