Official Fergal O'Brien Website
Maplin UK Championships
I had a great win over Liu Song, 9-8, to win
my first match for five years in the UK Championships in Prestatyn.
I started well, leading 3-0 and 5-3, but Liu cam back to take a 7-6 lead.
I then re-took the lead at 8-7, but Liu won the next to force a final frame
decider.
I potted a long red, in the final frame, and
made a 50 break, but Liu got back into the frame.
Another 20 break put me back in control of the frame, with a lead of 40, with
one red left on the table.
I went for a long pot on the final red but it wobbled in the jaws of the pocket,
ran along the cushion and cannoned the black into the pocket.
Now Liu could win without needing to get a snooker.
Liu got the red and a pink, but missed the yellow with the rest.
A few minutes later he went in off the yellow and I potted the yellow and
green to win the match.
Needless to say I was very relieved
to get over the winning line. It was a long tough day.
Two days later I played Stuart Bingham to
qualify for the final stages in Telford.
I made a very bad start and was 4-0- and 6-2 down.
At night I had a 90 break and a century, but all to no avail as I lost 9-5.
I was disappointed not to qualify, but as
I said it was my first time in five years
to win a match in this tournament, so some progress had been made.