Welsh Open 2012 (Day 2) - Hendry shows class in Newport

He's still a killer - Stephen Hendry

The second day for the Welsh Open competition brought another upset, Stephen Hendry beating the current Masters champion Neil Robertson 4-1 in order to qualify in the Last 16.

Also through to the next round, Mark Williams prevailed in front of Andy Hicks by 4-3, "Bulldog" Stephen Lee hammered Michael Holt 4-1, while world number one, Mark Selby just squeezed through the door of victory by beating Sam Baird 4-3.

If the first day saw the legendary Steve Davis earning a nice and cosy place in the next round, today it was Stephen Hendry’s turn.
The Scottish player who has won no less than seven world titles in his portfolio used breaks of 62, 67 and 86 in order to overcome Neil Robertson’s 135 clearance from frame two and beat him 4-1.

An early exit for the Masters champion, Neil Robertson

The most tense moment of the match was during frame three, when Hendry was unlucky to stop his break at just 26 after potting the pink along with one of the loose reds. 

Robbo made the most of this chance and hit a great 52 break but after several safety shots and a missed brown, Hendry was collecting the last 22 points off the table to force a re-spotted black as the scoreline was 66-66.

Although Hendry hasn't won one of those in quite some time now, a perfect double brought him the second frame of the match, the next two just coming as natural as it can be.

The Welsh Potting Machine needs some repairs

The local star, Welshman Mark Williams was sadly nowhere near at his best. Seems like the Welsh Potting Machine needs some time in the workshop, because he almost missed to qualify for the Last 16. 

Even though Williams and Hicks weren't separated by more than one frame all the match, the Englishman was always the one to put his nose in front.

Still, Williams woke up just in time to win the last frame with a top break of 58 and get a place in the next round where he's going to meet with the winner of O'Sullivan v. Fu match.

On the other hand, Stephen Lee found no trouble whatsoever to send home Michael Holt 4-1 by using breaks of 59, 29, 24 and 22. It wasn't a top class match but the result showed clearly who dominated it, Lee meeting Tom Ford in the Last 16 round.

Both Stuart Bingham and Martin Gould ended their day with a 4-2 victory, Stu seeing off Mark King by hitting in breaks of 45, 74, 86, 25 and 27, while Gouldie defeated Ebdon after firing in runs of 99, 82 and 73.

Stuggling Selby gets a Last 16 spot

Last to end the second day of  the Welsh competition were world number one, Mark Selby and the lad that made his TV debut in Newport, Sam Baird.

Although Selby struggled from the very first beginning of the match, Baird playing a lot better, the Leicester-man managed to force a decider  and win it after quite a battle.

Baird, who had the last qualifying match just the day before, used breaks of 39, 59, 64 and 85 to get three frames under his belt, but Selby's experience won him scrappy affaires and most of all, the one that made the difference: the seventh frame with just two break of 22 points each.

Day Three match schedule:

1pm

NB 2pm

7pm
*all hours are UK time

TV coverage: