Day One - Part 2 Snooker: Welsh Open

Good evening. Welcome once again to the opening day of the 2016 Welsh

Open. 128 players competing across 12 tables, including 12 Welshmen.

Before we bring you tonight's action, let's update due on what's

been happening. Ronnie O'Sullivan, fresh from his victory at the

Masters made relatively light work of his encounter with the veteran

Barry Pinches. Including turning down the opportunity of a maximum.

It was a nice break. Sometimes it is nice to bring them a 146 instead of

a 147. It is a bit cheeky. It is a nice little buzz. It could be a

better ending than the next one. World number one Mark Selby who is

yet to win a tournament this season had no surprises against the Welsh

debutant Dwayne Jones, winning 4-0. I didn't perform fantastic and

Dwayne will be disappointed with the way he played. It could have been a

different scoreline. I could have been here doing an interview having

lost. If you were watching our coverage this afternoon he will know

that Mark Williams, the number one Welsh hope was struggling against

the Chinese opponent. Willie and -- Willie Thorne and Terry Griffiths

in the commentary box. A slight angle. He would like to go straight

into the pack of reds. Bringing pink and black into play. He hasn't got

the angle for that. We see that black after the

excellent long pot. I don't know what to say about that.

It was more or less unmissable for Mark William. Having said that,

could be bit unfair. He had just played the perfect shot. He was

probably concentrating so much on getting a good cue ball that he took

his eye off the red. As Terry said, it was virtually unmissable. How can

this young man hold himself together and become one of the great players?

That little Cameron will help. -- that little Cameron.

Well one not sure if the pink spot is free. He doesn't want to be tying

up one of those colours. Not nicely on any of the three red

Sea has played for. He doesn't look flustered.

Whenever he has anything to do with the cue ball, he seems to hit at it.

He hasn't cut away with it surely? Bite the bullet, Mark. Play into the

pink. I didn't see the value at all in taking that on? No value

whatsoever. It's one mistake after another hear

from both the players. The type of shots, that are normally

straightforward shots, more or less ten out of ten you get them. But

that doesn't take the pressure into account. This will be a really tough

defeat, should Mark Williams go on to lose this match. He will be

strong enough. He has been through these things before and come out the

other side. The problem, obviously, is that read

up on the cushion. It won't go past the screen. -- past the green.

Probably, that was the most important one and he missed. 20

points in front, despite missing that read.

He was the favourite, although he's not on the black. He may take the

green. Not sure if he played for that cross double. We will give him

the benefit of the doubt. It looks pretty straight.

The pink is the saving ball now for Mark. 16 points behind. He would

only need the pink if he takes at high value colour of this red. He

has had opportunities to clinch it. I wonder if he can get over the line

this time. He can play for the yellow in the opposite pocket to the

blue. This is more of a pressure shot.

Certainly making hard work of it at the moment but he is in the match.

That is the main thing. This is the shot where we weren't sure whether

he was playing a safety or a cross double. Well, young man, this is

your chance. Just hold yourself together for five

pots. A little bit nervous, you can tell. He has just dropped the chalk.

You would think that brown and blue would be no problemo. Though dear.

That is just tension. Just brown and blue needed. Even

that is not his best shot. He has been a bit fortunate to finish

absolutely straight on the blue. He will never play any worse than this

and win a match. It looks the case now. High break of only 40. Mark

Williams assured to go into the next round. A winner by 4-3. STUDIO: It

was enough for Mark Williams to get past Lyu Chenwei. Not the clean

sweep he would have wanted but at least he gets a rest before his

match against Rod Lawler tomorrow night. I played some good stuff and

then some really poor stuff. I was poor. The only good thing is that I

won. I can't take any satisfaction out of winning like that. People

say, you are still in the tournament, you should be happy. I

am happy. My face doesn't look like I am happy but I will just see what

tomorrow wins. I know 100% fact that I can't play any worse than that.

Let's bring you up-to-date with a fuel other results. In particular,

how the Welsh players have got on. Lee Walker is out. Good news for

Michael White. Jamie Jones, a disappointing defeat. Daniel Wells

is through. Smooth sailing for Ryan Day. That means that for Welshman

are through to round two as it stands. Three more are playing this

are through to round two as it evening. A very good evening to you.

Welcome to our studio in the players practice area.

Welcome to our studio in the players three glorious opportunities. He

missed three of their spots. He should have gone into the next

round. It will hurt. Is it really the worst you have seen him play?

Without doubt. He is one of my all-time

record-breaking four-time Welsh Open winner. Up against a man he has

never lost two. The Andy Hicks. We are going to join Terry Griffiths

and Darren Morgan in the commentary box. COMMENTATOR: You have just

joined as at an intriguing part of this opening frame. Both players

have had a few good shots and some easy misses. John Higgins has been

relatively clinical in this frame. He is still a couple of shots away

from winning this first frame. He is in a good position.

