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| January 14, 2003 | Tuesday | Ziqa'ad 10, 1423 |
Davis keeps momentum going
BLACKPOOL, Jan 13: Steve Davis took another step towards regaining his place in the top 16 with a 5-2 win over Matthew Couch in Blackpool on Monday.
The Nugget secured his place in the final stages of the European Open in Torquay in March thanks to a comfortable victory over Scunthorpe’s Couch, and will face Mark Williams in the last 32.
Six-times world champion Davis started the season at No 25 but has climbed to 13 on the latest list thanks largely to a run to the semifinals of the LG Cup and now seems odds-on for a return to the top section.
Earlier John Parrott’s Blackpool blues continued as he lost 5-0 to Barry Pinches in the final qualifying round.
The former world champion from Liverpool went down 5-1 to Barry Hawkins in the Regal Welsh last Friday and showed no improvement. Parrott plays his Irish Masters qualifier on Friday and is desperate for a win to keep his season alive.
Another defeat on Friday could endanger his chances of keeping his place in the top 32.
Pinches, the world No 56, took a scrappy first frame today then added the second with a break of 55. Parrott led 68-0 in the next but fouled the pink then saw his opponent clear the table with 67 to snatch it. Pinches made it 4-0 and rounded off the match with a glorious 140 total clearance the highest break of the event so far.
In another match Malta’s Tony Drago beat Scotland’s Marcus Campbell 5-2 with a top break of 87, and Finland’s Robin Hull beat Thailand’s James Wattana with runs of 81, 54 and 91.
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