Welsh Open 2023: Mark Williams roars back to oust Michael White, John Higgins and Neil Robertson also through

ByNigel Chiu

Updated 13/02/2023 at 17:16 GMT

Three-time world champion Mark Williams overcame a big scare to beat Michael White in their held-over qualifying match at the Welsh Open. White was on the verge of going 3-0 in front but missed a routine red. From there, it was all about Williams as he came back to book a place in the last 64. Stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live on discovery+ and Eurosport.

Mark Williams completed a stunning comeback against Michael White from 2-0 down to beat his compatriot 4-2 at the Welsh Open.

White was just two balls away from a 3-0 lead, but missed a relatively simple red which turned the match on its head.

Williams then found his stride and used his experience to win the next four frames. The three-time world champion will play another Welshman in the second round, Jak Jones.

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White came flying out of the blocks and took the opening frame with two impressive scoring visits.

His lead soon doubled with more sensational long potting as Williams struggled to find his potting game.

However, the key moment of the match came in frame three. White was on a break of 62 and needed one more red and a colour.

The red he was on was a routine pot to the bottom left pocket, but he missed it. With big pressure now on his shoulders, Williams calmly cleared the table with a stunning 70 and now had momentum on his side.

'That has turning point written all over it!' - White misses 'routine red' and Williams punishes him

White appeared to put that narrow loss in frame three behind him as he was 63-0 up in the fourth after putting Williams in a snooker.

Following a safety exchange, White went for a long red but missed it and Williams cleared up again after terrific shots on the final pink and black to steal the frame and make it 2-2.

A couple of big scoring visits saw Williams go in front for the first time in the match and he went on to win a very scrappy sixth and final frame.

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• Welsh Open 2023 – Latest scores, results, schedule, order of play

Elsewhere, John Higgins whitewashed Alexander Ursenbacher 4-0, Neil Robertson beat late call-up Andrew Higginson 4-1 and Kyren Wilson was victorious over Asjad Iqbal by the same scoreline.

Former world champion Stuart Bingham is the biggest name to have lost on the opening day in Llandudno, as he lost 4-1 to Welshman Jackson Page.

Ronnie O’Sullivan was far from his best against Oliver Lines but won 4-0 and defending champion Joe Perry is also through.

An equally star-studded night session sees Judd Trump, Jack Lisowski, Mark Selby and Mark Allen all in action. Play begins from the Venue Cymru at 19:00 GMT.

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Stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk

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