He is a long, long way away from the green. This is a ball he needs to

secure this first frame. He cued it perfectly. A very well

struck shot. So, then, with the help of a 39

break, John Higgins will be a little bit happier. He leads one frame to

nil. Andy Hicks did have his chances in this frame. It has to be said,

this mess we are about to see was very unexpected. He would have

expected to get this. It was a funny opening game. A couple of chances

here and there. Settling down a time for the players. This first frame

usually is like that. A few easy balls missed but isn't there always?

The first round of all these major events. Quite a lot of pressure for

both players out there. Thank you. Frame to. John Higgins to

break. John Higgins always looking for the

most difficult spot possible to put his opponent when playing safety.

What we call a negative safety there. There was no other shot on.

As it has turned out, this red hood going for Andy Hicks. -- could go

in. Then he would be on the black. It goes and he's on it. And at that

pace, if he was going to miss it, he was going to leave it on. So, great

shot. This will disturb some reds. He had to make sure of the pot. He

hasn't left anything easy so he will be quite pleased he has got away

with that. He expected to pot this red and so concentrated more on the

cannon than the pot. That was unlucky. He thought he

would get past the red and for the black. It was a brave shot to take

on. Andy Hicks has always been a very aggressive player.

So far, Andy Hicks has missed one or two pressure shots which is not good

for him at the moment. He has not had enough matchplay to be tight,

like John Higgins would be. Another very poor safety shot.

It doesn't matter how they go in, as long as they do. When John is in

full flow, he has a very nice pace around the table to him. Very

fluent. Doesn't hang around making his mind up with shots. But at the

moment he isn't too fluent. A bonus. Touching ball. Can just play safely.

It is a reprieve for Andy Hicks. He would have been fearing the worst

there. Just played to get past the red. Didn't impart enough side on

the cue ball. He's having a go at this. Well, he

deserved to be on the black. A shot like that. He could have come across

and left it in the other corner. Kissed it into the right corner.

Disappointing for such a good shot. That's the second safety that Andy

Hicks has played in succession that he hasn't got past the baulk line.

This time, John Higgins has the same opportunity. Stun through the pink

into the reds and stay on the black. He has run through to the baulk a

little bit. Again, he struck that to Apsley perfection. -- to absolute

perfection. I don't think there is any loose red there. Just going to

try and cannon the pink and the red. That is just about perfect. Very

well played. He's given it a bit of time. It

looks from here as if he's on three of those racks.

You can see that was not dead straight. It should have been

straight forward, but overrun it for the blue. Just got to miss the pink

here, get enough spin on it. It's a thin cut.

I can see - he's played it very well, couldn't hit it with any pace,

and he's unfortunate there. APPLAUSE

That's a lovely strike, wasn't it? , Higgins' delivery stroke is never

too fast even on a stroke like that when he needs power, how he strokes

them - he's one of the best ball strokers in the game. Not happy with

that, though. John Higgins, of course, come along

into the game when Stephen Hendry had started to dominate. He was

winning most of the big titles but John was always a contender.

Practised with Stephen Hendry, of course, up in Sterling you can but

then he moved away from there to - I think he felt he was getting

overpowered with Stephen Hendry, like most players would in practise

those days - or in a match. John Higgins, as you say, is four

times champion here in the Welsh Open, and there was - most emotional

night I think I've ever seen in the final when his dad had died and he

came down and defended his championships, and John Higgins hit

a deuce, and he was crying, and I think everybody in the arena was

crying, a very special night. next ball, takes all the pressure

off. Allows him to concentrate more on the positional side of the shot

rather than putting too much into the pot. 62.

didn't get on to the black but Hicks is a seasoned pro. He turned pro in

1991. Five times he's got to a semifinal ranking event so Andy

Hicks is no mean performer by any stretch of the imagination.

Obviously, having lost his tour card now he wouldn't be practissing as

hard as he did before and having seen his shot selection he isn't as

sharp as he was before but this match is still alive, don't get me

wrong. And in terms of John Higgins, life begins at 40. At 40. Because

last year the win in the Welsh Open triggered a real resurgence for him,

didn't it? You always say players have to be between 25 and 35 to

compete in this game. Obviously, John Higgins is doing well, Mark

Davis is another one that's 40 plus. He has been playing his best snooker

since he has been 40. That's how good he is. Obviously, he needs to

win this frame. Going 3-0 behind you can't win. Certainly does. Might not

be a long night for John Higgins. Let's go back and join our

commentators. Fully agreed with Willie there, some good points made.

Andy Hicks has left another red out. No John Higgins in that 74 in the

last frame. He has missed a couple of long shots and a couple of easy

ones, that was not expected. But it's amazing - this best-of-seven

format, short stints, doesn't suit the top players. Obviously, they

like it over a longer distance. You're generally playing from close

in that ball cushion, and Higgins plays a safety shot.

Played that well, avoided the double kiss, of course, in the red.

John Higgins catching a ball colour on the way back down. Call the

police! Foul and miss. That was almost thin.

John Higgins, 4. Go back again possibly. Oh, can he get through to

that red, the one near the left corner? If he can just get through

past the pink... APPLAUSE if that pink goes, he's

been blessed. Scratching his head - just lost the

cue ball a little bit. He seems to think he had a big bounce off the

side cushion. Whether it was or not - he's been left with a real awkward

shot. He's just looking to see how much trouble he can put on him.

