BBC SPORT | NORTHERN IRELAND | Swail overcomes determined Wallace

J Swail (NI) 13-11 P Wallace (NI)

Childhood friends Joe Swail and Patrick Wallace fought out a thrilling match that went right to the wire.

It was Swail that finally finished on top, steadying his nerves to see out a 13-11 win and make the semi-finals for the second year running.

Wallace had led after the first session but number 16 seed Swail showed his class in the second session to lead 9-7.

Nerves

Wallace started the third session well, with a break of 83 to reduce Swail's lead.

But Swail soon regained control with a break of 56 to stretch further in-front.

Patrick Wallace: refused to concede
The nerves were jangling for both players and they traded frames with neither willing to concede and inch.

Wallace had never made the last 32 of a ranking tournament before but belied his experience, keeping his cool at 12-10 down to clinch the 23rd frame after some excellent safety play.

Wallace shrugged off a rare error by the referee after Swail had scooped the cue-ball off the table attempting a deep screw-back.

It should have been called a miss but Wallace took it on himself and played a superb safety to force an error from Swail.

Swail retained his composure to battle back in the 24th frame.

Both men's play was error-ridden, but 'The Outlaw' wrapped up the match before embracing his friend and countryman.

Tough

After the match Swail was exhausted but happy.

"I'm knacked." he exclaimed.

I'll have to play very well to beat Ronnie

Joe Swail

"It was very, very tough. We're close friends, we go back a long way and I've never met him before in a tournament.

"He (Wallace) said to me afterwards, 'go on and win it' and I hope I can."

Swail will now face the ever popular Ronnie O'Sullivan after he coasted past Peter Ebdon.

"I'm due a final. This is my second semi-final but I'll have to play very well to beat Ronnie." Swail continued.

"I'll probably be 8-0 down before I start playing!" Swail joked.

"I'm not a good front-runner I tend to relax too much."

Whatever the outcome, the proclaimed 'Comeback King' Joe Swail has once again exceeded expectations at The Crucible.

Quarter-final latest (best of 25 frames):

(Swail first) 21-86, 9-68, 70-15, 8-70 (52), 90-19, 4-68 (52), 6-77 (65), 8-64, 69-24, 118-5 (93), 35-85 (72), 84-15 (51), 77-4, 75-50 (53), 64-7 (50), 90-2 (66), 28-105 (83), 72-2 (56), 31-65, 51-10, 37-70, 72-51 (56), 0-75, 80-4


	^^ Back to top
	Front Page \| Football \| Cricket \| Rugby Union \| Rugby League \| Tennis \| Golf \| Motorsport \| Boxing \| Athletics \| Other Sports \| Sports Talk \| In Depth \| Photo Galleries \| Audio/Video \| TV & Radio \| BBC Pundits \| Question of Sport \| Funny Old Game ------------------------------------------------------------ BBC News >> \| BBC Weather >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMII\|News Sources\|Privacy