Scottish Open 2023 LIVE – Mark Williams and Luca Brecel in action, Judd Trump to follow, Ronnie O’Sullivan pulls out

A tactical start to frame three, then Mark studies a starter for quite some time – the pot is missable, but does he have an alternative that gets everything safe? He concludes not, cuts a beauty to right corner, adds black and another tremendous red rammed straight to right corner, and he’s in full control of this match now.

Ali Carter 2-0 Long Zehuang

Barry Hawkins 1-1 Pang Junxu

Yup, Mark eases down the blue, and Sam’s competing well … and 2-0 behind.

Left a munter to the green, Mark steers it down like he’s been doing it all his life, which he has. The brown, though, is too difficult given he also needs the blue, so he plays a fine safety, black blocking object-ball, and if Sam misses he’ll only need one more; he hits, leaves a tempter, and Mark sends it down nicely, with safety in mind – the white winds up on the side. But because of that, he can’t despatch blue to right-centre … only to be left another go long to the green, and this being for the frame, I’m sure he’ll go at it hard…

Sam hits well then lays a snooker of his own from tight behind the brown; Mark misses first go, then Sam steers in a gorgeous starter and imposes another nasty snooker, between yellow and side, that yields another opportunity. The balls aren’t great, yellow and green on the side, and he can’t liberate either so we’re back playing safety. Sam’s playing well now though.

Sam goes flat-out for a pot, a red taken from right to left corner, and gets close … bit not close enough. Soon afterwards, he’s snookered behind blue and brown, and this frame is running away from him, hurling taunts as it goes.

He cannot. He totally misjudges the speed of the table sinking a black, tries a red with the rest leaving it near the jaw … but gets cover from the yellow/

Now then. Same sends a fantastic pot to left corner, swings the right around the angles, and again, he’s got a chance to steal the frame. Can he see it through?

Sam misses an easy red to right corner and mark builds a lead then overcuts a black to right corner just as he looks a lock for the frame. But Sam soon finds himself snookered – if it’s respite he’s after, he’s come to the wrong place. But he lands on his chosen ball with the frame still in the balance – in theory.

Ali Carter 0-0 Long Zehuang

Barry Hawkins 0-1 Pang Junxu

Ronnie O’Sullivan w/o Liam Graham

Mark sinks pink, and after a nervy start he’s in front.

Mark looked at his rig after missing that green, and when he has another shy at it, we see he’s untucked his shirt, so maybe he caught himself on the swing. It works too – he smashes down a long one, adds brown and blue, and though Sam can earn a respot if he clears, instead he leaves pink in jaws.

Now then. Sam drains a fine long red to the green, a pot good enough to win any frame, and it’s colours off their spots… “How’ve you done that, Craig … Craigie?!” marvels Uncle Joe. Because somehow he misses the yellow, leaving it … then Mark misses the green! I did not see that coming, at all.

Sam will need the two reds on the side, but before he can get at them he’s to lean across the table to sends one down the right rail to the corner. Problem is, he’s totally off balance and wins up leaving the ball in the jaws; Mark removes it, adds a black, and screws over to the other side to attempt the difficult pots. He strokes down the first, but plays safe on the second; this is an enjoyable frame with which to kick-off the week.

Left one to right corner, Sam gets himself going, and the balls are very nicely spread indeed. Chance!

Sam’s a proper player – one of those who could and should be much better than he is – but Mark is Mark, and he’s quickly away with a long red steered to left corner then, after a long think, he takes on a pink to middle, sends it down beautifully, and will soon go into the pack. Except when he does, it’s with just a little too much power, he lands on nowt, and takes on a long one to the yellow as a shot to nothing, which misses and runs safe.

Mark J Williams v Sam Craigie

Luca Brecel v Iulian Boiko

Judd Trump v Sydney Wilson

John Higgins v Oliver Brown

And welcome to the Scottish Open 2-23 – day one!

Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Sports Centre plays host to the 2023 Scottish Open with world champion Luca Brecel, Mark Williams, Judd Trump and John Higgins among the big names in action.

Last year’s winner, Gary Wilson, will be hoping to defend his first career ranking title. There is a total of £427,000 of prize money on offer in Edinburgh, so there is plenty on the line.

The main event begins today, with the tournament concluding with the showpiece final on Sunday 17 December.