PTC9: World Finalists Through To Last 16

Day two of the professional stages of the PTC9 event from Antwerp today and it was a good day for this year’s Crucible finalists John Higgins and Judd Trump who were among the eight to progress. Click below for more…

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First man through to the last 16 this evening was reigning world champion John Higgins who saw off Matt Couch, Ashley Wright and then old rival Ken Doherty to progress. Tomorrow he will meet Mike Dunn in the first televised match of the after after Mike recorded impressive wins against Mark Williams, Jimmy Robertson and Jamie Cope. Lying outside of the provisional top 48 coming into this event, Dunn has delivered his best run of the season at just the right time to lift himself back up into that bracket at the time of writing.

The winner could well face Judd Trump after the China Open champion defeated Martin O’Donnell and Craig Steadman before somehow coming through a thriller with Jimmy White this evening to stay in the competition. At times during the latter match it looked like Judd would be heading home but crucial misses from Jimmy in frames three and six would eventually cost the Whirlwind dear and Trump was able to squeeze through.

Next up for him will be a match with Leicester’s Tom Ford, who picked up from where he left off in Gloucester earlier in the week with David Grace, Rory McLeod and Fergal O’Brien.

It was not such a good day for another man from Leicester however as world number one Mark Selby slipped to a 4-1 defeat against Andy Hicks, his second defeat against a player who will shortly be undertaking a parachute jump for various charities. Anyone wishing to sponsor Andy please contact me at my usual email address or by leaving a comment here.

Andy will now meet Martin Gould who consolidated his position inside the top 16 with victories against Joe Swail, Paul Davison and Dominic Dale.

Finally through are Aditya Mehta and Matthew Stevens who will meet tomorrow for a place in the quarter-finals. Well done to Aditya in particular who withstood a strong comeback from Mark Joyce earlier in the day before eventually winning a decider.