Ireland’s David Morris recorded what must surely be the victory of his career by knocking Ali Carter out of the Wuxi Classic in a dramatic 5-4 thriller.
Morris had already bettered his previous best in a ranking event by reaching the last 16 yesterday but now has the prospects of a quarter-final encounter with Matthew Stevens to come.
The 24 year-old has been the centre of attention for the last couple of days with quite a lot of the online media publishing reports about his run and immediate prospects, while he also gave an assured account of his pedigree in a 2FM interview last night.
In that ambition, he stated that he didn’t want to be a nearly man and expressed his desire to win tournaments.
Well, there’s still a long way to go in this event but he is certainly making strides in the right direction.
Morris lost the opener and then went 2-0 down when Carter, needing a snooker, stole the frame on the black in what appeared like it could have been a pivotal moment.
But the Kilkenny cuiest came back strongly and won the next pair to go into the interval all square.
Carter regained the lead shortly after but Morris responded with another brace to take advantage for the first time – and to within one of a famous victory.
Not to be denied so easily, two-time World Championship runner-up Carter, known as the ‘Captain’, made a 54 break to force a thrilling decider.
Because it was not shown on television, World Snooker’s live scoring was the solitary source of information but it appeared as if both players had numerous chances to amass a telling score in the final frame.
At 59-37 to Morris, with 22 left, it looked as though we might be headed for a remarkable re-spotted black climax.
However, even though Carter potted the brown, Morris subsequently sunk the blue to cement a fantastic triumph.
Morris originally spent six seasons on the Main Tour between 2006 and 2012 before dropping off and rejoining the Irish amateur scene – of which he has been national champion three times.
But he was one of the star players in May’s Q-School and has carried that confidence and form into his return to the pro circuit.
Morris will obviously be hoping to go even further now and his next task is to overcome former UK champion Stevens, who didn’t excel in beating Peter Lines 5-3 in a scrappy affair.
Elsewhere, there were comfortable whitewash wins for favourites Neil Robertson and John Higgins while Anthony Hamilton shocked Mark Williams 5-3.
Recent Asian PTC winner Joe Perry and Robert Milkins progressed with dominating scorelines and, finally, Cao Yupeng kept some smiles on the home faithful’s faces by ousting Ben Woollaston 5-3.
The full draw and list of results can be viewed by clicking here.
