John Higgins, a five-time champion at the Welsh Open Snooker, secured his spot in the last 32 with a commanding 4-1 victory over Tian Pengfei.
- What? Welsh Open Snooker Round of 32
- Where? Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales
- When? Wednesday, February 14
In the opening frame, Higgins set the tone by clinching a 2-0 lead, showcasing a break of 54 along the way. Despite Tian responding with a half-century break to claim the third frame, the 36-year-old Chinese player struggled in the subsequent frame, potting only two reds as Higgins extended his lead to 3-1.
The Scotsman ultimately sealed the win in the fifth frame, sinking the final black and advancing to the third round in Llandudno.
John Higgins
Higgins now faces Ryan Day who defeated Englishman David Lilley 4-2.
Below, you can see the odds for the match from three of the best sports betting sites.
Mark Williams
Mark Williams, a three-time world champion, advanced to the third round in a captivating yet error-filled match against Sanderson Lam. Lam, currently ranked 65th in the world, will lament missed opportunities, having pushed the contest to a final-frame decider after trailing on three separate occasions.
In the opening frames, two-time Welsh Open champion Williams capitalized on Lam's costly miss on the black, initiating the match with a break of 90. Lam responded strongly with an 89 break in the second frame. Williams continued to showcase his prowess with a remarkable 117 break in the third frame. Despite Lam's resilient efforts, the match extended to a seventh frame, ultimately claimed by the Welshman through an impressive 96 break.
Williams now faces a tough fixture against Anthony McGill. The Scot eliminated China’s Long Zehuang 4-1. He is in reasonable form but Williams should have what it takes to get the victory.
Check out our BetUS sportsbook review to find out if it's the best bookie for your snooker bets.
Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams takes on Adam Duffy in one of the ties of the round.
Williams swiftly gained a 2-0 lead, initiating the charge with a 54 break in the first frame. However, Ding Junhui countered, leveling the match with impressive scores of 88 and 66.
The turning point came with Williams delivering a remarkable 119 break, propelling him toward victory. The 37-year-old, hailing from Wallasey, showcased resilience in frame six, securing a 72-56 triumph and eliminating the 2012 champion Ding from the competition.
Williams should be too strong for Duffy.
Bovada offer correct score betting to enhance the odds. I think this will be a comfortable 4-1 win for Williams at odds of +240.
Welsh Open Snooker
The 2024 Welsh Open, officially known as the 2024 BetVictor Welsh Open, is an esteemed professional snooker tournament scheduled to unfold from February 12 to 18, 2024, at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales. Qualification rounds for this event occurred from January 25 to 27 at the Barnsley Metrodome in Barnsley, England.
This tournament marks the 33rd edition of the Welsh Open, inaugurated in 1992. Positioned as the 13th ranking event in the 2023–24 season, it follows the German Masters and precedes the Players Championship. Additionally, it is the conclusive competition in the Home Nations Series, following the Scottish Open, and serves as the eighth and final event in the European Series, following the German Masters. Sponsored by BetVictor, the tournament enjoys broadcast coverage by the BBC domestically, Eurosport, and Discovery+ in the United Kingdom and Europe, with other broadcasters airing it globally.
The coveted prize for the victor is the Ray Reardon trophy and a £80,000 share from the substantial total prize fund of £427,000. Robert Milkins enters the tournament as the defending champion, having triumphed over Shaun Murphy with a 9–7 scoreline in the final of the 2023 edition.
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