Yesterday the Premier League Snooker arrived in Preston at the Guild Hall. After taking a week's break because of the World Open last week there were three games to wet the appetite. The first was between Marco Fu and defending champion Shaun Murphy; Fu looked a little uncomfortable in the first frame when one of his opening shots was missed because of the dreaded beeps from the shot clock. Murphy could only make a 55 break which wasn't enough as Fu came back to win the first frame 76-55. Murphy hit back in the second frame requiring two visits before winning 84-0. He then took the lead after Fu wasted a time-out which allowed Murphy to take the frame 83-0. The fourth frame was a real battle of snooker as both players were snookering each other at every available opportunity, Fu just managed to level the scores again winning 68-54. Fu then guaranteed himself a point after taking the fifth frame 72-1 and then Murphy missed a frame winning pink to draw the match which allowed Fu to take both match points with a 60-55 win. Fu now has three points from two games and Murphy has two.
The second match was a re-match of last week's quarter final between Ding Junhui and Mark Williams, the Welshman won the World Open match 3-2. Ding missed a red which ultimately cost him the first frame as Williams won 76-36. A 73 break saw Williams take a two-nil lead winning the frame 90-0. Ding fought back to win the third frame 68-21 and then levelled it a 2-2 after Williams missed a black to let Ding win 65-16. Just like last week Williams then earned himself at least a point in a scrappy frame, winning it 16-63 to take it to 3-2. However unlike last week there was still a frame to play and Ding won it 77-5 to finish the score off at 3-3. This gives Ding two points from three games and Williams has three points from two games.
The final game of the night saw World Champion and last week's World Open winner Neil Robertson start his Premier League campaign against the Masters Champion Mark Selby. It was a real old fashioned snooker game and Robertson failed to get going in the first frame as Selby won it 67-25. The second frame had a threat of a re-rack as both players were playing ultra defensively, eventually Robertson took the frame 79-8. The third frame didn't get any more offensive but when Selby was given an opportunity he took it with both hands, winning it 108-0 with a 104 break, the first century break of the night. Selby then guaranteed himself a point winning yet another defensive frame 74-55. Robertson kept his hopes of a point alive winning the fifth frame 78-0. However the chances of the 'Thunder From Down Under' levelling the score was lowered straight form the break as he potted the cue ball. Selby then took the final frame with a second century break of 119 to win 123-0 in the frame and 4-2 overall. This leaves Robertson without a point after just one match and Selby on two points from two games.
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