Tweet
BARRY Pinches pulled off the biggest win of his career with a stirring 5-4 victory over former world champion Shaun Murphy.
Murphy, a semi finalist against Liang Wenbo at the Shanghai Masters was far from his best against Pinches, the world number 52 from Norwich, who has been a professional for 20 years.
And it was Pinches who had the first look at the table when he picked out a long red. The ball flew into the top corner pocket and Pinches made 29 before running out of position sent him scurrying for the safety of the baulk cushion. Pinches was to rue the the spurned opportunity as he was to lose a safety battle with Shaun. Left tucked up under the top cushion Murphy was in trouble and had no alternative but to try and pot his way out of trouble. As he looked around the table he spotted a red at the top of the cluster that would go into the centre pocket. Digging down on the cue ball the ball disappeared and Murphy was off and running with a 46 before he missed a simple pink to the the centre pocket. To compond it there was still a red sitting over the top corner pocket. Inexpicably Pinches missed it and presented Murphy with the first frame on a silver platter.
With the match the best of nine it was imperative for Barry to stick close to Murphy - but he was to fall victim to the superior safety play of Murphy in frame 2 as stuck in baulk and hampered by the yellow he had to strike down on the cue ball. As the cue ball clattered into the reds Barry backed away from the table in horror at the chance he had left Shaun. Murphy with a gilt edged chance in at close range calmly knocked ina frame break of 67. 2-0 to the former world champion and Piches needed some help.
And it was to come in usual circumstances as Pinches in a tight spot in the third frame, and snookered on all colours following s shot to nothing needed to hit a colour -or he would leave Murphy in pole position. Spotting the edge of the black sticking out he just grazed the black before hitting the red.
Murphy disbelieving that Barry had dug himself out of a hole then just seemed to lose his concentration as he missed a simple red to allow Pinches his first real opportunity of the match. In at short range Pinches knew he had to make the most of it and the Norwich man made no mistake hitting a 109 break to keep him in match at 2-1.
Taking encouragement and heart from that century Barry was first in in frame four with a 33 break only to have to give way to safety as he lost position. With bits and pieces he managed to eke out a lead of 46-14 and was looking for an opportunity to level at 2-2 at the mid session interval. It came quickly as Shaun bungled a safety shot from baulk that left Barry in ideal position in the centre of the table with an easy starter of a straight red to the centre. He took it and mopped up with 36 to level at 2-2.
Murphy, no doubt furious with himself for letting a 2-0 lead slip returned with a look of steely determination on his face ad soon was on the march again as he powered in a long red and promptly rooted himself at the business end of the table. With reds open and in good position Murphy had the balls where he wanted them. He was to make 30 before a kick intervened. Murphy back in his seat and disgusted with his luck as Barry eyed up an inviting looking table. Powering in a short range red with plenty of screw he brought the black up into the centre of the table too. The black was very quickly back on its spot as Pinches went from the sublime to ridiculous as he jawed a thin snick on a red that was sitting on the top cushion in the jaws of the pocket. There was to be no let off for Barry this time as Murphy set about making Pinches pay for such an elementary miss. A break of 46 soon re-established Murphy's lead at 3-2.
Trailing 28-0 in the sixth frame Pinches needed to string some points together and took a chance on a mid length red to the "green" pocket. The red flew in and Pinches looked set for a sizeable break- until he jawed an easy red in the top corner pocket from along the side rail. Murphy stepped in with 24 only to break down on the blue and present Barry with a chance he thought he would not get. From it Pinches made 46- but in removing the final red from the safety of the cushion he ran out of position. Second prize though was the snooker Pinches was able to play- leaving Murphy up behind the black. Murphy's escape went badly wrong as the red moved towards the corner pocket with the white in close attendance after cannoning into the yellow. Pinches dispatched the red and yellow and then running out of position constructed a devilish snooker as he left the cue ball hidden behind the brown and the green up at the top end of the table. Murphy's escape saw him knock in the pink - and even worse he left Barry with a free ball. Pinches now led 76-52 and with only green, brown, blue, pink and black left- it fell to Pinches to claim the frame with blue and pink to level at 3-3. The bottom line was however much more worrying for Shaun - namely two golden chances thrown away - and he was now in a dogfight.
