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Ssb - the final weekend
The quarter-finals of the 12bet.com World Open feature seven ranking event winners, three more than at the Shanghai Masters.
The quarter-finalists in this 'lottery' tournament have previously appeared in the last eight of a ranking event 235 times. It's a field brimming with quality and should be a cracking weekend.
The one unfamiliar face is Martin Gould but he has fully earned his place after a typically all guns blazing performance last night, taking the game to Stephen Lee.
Gould should play the same way against Peter Ebdon rather than allow the 2002 world champion to dictate the pace and style of match.
Ebdon hasn't played particularly well yet but has relied on his legendary fighting qualities. Even they may not be enough if Gould finds his range, although he will need to keep the nerves at bay.
First up is Ding Junhui v Mark Williams, a repeat of last season's China Open final in which Williams reminded everyone just why he was such a dominant world no.1.
Tonight it's Ronnie O'Sullivan against Stephen Maguire, who needs to keep a lid on his frustration if things start to go wrong.
This is a huge night for Maguire. He knows that someone in his position in the rankings needs to be beating the top players with greater regularity.
There would be no better scalp than O'Sullivan in Maguire's home city of Glasgow.
Ronnie joked that it was 'all downhill from here' after the 147 and victories over Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry.
But there is sure to be a great atmosphere this evening when he tackles the local man.
I thought Neil Robertson was superb under pressure last night in repelling the challenge of Andrew Higginson.
In the third frame he produced a world champion's clearance and potted several pressure balls after that to earn his quarter-final place.
Ricky Walden also played well against Jamie Cope, but Robertson's safety game is better than Cope's and this could be a decisive factor.
Crowds have picked up at the SECC as the week has gone on and I sense that the World Open has been a popular addition to the calendar.
Let's hope it's a grandstand finish this weekend.
More...
The quarter-finalists in this 'lottery' tournament have previously appeared in the last eight of a ranking event 235 times. It's a field brimming with quality and should be a cracking weekend.
The one unfamiliar face is Martin Gould but he has fully earned his place after a typically all guns blazing performance last night, taking the game to Stephen Lee.
Gould should play the same way against Peter Ebdon rather than allow the 2002 world champion to dictate the pace and style of match.
Ebdon hasn't played particularly well yet but has relied on his legendary fighting qualities. Even they may not be enough if Gould finds his range, although he will need to keep the nerves at bay.
First up is Ding Junhui v Mark Williams, a repeat of last season's China Open final in which Williams reminded everyone just why he was such a dominant world no.1.
Tonight it's Ronnie O'Sullivan against Stephen Maguire, who needs to keep a lid on his frustration if things start to go wrong.
This is a huge night for Maguire. He knows that someone in his position in the rankings needs to be beating the top players with greater regularity.
There would be no better scalp than O'Sullivan in Maguire's home city of Glasgow.
Ronnie joked that it was 'all downhill from here' after the 147 and victories over Jimmy White and Stephen Hendry.
But there is sure to be a great atmosphere this evening when he tackles the local man.
I thought Neil Robertson was superb under pressure last night in repelling the challenge of Andrew Higginson.
In the third frame he produced a world champion's clearance and potted several pressure balls after that to earn his quarter-final place.
Ricky Walden also played well against Jamie Cope, but Robertson's safety game is better than Cope's and this could be a decisive factor.
Crowds have picked up at the SECC as the week has gone on and I sense that the World Open has been a popular addition to the calendar.
Let's hope it's a grandstand finish this weekend.
More...