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Summary
News Snippets of the 2007 Welsh Open Snooker Tournament from Newport Wales. Holding links to the full match reports.
Robertson wins epic Welsh final
18th Febraury 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07
Australia's Neil Robertson withstood a superb fightback from Andrew Higginson to win the Welsh Open final 9-8. Robertson went into the match as a heavy favourite against the unranked Englishman and raced into a 6-2 lead. But Higginson hit back with a series of big breaks to move to 8-6 ahead and within sight of a stunning win. However, Grand Prix winner Robertson held his nerve with breaks of 92 and 59 to force a deciding frame and took it with two visits to the table. "At 6-2 Andrew's arm was loose," said Robertson afterwards. "He probably thought he had nothing to lose and the way he played in the next six frames was breathtaking.
Robertson and Higginson in final
17th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07 
Australian Neil Robertson ended Steve Davis's hopes of a first ranking title in 12 years by winning their Welsh Open semi-final on Saturday. Robertson came through 6-3 to set up a final against Andrew Higginson, who later beat Stephen Maguire 6-3. After the first two frames were shared, Robertson took control with breaks of 70, 109 and 79. Davis stayed in touch with efforts of 74 and 91 but Robertson wrapped up the win in frame nine.
Andrew Higginson knocked in a maximum 147 break as he powered to a 5-1 win over Ali Carter.
16th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07
Higginson's was only the third 147 in the tournament's 15-year-history and he will now face either Stephen Maguire or Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals. The 29-year-old, who has earned less than £70,000 in prize-money during his 12-year career, will take home £20,000 for the second-frame break. "I've made dozens of 147s in practice but never in a competition of any sort. It's quite a stage to make your first," said Higginson. "After the last black, I was shaking like a leaf."
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veteran Steve Davis, beat Anthony Hamilton 5-4. Six-time world champion Davis recovered from 3-0 and 4-3 down to edge out Hamilton.
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Shaun Murphy sprinted into a 3 - 0 lead only for Maguire to come back taking the next 5 frames in a row showing some brilliant snooker we all know he's capable of.
O'Sullivan suffers Welsh defeat
16th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07 Australian Neil Robertson staged a late fightback to knock Ronnie O'Sullivan out in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open in Newport. Robertson was 4-3 down in the best-of-nine match but then hit a 124 break to force a deciding frame, which the Australian won 74-45 for a 5-4 win.
O'Sullivan eases through in Wales
15th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07 
Ronnie O'Sullivan moved into the Welsh Open quarter-finals with a comfortable 5-1 win against Mark Selby. O'Sullivan, who vowed to rebuild his game despite thrashing Ian McCulloch on Wednesday, has turned to coach Frank Adamson to help regain his best form. "I can't afford to go to the World Championships just hoping that my game is there," said O'Sullivan, who now faces Neil Robertson.
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Robertson was too strong for Stephen Hendry, beating the seven-time world champion 5-3.
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Steve Davis rolled back the years to knock out world champion Graeme Dott. Davis won 5-3 and revealed he needed to go and find a bed after checking out of his hotel on Thursday morning because he assumed he would lose.
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Andrew Higginson was too strong for Michael Judge and his 5-1 win means he now faces Ali Carter, who fought back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Nigel Bond 5-4.
---------------------------------- Shaun Murphy defeated Jamie Burnett 5-4 and goes on to meet Stephen Maguire, who was a 5-3 winner over Ken Doherty.
Magic Murphy sets century record
14th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07 
Shaun Murphy set a record in his comfortable 5-0 win over Jamie Cope in the second round of the Welsh Open. He became the first player in the 31-year history of 201 world ranking tournaments to compile four centuries in a row in a best-of-nine match. The 2005 world champion, who won the Malta Cup earlier this month, knocked in a 135 clearance in the first frame. The Englishman added runs of 123, 102 and 101 and also had a chance in the fifth frame but, on 31, lost position.
O'Sullivan perplexed despite win
14th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07
Ronnie O'Sullivan breezed into the last 16 of the Welsh Open in Newport, and then vowed to overhaul his game. A break of 109 put O'Sullivan 3-1 up against Ian McCulloch and a 64 clearance gave him the next frame on the black as he eased to a 5-1 win. "I'm not being big-headed but I can win events playing at 60%," he said. "I can cover up problems with instinctive snooker but that's no good to me.
Angry Stevens crashes in Newport
13th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07
Matthew Stevens hit out at tournament organisers after slumping to a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Mark Selby at the Welsh Open in Newport. Four breaks of over 50 and one of 133 won the second round match for Selby, but Stevens was angry at having to wear a bow tie despite suffering from flu. "I went to the doctor to get a note so I wouldn't have to wear a tie but I was told I wouldn't be allowed," he said.
Selby destroys home boy Stevens
13th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07
Four breaks of over 50 and one of 133 won the second round match for Selby, but Stevens was angry at having to wear a bow tie despite suffering from flu. "I went to the doctor to get a note so I wouldn't have to wear a tie but I was told I wouldn't be allowed," he said. "Mark played well, so I'm not making excuses, but it doesn't help." Selby, who whitewashed Ian Preece in the first round, took just over an hour to beat Stevens and was a deserved winner. Results: 5 - 1 Selby
Welsh Open Champion Stevens Out
13th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07
Defending champion Stephen Lee is out after going down 5-2 to Nigel Bond. The 41-year-old Bond said: "I seem to be in a winning bubble at the moment. "Two or three years ago I got back into the top 32 - and I've never lost my desire. "I still love the game and couldn't see myself doing anything else." Bond's highest break was only 68 but he took three straight frames to win after Lee had levelled at 2-2.
Higgins Shock Defeat at the Welsh Open
13th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07 
John Higgins was a shock casualty after qualifier Andrew Higginson came from behind to win 5-3. Last season's Masters and Grand Prix winner squandered a 3-0 lead against the Widnes qualifier and missed a gilt-edged chance to go 4-0 ahead. Higginson, in only his second ranking event of the season, said: "Without a shadow of a doubt that's the best win of my career."
Perry finds form to beat Parrott
12th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07 
Joe Perry reached the second round of the Welsh Open with victory over John Parrott in Newport. Perry found a good run of form, including a 127 break, as he got the better of Parrott 5-2. "The game is wide open and if you can play really well and things go your way you can win a tournament," said Perry...
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Also through to the second round is Nigel Bond, who gained revenge over Chinese teenager Liang Wenbo to reach the second round of the Welsh Open.
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Scotland's Alan McManus, the Welsh Open runner-up in 1993 and 1994, defeated Liverpool's Rod Lawler 5-2.
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England's Stuart Bingham ran in a final-frame break of 115 to beat Dubliner Joe Delaney 5-0 in Newport.
Day seeking victory in home event
10th February 2007 - Welsh Open 2006/07 
Pontycymmer's Ryan Day is looking to follow his fine showing in Malta with a win at the Welsh Open at the Newport Centre (12-18 February). Having never previously been beyond the quarter-finals of a ranking event, the 26-year-old made the Malta Open final, losing 9-4 to Shaun Murphy. Now the talented Welshman is keen to take that one extra step to glory.
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Another Welshman, Carmarthen's Matthew Stevens, will be in action on the same day and looking to recapture the form which gave him the Masters and UK titles as well as five Crucible semi-finals since 2000.
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Seeking to deny the home favourites will be reigning champion Stephen Lee, who beat Murphy in last year's final.
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Michaela Tabb will become the first female ever to referee a snooker ranking tournament final when she takes charge at the Welsh Open. Read In Full At The BBC
Author Profile
David Weller
Reporting from:
Lancashire, United Kingdom
Total Points: 3000