Pinches sensed Murphy was there for the taking and the lapse in concentration showed with a safety that went badly wrong leaving Murphy with a red to the centre for a kick off. He took it- followed it up with the yellow and then slammed into the pack of reds. The hard work done for him Murphy had little trouble in clearing up with 93 to put himself one up with two to play.
But if Shaun thought that he was on easy street now he had another think coming as Barry dropped in a long red that put in pole position around the black spot. The break though was to end on 40 when Barry ran out of position. Murphy counterd with 23 but then found himself involved in a safety battle as the scores showed 23-48. And it was Barry who erred as in taking on a long red he opened up the little cluster of reds- and worse still left Murphy with a golden chance to pinch the frame and claim victory. Still though he couldn't complete the job as he missed a match ball yellow on 43. With the colours in pottable positions the match was still in the melting pot. And it was only settled when Shaun's safety shot on the yellow was much too thicker contact and presented Barry with a chance to take the match into a decider which he did, clearing from yellow to blue.
So to the decider and after a tense safety battle Murphy carved out a chance with a dead weight plant to the centre from the top cushion. With the balls well placed all Murphy had to do was to hold his nerve and keep in good position. He was doomed to frustration though as he ran out of position on 33- but then put Barry in trouble with the cue ball tight up behind the black.
Barry's escape was inch perfect as he left Shaun tight on the baulk cushion. It forced an error from Shaun as Murphy's safety left a tempting red close to the top corner pocket. Dropping the ball in Barry suddenly had a chance- that was ended on 18 when he overscrewed the blue that left him out of position as the cliffhanging climax approached. Which way would the match swing.
After a brilliant plant to the centre Murphy looked set fair only to leave an easy red sitting in the jaws of the corner pocket. With the red sitting pretty Pinches dropped it in and made the most important 60 break of his twenty year career to send Murphy crashing and put himself into the draw for the second round.
Meanwhile Mark Allen was far from convincing in edging past Preston's Ian McCulloch 5-3.
Allen, a semi finalist at the world championship began nervously as he lost the opening frame to McCulloch but countered with a 71 in frame 2 and soon established a 3-1 lead at the mid session interval.
Resuming after the interval Allen trapped McCulloch in a vicious snooker from which he was to receive 14 penalty points. And with the balls situated on the left hand side of the table any sort of frame winning break was going to be difficult. McCulloch though benefitted from a sloppy safety from Mark and with great care put together a break of 51- only to twitch on the frame ball red. But with four remaining reds lodged on the cushion McCulloch soon completed the formalities by sinking the one red he needed to stay in contention.
Allen though was looking far from happy in the sixth frame as he let slip aa glorious chance when going nicely on 28 he missed a simple red to the corner. McCulloch countered with 73 that squared the match - and Ian was looking the more composed player.
To Allen's credit he refused to allow it to put him off as despite McCulloch having two chances in amongst the balls it was Mark who pieced together a break of 51 - only to miss the frame ball black. McCulloch thrown a lifeline needed the final red and the colours if he was going to steal the frame. And it was an agonising sight for Mark as Ian potted red to brown- was he about to steal the frame. The blue ball was pivotal - sitting near the corner pocket Ian saw it wobble in the jaws and rebound to what he thought was the safety of the side cushion. Too bad he didn't remember Mark's aptitude for doubles as Allen doubled the blue across the table into the centre pocket- heaving a sigh of relief in the process.
And it was to prove the sucker punch as Allen pieced together a break of 55 that ultimatley saw him to victory- leaving McCulloch with a long journey home to Preston reflecting on what might have been.
