World No 14 Perry launched his attack for a follow up victory over the Thai with a break of 120 in the first frame.

Wattana took the next but Perry moved into a 2-1 lead with a break of 74.

The Thai, ranked No 32 this season, was beaten 5-2 by Perry in the previous ranking event, the Malta Cup, but this time Wattana swept into a 4-2 lead helped by breaks of 51 and 33.

Perry looked to be heading for the exit door in frame seven as Wattana punched in a break of 60 to lead 60-12.

But he missed a none too difficult red and the son of a Heathrow airport taxi driver, completed a clearance of 49 to steal the frame on the black.

But while Perry started frame eight with a break of 41, Wattana was soon on his coat tails and a 27 followed by some clever safety and lightweight scoring set him up for a match winning 25 after Perry returned to the table six times without scoring.

"I'm pleased with my form," said the Thai, "things are coming together nicely with the world championship qualifier against Barry Hawkins on March 14 getting nearer and nearer."

Wattana, in Newport, faces Masters champion John Higgins for a place in the quarter-finals.

Frames: 12-124; 72-28;19-77;83-6;66-56; 70-20;60-61; 73-41.

John Dee

The Nation