Welsh Open - Rd 2

Featured Match -

Match Report Witten By Mad Mikey from The 15 Red Podcast team 

John Higgins (6)

Ben Woolaston (36)

 - Rematch of 2015 Welsh Final

 - John’s last tournament victory was the Welsh 2018, a 2 year drought, which is the longest of his career.

Frame 1: John opens the match with some solid pots, and forms a break of 101, and a 1-0 lead

Frame 2: Ben gets his first pots of the match by making a solid 31, before going in off from the blue. John has opportunity but on 25 missed a black from the spot. After a safety exchange, and the score 46-48, Ben pots all the colours to even up the match at 1-1


Frame 3: John continues his strong potting and break building by making a quick strike 79, more than enough to win the frame and a 2-1 advantage.


Frame 4: Both players exchange pots in the early going, before Woollaston missed a red on 13. John was continuing his excellent play by making 58 and good enough for a 3-1 lead.


Frame 5: With no room for error, Ben gets his scoring boots on right away, split the reds favourably and ended on 70. There was still 75 available, further the fact that Ben fouled 8pts to John also and it looked but done for Ben. But on 35 break Higgins fouled the black off the table, presenting Woollaston a chance to pick up the frame and get back in the match. He does that by 86-43 final and a 1 frame deficit.


Frame 6: A theme for the match was John’s ability to gain in every frame but frame 2. No exception here as he gains a 61-0 advantage before a foul on the pink. Ben needs all the balls available to steal the frame. A yellow to right middle, played with confidence was the best shot of the match, and would pave the way for a 62 clearance and force a decider.  3-3


Frame 7: Ben gets first bite after a fluke red, but ends on 17. John counters with 33, before a tactical exchange. Ben gets second bite at frame and match, but gets to 33-62. At 41-62 another safety exchange happens on the yellow. After Ben lays a solid snooker, John hits the yellow but leaves it in potable position. Well Ben missed the pot, but flukes it in top left pocket to leave John needing a snooker. After a battle on the green, and one easy miss by Ben to seal the match, John lays a very good snooker, which he gets his nessasary 4pts to have a chance to win. 45-68, with 25 available, John pots green and brown, then lays another snooker, which Ben hits but leaves all 3 colours available for potting. John gets all 3 balls and pulls out a finish for the ages 70-68


Match Notes:

- Best match in the tournament so far

- Pot Success 95% John 89% Ben

-101 brk John 70 Ben

 

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