He'll be looking at that as a chance to really establish himself in this

third frame. With this shot, he has given the

advantage to Andy Hicks to play a really good safety, but I don't

think there was anything else on for him really with that red so close to

the right corner. He does like to attack, Andy Hicks, and if he can

get through to red in the right centre, I'm sure he'd go for it.

It's got to be a good safety. Actually think he played the double

as a shot or nothing. He's got the second part of the shot right.

A bit of his own medicine here for John Higgins. This is awkward.

Not quite sure if Andy Hicks played that shot. He did raise his arm to

John Higgins to apologise, but I don't know why.

He's playing two cushion escape - that's how difficult it is. Foul and

miss. Wow. Andy Hicks, 6. Oh, referee is going to put the ball

back now, as Andy Hicks has asked John Higgins to have another go at

it, not easy. Some help, of course. There's a

monitor underneath the commentary box here beneath the cameramen that

can replace the balls in the correct place. It's never easy if three or

four balls are moved during that shot with John Higgins. If it's one

ball, it's quite easy, generally. I am quite surprised he's had it put

back, though. It was left - left the red to the left corner. I don't

think we're far away from a reshuffle.

Now they've put the blue back to the right spot, but it didn't really

play much of a part. I think that's a good cue ball this time, John

Higgins. I think Andy Hicks may be regretting his last choice. Well,

maybe not. Because it looks like he's going to get an easier starter,

surely he'll play it from here. He's got the red to left centre.

Always going to be awkward, that red he's just hit. It's OK, the pink,

but it's the one on the left-hand side as well that could get in his

path, pink or blue, but it turns out that kiss is not too bad.

Andy Hicks's highest break so far in this match is just 22, so there's a

good chance here of beating that and going on from there. Certainly needs

this frame on the board, as Aaron mentioned earlier.

Never straight forward, these. The Black's a bit awkward with that red

next to it. The pink looks a bit tied up as well.

The pink goes into the right corner, obviously, after he's played that

shot, didn't look like it from here. Well, he's not further away from

this red than he'd have liked. It's because he didn't get high enough on

the blue. I think he just rolls - able to leave this red in the left

corner, but he's rolled too far. He's having a look at the one below

the pink, but that was a real poor shot. If he wants to continue now,

he's going to have to pull a real good one off.

Well, the previous red hit the left drawer and went in. The other hit

the right drawer and stayed there. He'll be very disappointed.

Because the red was a far superior and harder pot than that blue. He

just had to make sure of the blue. Could have been worse there for John

Higgins. Touching ball but of course, he's

playing away. Not quite sure if you nudge the red here and stay on the

pink... A gap to go through. It's a small

gap, I must say. Well, he's on the red, but he might

have been a little bit closer, make the pot easier on the position side

also. 13. Nicely played, hitting down into

the ball there, needs to - not easy to play those run-throughs on these

ivory cloths. -- lively cloths. 40. Can I make this? Yes. Just

checking the scoreboard there for John Higgins, seeing that he's 12

checking the scoreboard there for make the blue? He can. What a great

shot that is. If anything, two, three inches too far.

And Andy Hicks has had a couple of chances in these early frames,

didn't take them. John Higgins has had runs of 39, 74 and 60 and

counting. 62. 69. Again, played to absolute

perfection, hasn't got -- doesn't get any better than this.

Well, he's not even going to bother with the black. There's no need, a

terrific 80 break, John Higgins now leads three frames to nil. Andy

Hicks has it all to do. Four to play. He's got to win them all.

Well, John's going to be feeling absolutely elated at the minute this

way he started, missed a couple of ones, missed a couple when he got

in, missed a - a couple of mistakes. Andy Hicks had his chances, didn't

take them. He'd be very disappointed, Andy, because he knows

he's a much better player than this but John Higgins now is in absolute

full flow. I think he's got to take a little bit of a miracle for this

result now not to go John's way. What are you thinking, Terry? I

think you're right, Darren, as usual. I think John Higgins, like

the very best players, you know, they pounce on you if you don't take

your chances, and John Higgins showed that. He's had a little bit

of a rough spell here and there in this match so far, but all of a

sudden you give him a glint and he's in there and clearing up, and it

really hurts his opponents, that's what it does, you know?

Psychologically, Andy Hicks threw that away, so you would expect him

to want to win this deciding - this last frame, sorry, and win the match

4-0. Well, that's the worst possible

outcome for Andy Hicks. He's put that red right over the corner

pocket, just right in the pocket. John will pop this direct. If not,

you lose the cushion. I think it's close enough into the pocket that he

can pot it half ball. Which he could. Nicely on a bold colour.

There's only one loose red really, one above the black as well. And

he's looking away with his cue there playing for the loose red. There is

value I suppose off the green of going into the pack, trying to smash

them everywhere. Well, we don't like to leave it, but

the clock has beaten us I'm afraid. We will though show you how much

this match finishes and round up all the day's action in the highlights

show. That's at a quarter past midnight, so keep that candle

burning. For now, though, a very good evening.