When you score three centuries and still don’t win, you know it’s probably not your day.
This was the fate for Australia’s Neil Robertson as he lost to 4-3 to Ian Burns on a day being dubbed Black Wednesday at the Welsh Open.
If you like your sport peppered with surprise, Cardiff was most definitely the place to be as day three of the final Home Nations event left nothing to the imagination.
In one day of crazy baize action, we saw a flurry of shock defeats as we lost world number one Mark Selby, Judd Trump, Ding Junhui, Luca Brecel, Ali Carter, Anthony McGill and of course Robertson.
The top seeds were tumbling from the very first ball as once again the best-of-seven frame format served up great unpredictability.
You’ve got to feel for Australia’s Robertson most. He made breaks of 100, 100 and 130 but it still wasn’t enough to beat his opponent, ranked number 100 in the world. His defeat was the most unlucky but a sign of the times on a day of carnage in Wales
Ding was perhaps the most surprising player to depart. After showing signs of a return to form by reaching the World Grand Prix last week, he lost 4-1 To Liam Highfield.
Trump admitted after falling to a 4-1 loss to Noppon Saengkham that his confidence is low as his hopes of rediscovering his zip ahead of the World Championship took another setback.
Brecel’s struggles continued as he lost 4-1 to Mike Dunn while Selby couldn’t close out a win from 3-2 up against Liang Wenbo and lost on a decider.
McGill’s defeat to Ben Wollaston and Carter’s reverse against Nigel Bind also went the distance.
But on a day of high drama and underdog success, Ronnie O’Sullivan could not be knocked from his stride. He beat Graeme Dott comfortably 4-0 to spark talk of him winning a fifth title of the season and two in as many weeks.
The Home Nations series is becoming renowned for its big stories but even by these standards, the Welsh Open has produced unprecedented string of results.
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