Suzy Jardine
Murphy, a semi finalist against Liang Wenbo at the Shanghai Masters was far from his best against Pinches, the world number 52 from Norwich, who has been a professional for 20 years.
And it was Pinches who had the first look at the table when he picked out a long red. The ball flew into the top corner pocket and Pinches made 29 before running out of position sent him scurrying for the safety of the baulk cushion. Pinches was to rue the the spurned opportunity as he was to lose a safety battle with Shaun. Left tucked up under the top cushion Murphy was in trouble and had no alternative but to try and pot his way out of trouble. As he looked around the table he spotted a red at the top of the cluster that would go into the centre pocket. Digging down on the cue ball the ball disappeared and Murphy was off and running with a 46 before he missed a simple pink to the the centre pocket. To compond it there was still a red sitting over the top corner pocket. Inexpicably Pinches missed it and presented Murphy with the first frame on a silver platter.
With the match the best of nine it was imperative for Barry to stick close to Murphy - but he was to fall victim to the superior safety play of Murphy in frame 2 as stuck in baulk and hampered by the yellow he had to strike down on the cue ball. As the cue ball clattered into the reds Barry backed away from the table in horror at the chance he had left Shaun. Murphy with a gilt edged chance in at close range calmly knocked ina frame break of 67. 2-0 to the former world champion and Piches needed some help.
And it was to come in usual circumstances as Pinches in a tight spot in the third frame, and snookered on all colours following s shot to nothing needed to hit a colour -or he would leave Murphy in pole position. Spotting the edge of the black sticking out he just grazed the black before hitting the red.
Murphy disbelieving that Barry had dug himself out of a hole then just seemed to lose his concentration as he missed a simple red to allow Pinches his first real opportunity of the match. In at short range Pinches knew he had to make the most of it and the Norwich man made no mistake hitting a 109 break to keep him in match at 2-1.
Taking encouragement and heart from that century Barry was first in in frame four with a 33 break only to have to give way to safety as he lost position. With bits and pieces he managed to eke out a lead of 46-14 and was looking for an opportunity to level at 2-2 at the mid session interval. It came quickly as Shaun bungled a safety shot from baulk that left Barry in ideal position in the centre of the table with an easy starter of a straight red to the centre. He took it and mopped up with 36 to level at 2-2.
Murphy, no doubt furious with himself for letting a 2-0 lead slip returned with a look of steely determination on his face ad soon was on the march again as he powered in a long red and promptly rooted himself at the business end of the table. With reds open and in good position Murphy had the balls where he wanted them. He was to make 30 before a kick intervened. Murphy back in his seat and disgusted with his luck as Barry eyed up an inviting looking table. Powering in a short range red with plenty of screw he brought the black up into the centre of the table too. The black was very quickly back on its spot as Pinches went from the sublime to ridiculous as he jawed a thin snick on a red that was sitting on the top cushion in the jaws of the pocket. There was to be no let off for Barry this time as Murphy set about making Pinches pay for such an elementary miss. A break of 46 soon re-established Murphy's lead at 3-2.
Trailing 28-0 in the sixth frame Pinches needed to string some points together and took a chance on a mid length red to the "green" pocket. The red flew in and Pinches looked set for a sizeable break- until he jawed an easy red in the top corner pocket from along the side rail. Murphy stepped in with 24 only to break down on the blue and present Barry with a chance he thought he would not get. From it Pinches made 46- but in removing the final red from the safety of the cushion he ran out of position. Second prize though was the snooker Pinches was able to play- leaving Murphy up behind the black. Murphy's escape went badly wrong as the red moved towards the corner pocket with the white in close attendance after cannoning into the yellow. Pinches dispatched the red and yellow and then running out of position constructed a devilish snooker as he left the cue ball hidden behind the brown and the green up at the top end of the table. Murphy's escape saw him knock in the pink - and even worse he left Barry with a free ball. Pinches now led 76-52 and with only green, brown, blue, pink and black left- it fell to Pinches to claim the frame with blue and pink to level at 3-3. The bottom line was however much more worrying for Shaun - namely two golden chances thrown away - and he was now in a dogfight.
