UK Championship (2011) - Day 2

Brilliant performance from the world number one, Selby

The second day of this year's UK Championship, although was also spiced with some flukes here and there, has had also a big surprise: the first upset of this tournament, performed by Marco Fu, who beat Stuart Bingham 6-4.

The first whitewash of the competition was also recorded during the second day, the author being the world number one, Mark Selby, who beat the Welshman Ryan Day 6-0, while Ronnie O'Sullivan hammered the one and only Steve Davis 6-1 for a safe place in the Last 16. 

The day started with a match that didn't last too long. And why should it last? Why? When Mark Selby was practically on fire and was hitting the ball so smoothly? 
On the other hand, his opponent Ryan Day was doomed to stay in his chair. A few opportunities here and there were missed manly because he didn't have too much time table and so the only thing he could wish for was for this match to end very soon.

Unlucky Day

Although the opening frame was a pretty scrappy one, Selby managed to take it with two tiny breaks of 26, while the ones that followed saw the Leicester beast unleashed. Series of 86, 111, 90 and 69 were hit in order to extend his lead at 5-0 over the Welshman, while a 39 sealed the match at 6-0. Selby was landing safely into the Last 16.


At table number two this year's Australian Goldfield Open, Stuart Bingham was facing the runner-up of this year's Masters, Marco Fu. And we were in for quite a surprise!


The mid-session interval found Bingham in charge of the match's faith leading Fu 3-1 by hitting in breaks of 41, 48, 94 and a brilliant 128. However, things started to change dramatically when the lads retuned into the arena, for Fu fought back.

Marcu Fu causes the 1st upset of the tournament

A 76 was enough to pull back one frame, the second one being cashed after the Hong Kong resident went through agony and ecstasy. He was pretty sure to clinch the frame when he touched the yellow ball with his sleeve by mistake, this meaning that Stuart was coming back to the table. Fortunately for Fu, the Englishman missed to pot a brown and so the equality appeared on the scoreboard, 3-3.


Runs of 55 and 96 were used by Marco to extend his lead at 5-3, while Stuart only managed to hit an 81 in the hope of performing a comeback. But it didn't happen as Fu used a series of 31, 23 and 22 to close the battle of cues in his favour, 6-4.
The first upset of the tournament!

Bingham's UK Championship dream ends here

The after-noon session brought the match we all have been waiting for: Ronnie O'Sullivan v. Steve Davis.
It wasn't by all means a blast from the past, but some really cracking shots were being played along with some tremendous safety shots battles.


The first who broke the ice was Davis whose fluked red permitted him to get a 54 break and take the opener. However, O'Sullivan drew level with the first occasion and from that point on the battle seemed like a one-way-street.
A top break of 123 was putting "The Rocket" 3-1 in the lead at the interval, while runs of 97, 35, 32 53 and 62 were signing his passport for a Last 16 place with a 6-1 final result.

O'Sullivan didn't disappoint his fans

But if O'Sullivan found no trouble into taking a great start for the UK Championship, not the same can be said about Ali Carter.
The Captain struggled in the match he played against Robert Milkins, losing his grip more than once. Still, in the end, a series of 82, 66 and 53 secured him a 6-4 victory and a place in the Last 16.

The evening session saw a very determined Martin Gould taking charge of the match played with Peter Lines. 
The 2011 Power Snooker champion was leading his opponent 3-1 at the interval, a result, that in all due honesty, was obtained after some pretty scrappy frames. But that was going to chance as the lads returned into the arena.

Unfortunately, Davis returns to commentry

By firing in breaks of 123, 69 and 27 Gould extended his lead all the way to reaching the next round, beating Peter Lines 6-2. "The Pinner Potter" was flying.

At the near table, the one who's meeting Gould in the Last 16, Shaun Murphy, was beating China's Li Yan after a very "tormented" match, 6-3.
Although at the interval the lads were all square up at 2-2, Murphy hitting breaks of 50 and 53, while Yan used a 95 to cause the current scoreline, the 2005 world champion wasn't by all means in a very good form.

Shaun Murphy manages to clinch a place in the Last 16

However, as the break was over he found a bit of fluency by hitting in runs of 89 and 52 to extend his lead at 4-2. Yan pulled one back with a bit of help from a 53, but Murphy responded with a set of 38, 58 and 67 to win the battle of cues by 6-3.

A very hard fought victory by a player that definitely needs to improve his game if he wants to stand a chance at the title.

Here are Day 2 list of results:


Tomorrow, the action continues with:

12.30pm

7pm
*all hours are UK time

TV coverage: