Welsh Open snooker 2024: Dominic Dale overcomes Stan Moody in gritty clash, faces Jak Jones in last 16

Updated 15/02/2024 at 16:09 GMT

Dominic Dale is through to the fourth round of the Welsh Open with a 4-1 win over Stan Moody. The match was not as comfortable as the scoreline suggests, with Moody more than playing in his part, only to rue several missed opportunities. A tense fourth frame lasted almost an hour, which Dale ultimately secured to move one frame away from victory. Dale will now face Jak Jones in the fourth round.

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Dominic Dale progressed into the Welsh Open last 16 with a gritty 4-1 victory over Stan Moody.

Dale drew first blood after Moody missed a sitter of a chance, with two clearances of 57 enough for the 52-year-old to get off to a bright start.

The second frame saw the very best of Dale as he motored towards a break of 122 – the 243rd century of his career.

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After Moody failed in his attempts to take on a plant, Dale did brilliantly to get off the mark with superb starter into the right corner and marched on to take a dominant 2-0 lead.

Moody squandered an opportunity to pot a routine red to the middle pocket, and Dale looked like he may take the opportunity to steer a cagey third frame in his favour.

But Dale also had his fair share of errors, as a tense safety battle ensured in a closely contested battle.

It looked momentum had shifted in the veteran's favour, but after missing a pressured pink to seal the frame, Moody stepped in.

Needing the pink and black, the 17-year-old dispatched both with delightful aplomb to halve the deficit.

A very awkward start to the fourth saw Dale pot the first ball after almost 15 minutes, in what was turning into an turgid contest.

The frame lasted just under an hour and it looked like Dale had finally seized the advantage when Moody left both remaining reds in his escape from a snooker.

But Dale missed a simple-looking yellow, with Moody needing a snooker and all the remaining balls to take the match into a sixth frame.

But after potting the final red and pink, he failed with a pesky yellow as Dale moved one frame away from victory.

The fifth and final frame was a much more straightforward affair with errors continuing to blight Moody's game, with Dale putting the match to bed with a break of 67.

Dale will now take part in an all-Welsh clash against Jak Jones in the last 16.

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