Pinches sensed Murphy was there for the taking and the lapse in concentration showed with a safety that went badly wrong leaving Murphy with a red to the centre for a kick off. He took it- followed it up with the yellow and then slammed into the pack of reds. The hard work done for him Murphy had little trouble in clearing up with 93 to put himself one up with two to play.
But if Shaun thought that he was on easy street now he had another think coming as Barry dropped in a long red that put in pole position around the black spot. The break though was to end on 40 when Barry ran out of position. Murphy counterd with 23 but then found himself involved in a safety battle as the scores showed 23-48. And it was Barry who erred as in taking on a long red he opened up the little cluster of reds- and worse still left Murphy with a golden chance to pinch the frame and claim victory. Still though he couldn't complete the job as he missed a match ball yellow on 43. With the colours in pottable positions the match was still in the melting pot. And it was only settled when Shaun's safety shot on the yellow was much too thicker contact and presented Barry with a chance to take the match into a decider which he did, clearing from yellow to blue.
So to the decider and after a tense safety battle Murphy carved out a chance with a dead weight plant to the centre from the top cushion. With the balls well placed all Murphy had to do was to hold his nerve and keep in good position. He was doomed to frustration though as he ran out of position on 33- but then put Barry in trouble with the cue ball tight up behind the black.
Barry's escape was inch perfect as he left Shaun tight on the baulk cushion. It forced an error from Shaun as Murphy's safety left a tempting red close to the top corner pocket. Dropping the ball in Barry suddenly had a chance- that was ended on 18 when he overscrewed the blue that left him out of position as the cliffhanging climax approached. Which way would the match swing.
After a brilliant plant to the centre Murphy looked set fair only to leave an easy red sitting in the jaws of the corner pocket. With the red sitting pretty Pinches dropped it in and made the most important 60 break of his twenty year career to send Murphy crashing and put himself into the draw for the second round.
Meanwhile Mark Allen was far from convincing in edging past Preston's Ian McCulloch 5-3.
Allen, a semi finalist at the world championship began nervously as he lost the opening frame to McCulloch but countered with a 71 in frame 2 and soon established a 3-1 lead at the mid session interval.
Resuming after the interval Allen trapped McCulloch in a vicious snooker from which he was to receive 14 penalty points. And with the balls situated on the left hand side of the table any sort of frame winning break was going to be difficult. McCulloch though benefitted from a sloppy safety from Mark and with great care put together a break of 51- only to twitch on the frame ball red. But with four remaining reds lodged on the cushion McCulloch soon completed the formalities by sinking the one red he needed to stay in contention.
Allen though was looking far from happy in the sixth frame as he let slip aa glorious chance when going nicely on 28 he missed a simple red to the corner. McCulloch countered with 73 that squared the match - and Ian was looking the more composed player.
To Allen's credit he refused to allow it to put him off as despite McCulloch having two chances in amongst the balls it was Mark who pieced together a break of 51 - only to miss the frame ball black. McCulloch thrown a lifeline needed the final red and the colours if he was going to steal the frame. And it was an agonising sight for Mark as Ian potted red to brown- was he about to steal the frame. The blue ball was pivotal - sitting near the corner pocket Ian saw it wobble in the jaws and rebound to what he thought was the safety of the side cushion. Too bad he didn't remember Mark's aptitude for doubles as Allen doubled the blue across the table into the centre pocket- heaving a sigh of relief in the process.
And it was to prove the sucker punch as Allen pieced together a break of 55 that ultimatley saw him to victory- leaving McCulloch with a long journey home to Preston reflecting on what might have been.
Suzy Jardine
Comment