British Open 2024: John Higgins beats Shaun Murphy 4-2 to progress, world champ Kyren Wilson gets better of Duane Jones
Published 25/09/2024 at 18:25 GMT+1
There was another exciting day of action at the 2024 British Open as John Higgins got the better of Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson came out on top against Duane Jones. Higgins put his opponent under pressure from the start against The Magician, before Murphy was able to win two frames in falling to a 4-2 defeat. Wilson was far from his best, but he was able to record a 4-1 victory.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
John Higgins survived a late scare to beat Shaun Murphy 4-2 and book his place in round three of the British Open.
Higgins struggled at the start of the opening frame, but he gained a foothold after hitting a break of 42.
The Scot gave Murphy a chance to get back into it, but after regaining his composure he potted a red to take a 1-0 lead.
The Wizard of Wishaw went from strength to strength at the start of the second frame, hitting a break of 30 before running out of options.
Murphy could not capitalise and Higgins made him pay, producing a break of 74 to clean up and double his advantage.
Murphy was 24-7 up at the start of the third frame as he finally started to take his shots. However, four-time world champion Higgins tightened his grip on the match with a break of 56 to take a 3-0 lead.
Just as the contest appeared to be slipping through The Magician's fingers, he sparked into life. Murphy cruised to victory in the fourth frame, cutting Higgins' lead with a break of 57.
Murphy moved within a frame of levelling the match after conjuring a break of 84 to win the fifth.
It was not to be though, and the world No. 8 could only watch as Higgins put together a break of 82 to wrap up the victory.
Higgins has set his sights on making it to The Masters after recently dropping out of the top 16.
"I desperately want to play at The Masters," he said after the match. "I think I am still in there provisionally, I think with a different cut-off.
"If I don't win matches I won't be in it so, it is simple. Shaun has had a good start to the season, he is full of confidence, so that is a good win for me."
WORLD CHAMPION WILSON MOVES PAST JONES
Crucible title-holder Kyren Wilson wasn't quite at his best in the 1pm session but still managed a straightforward 4-1 victory over Duane Jones to move into the next round.
The first frame began as a somewhat stop-start affair, with a re-rack needed after just three shots. Jones only managed a break of six courtesy of a poor miss on a second red.
That left the reds well spread and opened the door to Wilson, who moved confidently through the pack to secure a frame-winning break of 92.
He was denied a century by a surprising miss on the blue into the left-centre pocket, which set the tone for the rest of the match, as both players struggled with some routine shots - but Wilson also produced some moments of brilliance.
Another poor miss on a red from Jones offered a chance for Wilson early in the second frame, with the world champion looking composed.
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He came unstuck on a routine black off the spot at 33-4 and Jones immediately capitalised with a break of 40, but both players struggled with their safety game in a much more closely-fought frame.
Wilson fluked a delightful yellow after a poor snooker by Jones, but it was the Welshman who had the upper hand and levelled the tie at 35-70.
Wilson made a fast start to the third frame, picking off a handful of loose reds for 20-0, but continued to struggle with some routine shots.
The highlight of the frame was a Wilson attempt on the pink which jumped onto the edge of the table, rolling almost to the middle pocket but dropping back onto the baize at the last second. A break of 16 was ultimately enough for Wilson to take the frame 66-22.
Jones would have been forgiven for assuming the world champion's mixed display would continue but a poor success rate for the Welshman - missing 10 pots of 43 - was his undoing.
He missed a long red to the right corner pocket from Wilson's break and his opponent began to move through the gears, opening up the pink and rediscovering his quality to storm to a break of 114.
Wilson missed the final black, but the frame had long been won, and Jones had a mountain to climb.
Wilson's mix of good and bad continued as he missed an easy blue to the left middle pocket early in the fifth frame, but Jones could not take advantage.
A poor miss on a tough but potable red let Wilson back in at 20-2, and that error proved crucial as Wilson - left with an easy starter - moved serenely through the table to secure the frame and the match with a break of 50.
"A mixed bag" was Wilson's verdict after the match. "There was some really good stuff and some really poor stuff.
"I think that kind of sums up how the tables are playing at the minute. Monday was beautiful conditions but today it felt quite springy and heavy off the cushions.
"You've just got to get on with it, it's the same for both players - Duane said the same to me coming off. You've just got to deal with it."
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