Aidan Owens came oh so close to beating 7 times world champion Stephen Hendry – only losing on the black ball shootout. Owens won the first then Hendry levelled. Owens won the next and again Hendry levelled to set up the shootout. But it wasn’t to be for Owens and Hendry now moves into the semis to play Peter Lines.
Tournament favourite Peter Lines was a comfortable winner, 3-0, over Dennis Taylor, although reports do say that it was closer than the scoreline suggests.
John Parrot dispatched day 1 hero Joe Johnson by the same scoreline as did Jonathan Bagley over Cliff Thorburn.
This sets up the semi finals where Parrot plays Bagley and a clash of the titans in Lines v Hendry.
It could well lead to a final between the two qualifiers who will be looking to take home the £10000 first prize and book their place at Ponds Forge next month.
