It’s Day 3 of the Zhiyuan World Open and last-32 time in Yushan. Names are being chopped off the roster each day as we grow closer and closer to fetching our winner. It was entertaining as usual, with the big names treating their fans to classic acts. One of such entertaining games was the match-up between Mark Selby and Noppon Saengkham.

Selby did a good job of dispatching his Thai opponent. It felt like a routine victory for the Englishman who held up for a 5-2 win.

Both sides started with real intention, settling for a compromise after two frames with a 1-1 scoreline. The Jester from Leicester then recorded breaks of 70 and 50 to take a 3-1 lead.

Selby was in no mood to allow any slip-ups and took the game by the scruff of its neck. His Thai opponent fought to claim the next frame, but his intention couldn’t match his technique.

The Jester from Leicester was clearly on a revenge mission and would do anything to tilt the pendulum in his direction this time. Noppon Saengkham, who claimed a 50 in the second frame, was responsible for knocking out Selby in last year’s event. Interestingly, it was at this same stage.

The English Open champion sealed his place in the last-32 with a huge statement! – A break of 93. Revenge, done and dusted! It was a routine 5-2 win for the English Open champion, a memorable one at that.

The Jester from Leicester will be licking his lips at the prospect of playing Bingham DR J. Robertson in the last 32.

English Open finalist, David Gilbert was also a star performer for the day. The in-form player whitewashed his opponent, Anthony McGill, to secure safe passage into the last-16. As soon as Gilbert hit a break of 110 in the first frame, only a few could have thought it would later swing in favour of McGill.

It was an easy and emphatic win for David Gilbert. A good morale to take into the last-16. Gilbert is now poised to lock horns with one of the tournament’s favourite in Mark Allen.

David Gilbert is priced at 2.33 to defeat Mark Allen, while Allen is fancied at 1.59 to emerge victorious.

Written by: Roland Arum