Welsh Open 2023 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
Perry wants to enjoy his snooker more this term (Andrew Orchard sports photography/Alamy Live News)
Joe Perry resumes his Welsh Open title defence when he locks horns with Mark Joyce in the second round on Tuesday.
The Gentleman enjoyed a fairy-tale run to glory in Newport 11 months ago – overcoming the likes of Mark Allen, Kyren Wilson, Ricky Walden and Jack Lisowski, before a 9-5 victory over Judd Trump in the final.
Watched on by his parents, the former Masters runner-up reeled off the last four frames to claim only the second ranking title of his 31-year professional career, while becoming the oldest player since Ray Reardon to land silverware.
Perry made a solid start to his defence in Llandudno on Monday, easing to a commanding 4-0 win over Mark King, and will be hoping to produce similar performance levels against world number 59 Joyce.
There are eight other former champions on display at Venue Cymru including four-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan, who looks to record his fourth victory in as many meetings with former professional Ross Muir.
Two-time champions Neil Robertson and Mark Williams face Dominic Dale and Jak Jones respectively, while 2008 winner Mark Selby goes up against Si Jiahui.
Shaun Murphy – winner of this event in 2020 – also faces Chinese opposition in Peng Yisong, as does 2013 champion Stephen Maguire in Yuan SiJun.
Ding Junhui, who lifted the trophy in 2012, faces compatriot Cao Yupeng with 2021 victor Jordan Brown taking on Julien Leclercq.
Former runner-up Wilson is among the other big names in action. The Warrior plays Pang Junxu as Luca Brecel locks horns with Elliot Slessor, while David Gilbert goes head to head with recently crowned Shoot Out winner Chris Wakelin.
Play gets underway at 10am GMT on Tuesday with all matches contested over the best of seven frames at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
Welsh Open 2023 | Day Two Schedule
Tuesday, February 14
Last 64
10am
21 Joe Perry v Mark Joyce
25 Hammad Miah v Aaron Hill
31 Shaun Murphy v Peng Yisong
35 Yuan SiJun v Stephen Maguire
1pm
24 Graeme Dott v Joe O’Connor
36 Dominic Dale v Neil Robertson
41 Cao Yupeng v Ding Junhui
50 Ben Mertens v Jackson Page
2pm
32 Anthony McGill v Sam Craigie
42 Elliot Slessor v Luca Brecel
51 Matthew Stevens v Rod Lawler
52 Ross Muir v Ronnie O’Sullivan
7pm
22 Liam Davies v Robbie Williams
23 Stuart Carrington v Andy Lee
28 Jak Jones v Mark Williams
38 Robert Milkins v Dean Young
8pm
26 Pang Junxu v Kyren Wilson
27 Julian Leclercq v Jordan Brown
37 Mark Selby v Si Jiahui
49 Chris Wakelin v David Gilbert