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The Crucible generally is a daunting place for even probably the most hardened campaigners, so it was no shock when debutant Joe O’Connor had a wobbly second.
O’Connor’s wobbly second got here earlier than the beginning of play, as he took a mistaken flip when being launched to the group.
You could possibly think about the ideas going by way of O’Connor’s thoughts as he waited to be launched by MC Rob Walker.
“Joe, don’t fall down the steps. Joe, don’t drop your cue. Joe, do you could have your cue? Sure. Okay, good, right here we go…. oh!”
To be truthful to Walker, he gave O’Connor each likelihood to make the right entrance as he mentioned: “And now to a participant who’s about to stroll down these well-known, well-known stairs…”
Stairs? What stairs, thought O’Connor as he strode purposefully in direction of a lifeless finish. Checking his stride, and styling issues out, O’Connor turned 90 levels to his proper and headed down the steps.
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‘Exceptionally good’ O’Connor pots stupendous double to take in a single day lead towards Selby
There was no detect his means down and there was no detect the desk as he took cost of his match with Selby.
Breaks of 122, 67, 101, 74 and 61 noticed O’Connor win the ultimate 5 frames to steer 7-2.
O’Connor and Selby will return to play to a end on Monday afternoon.