Following a good week of snooker both in Leeds and Kaohsiung, we are now down to just two players in each tournament. Click below to read who they are and how they got there…
English Open
The final of the 2009 English Open will be contested by world number 21 Stuart Bingham and fellow professional Simon Bedford after both managed to come through three matches today to keep their hopes alive.
For Stuart it was a fairly straightforward day as he defeated Peter Lines, Michael Holt and the impressive amateur Gary Wilson to reach the final without being taken to a deciding frame finish. After his impressive performance last night in his last 32 matches it was apparent that he was going to be a tough man to beat and so it has proved so far.
Simon meanwhile had it rather tougher as his last 16 clash with Tony Drago went all the way to a deciding frame before he managed to come through 5-4. Next up was another pro in the shape of Chris Norbury and at 3-1 down it was not looking too good but he was able to rally to take the next four and move into there semi-finals. There he faced another strong amateur in Robbie Williams who again played well, but it was not to be for him and it is Bedford who went through 5-3.
To view all of the scores from the day, please click here.
World Games
Apologies for my less than comprehensive coverage on the World Games this week, unfortunately the tournament over in Leeds has taken much of my attention but I can say that the final will be contested today between Nigel Bond and David Grace.
As the most experienced professional in the competition some might have expected Nigel to progress quite comfortably but it has been anything but over the last two days as he has been taken to deciding frames by both Thepchaiya Un-nooh and Mohammed Shebab. Nigel is no stranger to a tight finish however and he managed to win both to set up what should be a good final between himself and Grace who dropped off the tour at the end of last season.
Irish Open
Finally the last two days have also seen the group stages of the Lucan Racing Irish Classic played to a conclusion as Ken Doherty and David Morris, the 2008 and 2007 winners, have failed to progress to the semi-finals.
Through in impressive style however is tour newcomer Brendan O’Donoghue who won each of his matches to top Group two and join the experienced trio of Joe Swail, Fergal O’Brien and Michael Judge in tomorrow’s last four.
For the full results, please click here.