Ryan Day the world number 8, clinched the opening frame of his first round tie against qualifier Mark Davis. Although being a lengthy thirty five minute affair,it was by far, an uneventful start to the match. Day the 'potter from Pontycymmer'was placed in a very tough snooker, with the cue-ball tight behind the brown near the baulk cushion.
He pondered over the shot for three minutes but failed to hit the reds. Referee Brendan Moore replaced the balls, at the request of Davis. Day failed once more, and the balls where replaced yet again. Day then elected to raised the butt of his cue, swerving around the brown.
To his surprise he fluked two reds, but then missed the pink to the middle pocket, allowing Davis to rally. With the balls in awkward positions, he made a valliant attempt to clear, only falling short on a difficult blue, leaving Day with the easy task of clearing blue and pink.
Day enjoying his second season in snookers' elite top eight, quickly went 2-0 in front with a trademark fluent 97 break.
Thirty seven year old Davis, on his sixth visit to the Crucible replied in quick-fire style. Consecutive breaks of 84 and 85 sealed frames three and four respectively, leveling at 2-2 at the interval of this Betfred.com World Championship first round tie.
Despite winning only one match at the Crucible theatre in his career, Davis the man from Hastings displayed battling qualities in the fifth. With modest runs of 30 and 37 he secured a 3-2 lead.
Looking more confident of the two players, Davis took full advantage of a missed yellow to the corner pocket when Day looked en route to stealing the sixth frame, making it four in a row for the world number 47.
Day,twice a world quarter-finalist, had to be patient in the next. After a thirty two minute tussle, he got the better of his opponent closing to within a single frame, with the aid of a 46 break.
This was soon restored to the two frame margin again with contributions of 46 and 24 by Davis, who will be in the top 32 for the first time next season.It also gave him the guarantee of leading going into the final session of the match.
Day rallied back, and in determined fashion composed a winning 76 break, trailing by just the single frame at 5-4.
The match resumes Wednesday 21st at 10am, with Mark Allen waiting to play the winner of this tie.