“THE Players Championship is underway with some huge matches taking place. World champion Kyren Wilson toppled defending champion Mark Allen 6-3 in the tournament opener. Mark Williams was also successful against Ding Junhui as he won the last four frames to take it 6-2. World No.1 Judd Trump get his campaign underway against Lei Peifan”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
World champion Kyren Wilson toppled defending champion Mark Allen 6-3 in the tournament opener.
Mark Williams was also successful against Ding Junhui as he won the last four frames to take it 6-2.
World No.1 Judd Trump get his campaign underway against Lei Peifan on Tuesday night.
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Williams and Wilson THROUGHIt’s not to be for Irishman and defending champion Allen on St Patrick’s Day as world champion Kyren Wilson is able to see out the topsy-turvy contest and win the final and decisive frame.
Tense early frames didn’t faze Mark Williams as he wrapped a comfortable end to his evening against Ding Junhui – winning the last four.
- Mark Williams 6-2 Ding Junhui
- Kyren Wilson 3-3 Mark Allen
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Kyren Wilson 5-3 Mark AllenWilson closes out the eight frame with a double.
Needs one more to win.
Whilst, Williams chugs along in his game against Ding Junhui as the Welshman is up by three, also needs one more.
Credit: Rex
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Last-16 – latest scoresIn typical champions fashion, Allen finds a way to get back into this game.
There was no doubt Wilson had him in an uncomfortable place but misses from his cue has given the defending champion the initiative he needed in this.
On the other table, Williams re-takes his lead.
- Mark Williams 3-2 Ding Junhui
- Kyren Wilson 3-3 Mark Allen
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Mark Williams 2-2 Ding JunhuiOn this match, Williams would take the third before his Chinese opponent nicknamed The Dragon responded with an 81 to level.
Back from the interval.
Remember, best out of 11 frames wins.
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Last-16 – latest scores On the interval, Wilson opens up his advantage in this one with a 93% pot success.
Elsewhere, Williams and Junhui are locked in their third frame but the former looks set to take it.
- Mark Williams 1 (58-6) 1 Ding Junhui
- Kyren Wilson 3-1 Mark Allen
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Kyren Wilson 1-1 Mark AllenDefending champion Allen has roared back into this contest to see out the frame with a total clearance of 125.
Credit: Getty
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Kyren Wilson 1-0 Mark AllenIn dogged fashion, Wilson takes control of the first frame and dosen’t let go. Junhui is also one-up across the arena.
Mark Williams 0-1 Ding Junhui
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Latest scores Not a whole lot of exciting stuff going on either table.
Both sets of players, as you would expect, are engaging in a feeling out process in the opening frame.
- Mark Williams 0 (35-66) 0 Ding Junhui
- Kyren Wilson 0 (34-39) 0 Mark Allen
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Last-16 action begins NOWWe are underway in tonight’s two last-16 games, with our main focus on Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen.
- Mark Williams v Ding Junhui
- Kyren Wilson v Mark Allen
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Players Championship order of play:So, what’s coming up these next few days…
All times GMT
Monday, March 17
Round One
19:00
- Mark Williams v Ding Junhui
- Kyren Wilson v Mark Allen
Tuesday, March 18
13:00
- Neil Robertson v Stuart Bingham
- Mark Selby v Si Jiahui
19:00
- Judd Trump v Lei Peifan
- Barry Hawkins v Shaun Murphy
Wednesday, March 19
13:00
- Xiao Guodong v Wu Yize
- John Higgins v Chris Wakelin
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Some pre-match reading Including Neil Robertson and the man Shaun Murphy claims is a ‘cheat code’:
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Players Championship snooker prize moneyA whopping total of £500,000 is up for grabs this week in Telford.
It’s a huge rise from last year’s tournament, which had a pot of £385,000.
Here is a FULL breakdown of the half-a-million-pound kitty.
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-up: £70,000
- Semi-finals: £35,000
- Quarter-finals: £20,000
- Last 16: £15,000
- High break: £10,000
- Total: £500,000
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Opening night Evening and welcome to the first night of this year’s Players Championship.
The last time out in elite snooker, Neil Robertson produced a stunning performance to whitewash Stuart Bingham in the World Grand Prix final – those two will meet again for play tomorrow.
Joined by world No.1 Judd Trump, who will headline the top 16-strong pack as he seeks to taste success again.
So will Mark Allen, who was the champion in the last edition of this tournament. Whilst Ronnie O’Sullivan will be absent once again.
Telford, as it did last year, will play host for the next seven days – underway at 7pm with Mark Williams v Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson v Mark Allen.
Credit: Getty
