The 16-year-old Ben Mertens was hired to replace the Pole Kacper Filipiak. Our young fellow countryman seized the opportunity with both hands.
Mertens was the first to score 10 points, then went into defense. His opponent Jak Surety got a chance from which he could only pocket 1 red ball.
Mertens, took a 33-10 lead and put Surety under pressure with some snookers. The Englishman made an error after which Mertens got “the Ball in Hand” and potted a few more balls for a 44-10 victory.
Mertens could also qualify for the second round two years ago with his first participation, after he sidelined the Thai James Wattana in his opening match.
Mertens is doing better than Luca Brecel, who was killed in the first round yesterday. Brecel lost to Murphy (WS-7). Mertens plays in the second round against Robert Milkins, the man who eliminated him from the European Open.
The Shoot Out tournament is played to 1 frame of maximum 10 minutes. The first 5 minutes, the players have 15 seconds to hit the white ball. For the next 5 minutes, the ball must be played within 10 seconds.
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