Ryan Day v Matthew Stevens - Quarter Final

[montoya10]

So, a thread for a match that hasn't even started yet is out there and nothing for this one?

Both of them are cueing well. Day is on his way to a second successive century.

[breakman16]

Great quality stuff, think this match could be very close!!

[gazza147]

Yes Ryan has had 2 Centuries in 2 Frames Great Start for him.

I fancy Matthew to Win this 13-11 if he can keep his Cool which he hasnt done for awhile!

[Mr Snooker]

Ryan did excellent to beat Ding in the deciding frame from behind and had an smooth path to Q/F by beating Cao Yu Peng but Ryan and Matthew are the best of friends as well hard one to call but Ryan as not had a good season and slip down the rankings the last couple of years 13-9 Matthew for me this one

[breakman16]

I fancy Matthew for this, a bit of experience may be the difference, could be quite close though, Ryan Day is playing very well from what I know, though I havent watched any of it yet!

[breakman16]

Stevens needs to win one of the next 2 frames to get out of the session 3-5 down at worst, Day's been playing well though, the match should be evenly poised after one session!!

[breakman16]

Very good Matthew, nice start to a frame he badly needs to win!

[Odrl]

I ran out of time this morning, so couldn't post a short preview of this match, but for the record, I would have predicted Stevens to win 13-11.

I think it's a similar situation to the 2011 Welsh Open, although the stakes are obviously much higher. Stevens and Day met in the 2nd round that time, only a best-of-7 match, but it was a fairly rare 2nd round appearance for both of them, with an even rarer QF place to play for. The reward is much better this time, the semi-finals of the World Championship.

Stevens is certainly used to playing at the business end at the Crucible, although it's been a while since his last really good run. He has been the better player of the two in the last couple of seasons, always lurking just inside the top16, but not really challenging for any major titles. I think he is back to somewhere near his best in this tournament though, with lots of high breaks over 80, and some centuries thrown in as well. He certainly has the firepower to compete in the rest of the tournament. Does he have the mental strength? Well, he wasted one good chance to beat Hawkins in the 2nd round, but took his second one when it came around. He is not facing a particularly renowned pressure player here, so he should definitely hold his own. I think he also has a better tactical game than Day, if it comes to that at all, because I expect a fairly quick and open game, with some one-visit exchanges, and not that much scrappy stuff, at least not until the pressure is really on.

I think Day's game is very similar, good breakbuilding rhythm this week (or last week rather), a high percentage from distance, and a surprisingly strong performance under pressure against Ding. He won't want to get involved in anything too tactical, and as I said, I don't expect it to go that way here. I missed the first session, except for the last few balls of the final frame, but it looks like Day had a bit more firepower than Stevens on the day. If that's the pattern of the match, he should prevail. But as we've often seen in these session matches, it can easily turn around in the other guy's favour.

Perhaps silly to stick with my initial prediction now that Stevens has gone behind, but I still have the feeling he is a frame or two stronger. We shall see.

[montoya10]

The way Matthew has been cueing in this tournament, it's definitely a far-fetched opinion to write him off should he make it to the semis. He hasn't won the finals he had the chance to win, but he was never completely outplayed by any means in any of those matches.
I think he will just edge out Day and will have something to say in the semi-finals, as well.

[breakman16]

Well played Stevens, he needed the first frame there!!

[breakman16]

Great start for Stevens, hard match on now!!

[Masterdoctorgenius]

look how one frame can change the match, regardlees how long the format is

ryan didnt forget the 8th frame which he should have won to be 6-2 up

now that missed chance comes right to haunt u

i fear for ronnie a lot now

[Masterdoctorgenius]

after being 5-2 and having the chance to be 6-2

ryan finds himself 5-7 down

[breakman16]

well played Matthew, in control now, strange how players get on runs of frames at the Crucible!

[Masterdoctorgenius]

8-5 stevens

no doubt which frame will hunt day after his loss