Day three marks the end of the last 32 stage with seven matches to be played following Graeme Dott’s withdrawal. Click below to read all about the final three matches:
Ryan Day 5-0 Liang Wenbo
Local hero Liang Wenbo’s run this week came to an abrupt end today as Welshman Ryan Day raced to a 5-0 victory in no time this afternoon.
In a match with few big breaks, the highlights for Day were runs of 81 and 71 in the first three frames as Wenbo’s attacking game let him down. This was typified by an outlandish attempt at a long blue in the fourth frame that didn’t go close, gifting the frame and a 4-0 interval lead to Ryan which soon became a 5-0 win.
Wenbo’s style is thrilling to watch because when he is on song he goes for and gets everything, a tactic that would allow him to beat anyone on his day. Against the very top players though, this high risk approach is I think too dangerous and I can see him suffering a few more results like this in the future if he continues to go for everything. Hopefully he can strike the right balance between attack and defence in the end.
Having seen what happened to Mark Allen though, Ryan will no doubt be pleased to come through today with no problems and will meet John Higgins tomorrow for the first time since the World Championship this year. Should be a good one, too close a match to call for me.
Elsewhere
Having seen Shaun Murphy drop out this morning, Stephen Maguire will be pleased to come through his match against Barry Hawkins this morning, eventually prevailing 5-3. Stephen always had the upper hand, though a late Hawkins revival threatened to force a deciding frame. Eventually though, Hawkins visibly felt the pressure as he missed the final red to the yellow pocket, handing Maguire a chance to seal frame and match. The Scot will now go on to meet Stuart Bingham tomorrow afternoon.
Marco Fu meanwhile recovered from going 2-0 down early on against Anthony Hamilton to become the first and only player from Asia to make the last 16 here in Shanghai. Taking the next five frames for a 5-2 victory, Marco will now meet Andy Hicks following his surprise demolition of Shaun Murphy this morning.
Last 32
John Higgins 5-4 Tom Ford 78(38)-8, 102(84)-21, 69-42(41), 14-90(57), 32-79(47), 136(136)-0, 5-64(55), 5-120(100), 64-1
Joe Perry 5-1 Matthew Stevens 53(47)-66, 60-32, 63-39, 66(37)-41(33), 105(105)-23, 74(51)-0
Mark Selby 5-1 Judd Trump 88(88)-45, 0-73(43), 145(105)-0, 93(85)-18, 88(75)-25, 110(75)-12
Dominic Dale 4-5 Steve Davis 73(46)-13, 89(69)-1, 0-101(54,46), 44(43)-70(33), 41-77(32,33), 33(33)-80(66), 58-50, 60(39)-26, 4-87(33,54)
Stephen Hendry 4-5 Ricky Walden 102(71)-14, 27-61(43), 25-69(31), 111(88)-24, 68(41)-0, 5-124(104), 15-70, 65(65)-50(49), 0-85(85)
Neil Robertson 5-2 Fergal O’Brien 63(36)-52(52), 67(42)-58(46), 61(46)-95(41,33), 77(57)-4, 79(79)-0, 32-71(65), 74(60)-23
Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-2 Stuart Pettman 65(39)-35(34), 14-79(44), 99(43,56)-5, 0-117(116), 73(73)-39, 105(60,42)-20, 138(48,86)-0
Mark King 5-4 Jimmy White 5-112(48,35), 8-77(63), 73(48)-5, 71(66)-23, 0-73(62), 73(39)-30, 4-84(37), 66(59)-18, 66-5
Ali Carter 2-5 Mark Williams 88(35)-54(50), 25-64(32,32), 59(59)-48(47), 27-72(43), 0-105(47,58), 0-91(86), 51(51)-67(34,33)
Shaun Murphy 1-5 Andy Hicks 44(44)-79(57), 59-48, 5-71(71), 0-135(127), 29-118(47), 26-92(51)
Jamie Cope w/o Graeme Dott – Dott has broken his arm playing football and is flying home for an operation and hopes to be fit for the Grand Prix
Peter Ebdon 3-5 Stuart Bingham 1-68(60), 114(114)-7, 34(34)-91(39,520, 70(43)-36, 56(45)-12, 0-103(103), 55(51)-63, 22-76(75)
Ding Junhui 3-5 Dave Harold 17-80, 42-68(34,33), 74(58)-14, 36-67(50), 62(40)-4, 6-72(450, 69(58)-46(46), 0-75(74)
Marco Fu – Anthony Hamilton 60(46)-64, 14-68, 63-48, 71-57, 111(55)-13
Stephen Maguire – Barry Hawkins 65(65)-2, 78-8, 0-81(53), 81-54
Ryan Day 5-0 Liang Wenbo 92(80)-0, 79-65, 95(71)-5, 69(48)-14, 109(34,38)-4