Williams Keeps Run Going
Mark Williams remained on course for back-to-back ranking titles as he beat James Wattana to reach the last 32 of the Coral Shoot Out at the Watford Colosseum.
The one frame knockout tournament will be played to a conclusion on Sunday, with the third round from 12pm and then the last 16 onwards from 6pm.
Williams won last week’s German Masters and could lift his third ranking title of the season on Sunday night. A break of 52 gave him control against Wattana though the Thai legend had a chance to win when he fought back to within 8 points, only to miss the final yellow.
Billy Castle held his nerve to beat Jimmy White
Billy Castle knocked out crowd favourite Jimmy White to book his place in round three. Whirlwind White had chances but lost the frame 49-35.
Luca Brecel, runner-up in this event two years ago, made a break of 36 in beating Mei Xiwen while Ali Carter enjoyed a run of 58 as he knocked out Joe Swail.
The most dramatic finish of tonight’s session saw Tian Pengfei beat Mark King in a sudden death blue ball shoot out after the frame finished 47-47. With the white ball in the D and the blue on its spot, both players missed their first attempt then potted the next two, and in ’round four’ King missed and Tian slotted in the blue for victory.
Thailand’s Sunny Akani made the highest break of the day, an excellent 95, to beat David Gilbert. In the last match of the session, Stuart Bingham came from 41-0 down to beat Scott Donaldson with a run of 60.
All pics by Paul Woodman