Welsh Open 2012 (the qualifiers) - Day 3

A good start for Stevie and Kenny

The penultimate day of the Welsh Open qualifiers saw the majority of the Chinese players losing the chance to perform in a few days in Newport as Cao Yupeng, Liu Chuang and Xiao Guodong were defeated, the same thing happening for India's last ambassador in the Welsh race, Lucky Vatnani.

The "Asian" team took a very good start, but the again, it always does. Still, somehow along the way they start losing one frame, then two and when you least expect it, they lose the match. 

That's what happened with Cao Yupeng who was defeated 4-2 by Scotland's Jamie Burnett, but also to Liu Chuang who was hammered 4-1 by Matthew Selt and Xiao Guodong who lost a very close battle of cues against Mike Dunn, 4-3.

Master Steve Davis ended Indian Lucky Vatnani's race after a very tough match finished on a 4-3 result, while the Irishman Ken Doherty whitewashed Rod Lawler for a place in tomorrow's round where he's meeting Jamie Cope.

Still, not every legend ended its day victoriously, Jimmy White facing a very tough opponent in the person of Ian McCulloch who beat him 4-2.

A very important victory was obtained by Kurt Maflin, Norway’s snooker ambassador kneeling down Robert Milkins 4-0, Dave Harold continued his good run by exiting Alan McManus 4-3, while the youngster Sam Baird did the same against last year's Shoot-Out champion, Nigel Bond.

Below you can check Day Three list of results:

10am
27 Liang Wenbo 4 - 1 David Gilbert
28 Jamie Burnett 4 - 2 Cao Yupeng
29 Michael Holt 4 - 3 Alfie Burden
30 Jimmy White 2 - 4 Ian McCulloch
31 Joe Jogia 0 - 4 Mark Joyce
32 Steve Davis 4 - 3 Lucky Vatnani

2.30pm
33 Ken Doherty 4 - 0 Rod Lawler
34 Rob Milkins 0 - 4 Kurt Maflin
35 Anthony Hamilton 1 - 4 Andy Hicks
36 Matthew Selt 4 - 1 Liu Chuang
37 Alan McManus 3 - 4 Dave Harold

7pm
38 Mike Dunn 4 - 3 Xiao Guodong
39 Jamie Jones 1 - 4 Adam Wicheard
40 Gerard Greene 4 - 2 Anthony McGill
41 Jack Lisowski 2 - 4 Adam Duffy
42 Nigel Bond 3 - 4 Sam Baird
Tomorrow marks the last day of the Welsh Open qualifiers, in the evening the names of the 14 players who are going to Newport being no longer a secret. I say 14 and not 16 because two qualifying matches are taking place at the Newport venue before the main event kicks off.

Below you can see Day 4 match schedule:

10am
43 Rory McLeod v. Liang Wenbo
44 Mark Davis v. Jamie Burnett
46 Tom Ford v. Ian McCulloch
47 Andrew Higginson v. Mark Joyce
48 Ricky Walden v. Steve Davis

2.30pm
49 Jamie Cope v. Ken Doherty
50 Stephen Hendry v. Kurt Maflin
51 Joe Perry v. Andy Hicks
52 Marco Fu v. Matthew Selt
53 Mark King v. Dave Harold

7pm
54 Fergal O'Brien v. Mike Dunn
55 Marcus Campbell v. Adam Wicheard
56 Barry Hawkins v. Gerard Greene
57 Peter Ebdon v. Adam Duffy
*all hours are UK time

Please keep in mind that each session is having two matches being broadcasted live on www.sportlemon.tv