Borg earns first point against Day

Alex Borg earned his first point in the 2008 Malta Cup when he drew with 2007 finalist Ryan Day in the Maltese player's final match in Group A yesterday.

So far no player has assured himself of a place in the semi-finals with all four groups set to be finalised today when the remaining matches are played.

Both Borg and Day were out of the reckoning for a place in the semi-finals but the Mellieha-born Borg was determined to bow out of the competition on a high and he duly obliged with a battling performance against the world no. 16 Day.

Borg raced into a two-frame lead with runs of 52 and 75. Day soon responded with a break of 70 to make it 2-1. The Maltese player restored his two-frame lead in the fourth frame before Day missed out on the chance of a £10,000 prize on offer for a maximum break when he missed the 15th black. He then took the last with a 62 to level the match.

In the other Group A match, Joe Perry set up a final match decider with John Higgins after seeing off the challenge of Ali Carter. Both players went into the match with a chance of qualifying but after Perry's 4-2 victory, the Cambridge cueman play Higgins today for a place in the semi-finals at stake.

The first four frames were shared with Perry struggling to get going. But having taken the fourth frame he then compiled breaks of 64 and 52 to leave him with two wins and a draw from his three matches, the same record as Higgins but the world no.1 holds a better frame difference and a point would be enough to see him progress.

Tony Drago completed his commitments in Group C with a 4-2 defeat to Mark Selby.

The Maltese professional tried hard to end the competition on a high but found Selby in top form as the English player compiled two century breaks of 110 and 101 to seal his first win of the competition.

In the other match from this group, Stephen Hendry and Stephen Maguire drew 3-3. The result turns today's match between Hendry and group leader Shaun Murphy into a decider with the winner progressing.

Ding Junhui put himself within a point of qualifying from Group D and dented Dominic Dale's hopes after beating him 4-2.

Ding has five points but still has one match to play, he faces Mark Williams this evening. If Williams were to win then Dale would go through courtesy of the six points he has accumulated. If Ding claims three frames he would go through.

Neil Robertson and Ken Doherty will lock horns today for a place in the semi-finals.

Twice a ranking event winner last season, Robertson scrapped his way to a 4-2 victory over Joe Swail. Victory extended his unbeaten run in Group B to three matches, but having drawn 3-3 with Marco Fu, the gifted potter from down under remains a point behind Doherty.

Robertson must beat Doherty this afternoon to make sure of his place in the knockout stage of the tournament. However, the Irishman only requires a draw to guarantee a place in the last four.

Results

Group A: Perry vs Carter 4-2; Day vs Borg 3-3. Standings: Higgins, Perry 5; Carter 3; Day 2; Borg 1.
Group B: Robertson vs Swail 4-2; Lee vs Fu 1-5. Standings: Doherty 6; Fu Robertson 5; Swail, Lee 0.
Group C: Selby vs Drago 4-2; Hendry vs Maguire 3-3. Standings: Murphy 6; Hendry 5; Maguire 3; Selby 2; Drago 0.
Group D: Williams vs Ebdon 3-3; Junhui vs Dale 4-2. Standings: Dale 6; Ding 5; Williams 3; Dott; Ebdon 1.

Today's programme

Noon: Higgins vs Perry; Carter vs Dale.
2 p.m.: Doherty vs Robertson; Swail vs Lee.
6 p.m.: Murphy vs Hendry; Maguire vs Selby.
8 p.m.: Dott vs Ebdon; Williams vs Junhui.