Just after noon yesterday the all-Cuedos meeting between Bradford's Simon Bedford and Birstall's Jason Prince was well on course.
Bedford was leading Stafford-shire's Troy Shaw 4-2 in the first qualifying round of the China Open at the Newport Centre in South Wales.
However, 80 minutes later Shaw had won 5-4 and thus denied Bedford the chance of playing his practice partner this afternoon.
"It was a good match, and I saw most of it," said 30-year-old Prince. "They both played well and it was very even early on.
"Simon made a couple of 40 breaks to lead 4-2 and had a couple of chances to win 5-2, but they were not easy.
"Troy pinched the frame to make it 4-4 and the last frame was anybodys.
"Troy made a 30 break, Simon almost pulled level, then Troy made a 20 break.
"They had a long safety battle on the last red, and Troy snookered him and took it 59-25.
"I have also lost matches 5-4 from 4-2 up and you don't want to talk to anybody afterwards.
"You think of the chances you have missed and could you have done anything differently.
"It eats away at you for a while, but Simon is still doing well - he has won three out of five - and he will bounce back.
"Now I have to face Troy. We have played each other since before we turned professional, and he is a good all-round player. If I give him the chance he will take it, make no mistake about that."
