NI Trophy last 32 discussion

[Robert602]

Following The Statman's suggestion I thought we might try separate threads for each round, so here is the place to discuss the last 32 (second round) matches of the NI Trophy.

Matches today (tuesday):
13.00
Stephen Maguire v Michael Holt
Neil Robertson v Ian McCulloch
Graeme Dott v Dave Harold
Not before 15.00
Shaun Murphy v Mark Williams
Peter Ebdon v Liang Wenbo
Mark King v Alan McManus
19.30
Mark Allen v Dominic Dale
Stephen Hendry v Stephen Lee

Currently underway is Maguire - Holt. Holt has just taken the second frame to level the match, after some interesting twists and turns on the colours.

[crucible77]

Great Idea!

Current scores
Stephen Maguire v Michael Holt 1-1 (looks like going 2-1 to Maguire)
Neil Robertson v Ian McCulloch 0-1
Graeme Dott v Dave Harold 0-1 (Looks like going 1-1)

Wouldnt be surprised if Graeme Dott lost to Dave Harold after last seasons form


EDIT:
Stephen Maguire v Michael Holt 3-1
Neil Robertson v Ian McCulloch 2-1
Graeme Dott v Dave Harold 2-1

[Ekphantos]

Wouldnt be surprised if Graeme Dott lost to Dave Harold after last seasons form

Well, his lack of form was due to personal problems mainly, so hopefully he has managed to overcome them by now.

[Robert602]

Maguire took the third frame with a single scoring visit to lead 2-1.

Holt is in first in the fourth, on a break of 25 with the pack split about to come...

Played the split very well indeed off a thin blue, sent reds everywhere but I don't think he's on anything easy...

He wasn't, but he's put the cueball tight on the baulk cushion for Maguire...

A couple of safety shots before Holt's long shot to nothing finds its target, unfortunately the white also finds the green pocket. Maguire fails to capitalise though, missing a fairly easy long red to leave Holt in...

Holt misses, putting a middle distance red on the near jaw when only needing red and colour. The five reds are scattered but all available as Maguire comes to the table 61-4 behind.

And despite a few careless positional shots Maguire clears with 58 to take the frame by a point. 3-1 at the interval.

[Mal]

Great Idea!

Wouldnt be surprised if Graeme Dott lost to Dave Harold after last seasons form

I wouldn't be surprised either, although he did beat John Higgins and Shaun Murphy to win the 'prestigious!' World Series in Berlin last month. I do have Harold to win though!

[Robert602]

Another high quality frame in the Maguire-Holt match. Some great safety including half a dozen tight snookers behind the yellow for both players. Finally came down to a long black ball safety exchange, which Maguire eventually settled by doubling the black in. 4-1.

Maguire now in first in frame 6, break of 14 so far and in a good position.

Meanwhile Dott is 3-1 up on Harold and Robertson-McCulloch are level at the interval.

[Ekphantos]

Quite a nice match (at least the parts I have seen), too bad it seems to be over soon... Holt plays better than the score line suggests

[Robert602]

Yes, it's been very enjoyable. Fluent snooker mixed with some interesting safety battles, but it's never been scrappy.

Maguire wins the match with a 127 clearance to pink. It hasn't been one sided by any means though, Holt's held his own and it could've been much closer.

[Monique]

Yes Robert. I'm a bit sorry for Holty because the score does no reflect how hard he made Mags work ... Very enjoyable match.

[Robert602]

They've just done the interviews on TG4. Not much said, they both agreed 5-1 didn't really reflect the match. Apparently this was their first meeting since 1999, though they played each other quite a bit as juniors when Michael usually had the better of Stephen.

Williams-Murphy up next on the main table. Hoping for a good one.

[Robert602]

Williams-Murphy has begun, Tabb refereeing.

After a few opening safeties Mark starts brightly with a good long red. Now on a break of 24...

But in splitting the pack off the blue he's knocked the pink in. The reds haven't moved much but there is one starter for Murphy.

Murphy makes 7, splits the reds off the black and lands nicely on one to the middle. Good chance now...

However, a surprising missed black off the spot for Murphy on 36 lets Williams right back in...

Mark pots the last red but runs slightly out of position. He has the option of an easy snooker or long blue but tries to cut the green back into the yellow pocket. Misses, but leaves the pocket covered. Murphy replies with a snooker (scores now 54-42 to Williams)...

Murphy has the first chance at a long yellow but misses and leaves a lucky snooker. Mark hits it and sends the yellow safely by the green, which is still covering the yellow pocket.

More safeties and Murphy plays a telling one. White in behind the blue, yellow very close to that green. He'll do well to hit this and not knock the green in and leave the yellow in it's place. Three misses so far. Gets it with the fourth attempt though, a deft glance off two side cushions to leave everything safe. Two shots later though Murphy has a tough cut yellow to go at, gets it and the easy green, almost snookers himself on the brown but knocks it in. Misses the pink, Mark comes to the table needing one snooker but leaves a shot at the pink and Murphy finishes it off. 54-78, first frame to Murphy.

[João]

Strange language they speak @ TG4.

[Robert602]

Strange language they speak @ TG4.

That would be Irish .

Second frame in progress, Mark knocks in a long red off Shaun's break, yellow, another longish red, brown and now he's in amongst them...

24 but the split off the black doesn't go well and Mark is forced to play safe. Murphy knocks a red over the corner but gets a lucky cover with the brown and Mark isn't happy. Mark tries to return the cueball to a similar position but leaves the red on and now Murphy is in...

But another surprising miss from Shaun, a straight middle distance red and he breaks down on 12. Unbelievably the black is cannoned across the table to block the two available reds and Mark only as a safety...

A few shots later Mark has a chance at a relatively easy long red but misses it, his worst miss so far. Murphy is left right in them, reds everywhere. Scores now 24-28 in Murphy's favour and he'd be disappointed not to win the frame from here...

But Murphy misses an easy red again . All there for Mark now...

Mark makes 37 but the white pulls up a little short for a red on the side cushion and he misses it with the rest. Murphy is in with one red over the pocket, one tricky one on the side cushion and the colours almost on their spots. Murphy plays a good positional shot off the blue, gets on the one tough red and knocks it in. Just the colours needed...

But he's snookered himself on the green! Hits it off the side cushion but leaves it on for Mark and he get's it. Middle distance frame ball brown safely in. Looks like 1-1...

Indeed it is. Mark takes it 79-42.

[spike]

Keep up the good work Robert602

[João]

lol, the commentators seem to be laughing at every Murphy's mistake.