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Trump sets up Saudi semi-final with Murphy

Judd Trump will play Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters.

World number one Trump beat Australian Neil Robertson 6-3 in their quarter-final in Riyadh on Thursday.

Trump surged to a 3-0 lead, making a break of 100 in the third frame for his 997th career century, before Robertson pegged the advantage back to 4-3.

But in the end Bristol-born Trump won through as the challenge from his fellow former world champion faded.

Trump's fellow Englishman Murphy went through with a 6-2 victory over China's Xiao Guodong, albeit making only one half-century break - a 61 in the eighth frame.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan plays Si Jiahui and England's Jimmy Robertson takes on Wales' Mark Williams in the two other quarter-finals later on Thursday.

The launch of the Saudi Arabia Masters has made it the most lucrative tournament in snooker after the World Championship.

Organisers are calling it the unofficial 'fourth major' - following the World Championship, Masters and UK Championship - as it offers a £2.3m prize fund with £500,000 going to the winner.


BBC
 
O'Sullivan loses in Saudi Masters quarter-final

Ronnie O'Sullivan lost 6-4 to Si Jiahui at the quarter-final stage of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters in Riyadh on Thursday.

China's Jiahui led 2-0 and then 5-2 but O'Sullivan won two frames in a row to threaten a comeback before his opponent sealed victory.

England's seven-time world champion O'Sullivan had complained that "the way I've been playing, it's no fun for me" after a comeback win over Zhang Anda in the previous round.

Jiahui will face Wales' Mark Williams in the semi-finals after his 6-0 defeat of Englishman Jimmy Robertson - including a break of 133 in the final frame.

Judd Trump will play Shaun Murphy in the other semi-final.

World number one Trump beat Australian Neil Robertson 6-3 in their quarter-final.

Trump surged to a 3-0 lead, making a break of 100 in the third frame for his 997th career century, before Robertson pegged the advantage back to 4-3.

But in the end Bristol-born Trump won through as the challenge from his fellow former world champion faded.

Trump's fellow Englishman Murphy went through with a 6-2 victory over China's Xiao Guodong, albeit making only one half-century break - a 61 in the eighth frame.

The launch of the Saudi Arabia Masters has made it the most lucrative tournament in snooker after the World Championship.

Organisers are calling it the unofficial 'fourth major' - following the World Championship, Masters and UK Championship - as it offers a £2.3m prize fund with £500,000 going to the winner.

BBC
 
Williams sets up Saudi Masters final with Trump

Mark Williams will face world number one Judd Trump in Saturday's final of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters.

Welshman Williams overcame China's Si Jiahui 6-3 in their semi-final after England's Trump edged his compatriot Shaun Murphy 6-5.

Jiahui, who knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan in the quarter-final, took an early lead after an impressive break of 116 before Williams took control by winning the next four frames.

Jiahui pulled one back but Williams, 49, moved to within one frame of the final after taking the seventh.

His 22-year-old opponent battled on and fired an excellent break of 136 to reduce the deficit to 5-3 but it proved to be in vain as Williams closed out the match in the following frame.

Earlier on Friday, Trump survived a nervy final-frame decider to reach the first ever final of a ranking event in Saudi Arabia.

Trump, 35, made breaks of 67 and 72 to open up a 3-0 lead but Murphy pulled one back before the interval.

The pair exchanged the next four frames as Trump took a 5-3 lead, but Murphy then made breaks of 78 and 60 in consecutive frames to draw level and set up a decider.

The tense finale came down to the green, which Trump despatched, followed by the brown to leave Murphy needing two snookers.

The 42-year-old successfully snookered Trump once, but ultimately fell short as the latter reached his 46th ranking event final.


BBC
 
Trump edges out Williams for Saudi Arabia title

World number one Judd Trump won a dramatic final frame on the black to beat Mark Williams and lift the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters title.

The 35-year-old Englishman cleared up with a break of 72 to clinch the final 10-9 after Williams missed a red when 62 ahead.

Trump, who was checking flights home at 4-0 down to Wu Yize in his first match of the tournament, claimed £500,000 for winning the first ranking event to be held in Saudi.

"I'm in shock. Mark was the much better player, I just found something at the end," said Trump.

"I stopped breathing for the last five minutes of the frame but I managed to get over the line."

His 29th ranking title puts him one clear of Steve Davis at fourth in the all-time list for titles, behind Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins.

Trump continued his strong start to the season - winning 14 of his previous 15 matches - as he opened up a 5-3 lead at the interval.

But Welshman Williams fought back and a 138 break, his fourth century of the match, put him 9-8 ahead before Trump levelled and went on to take the decider.

"It just shows what a champion he is, what a break he has made in the last frame," said Williams, 49.

"For half a million quid, 62 behind, two reds safe - what can you say? Congratulations to him."

Saturday's final was the most lucrative match in snooker outside of the World Championship.

"Down the line if it keeps on improving, this is going to be one of the real special tournaments," said Trump.

Critics claim Saudi Arabia's investment in sports is designed to gain legitimacy and deflect attention from controversy over its human rights record, a practice known as sportswashing.

BBC
 
Zhao set for comeback after match-fixing scandal

The 2021 UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong is set to return to snooker later this month after serving a ban.

He was one of 10 Chinese players to be given bans last year as part of the sport’s biggest match-fixing scandal, although he did not directly throw a match himself.

Zhao is entered to play in the WPBSA Q Tour event in Bulgaria, which starts on 20 September in Sofia.

The 27-year-old was given a ban of one year and eight months, reduced from two and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea.

He had to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself.

His suspension ran from when he was first suspended in January 2023, and he was free to play on 2 September this year.

Zhao received the lowest penalty of the 10 players banned and is drawn to play Vilius Schulte-Ebbert on his return.


www.bbc.com

Zhao Xintong set for comeback after match-fixing scandal

The 2021 UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong is set to return to snooker later this month after serving a ban.
www.bbc.com
 
Pakistan’s Awais Munir, Asjad Iqbal to participate in Mongolia World Cup

Pakistan cueists Awais Munir and Asjad Iqbal are set to participate in the upcoming Mongolia World Cup (15-Red) Snooker Championship 2024.

Awais Munir and Asjad Iqbal departed from Karachi on Thursday to participate in the Mongolia World Cup as well as the World 6-Red Snooker Championship. Notably, both events are scheduled to take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from 15-22 September.

Munir’s coach, Shoaib Arif, banked on the cueist’s remarkable track record and added that he is well-prepared for the tournaments.

“As a coach, I can say Awais Munir is well prepared for the tournaments and by the will of Almighty Allah, he will succeed and bring joy to the nation, said Arif.

It’s worth noting that Awais Munir is the only Pakistani cueist to make it to the finals in his first two international tournaments, winning one of them. Thus, he has one gold and two silver medals to his name.

He won the Asian 6-Red Snooker Championship after beating Hong Kong’s Nansen Wan in the final back in July.

Munir secured a 6-3 victory with the scores of 0-65, 35-26, 27-36, 38-20, 0-65, 13-46, 8-60, 34-0, 27-40.

He had qualified for the final after defeating countryman Asjad Iqbal 5-2 in the semi-final a day earlier. He secured victory by winning five consecutive frames after initially trailing Iqbal 0-2.

a-sports.tv

Pakistan's Awais Munir, Asjad Iqbal to participate in Mongolia World Cup

Pakistan cueists Awais Munir and Asjad Iqbal are set to participate in the upcoming Mongolia World Cup (15-Red) Snooker Championship 2024.
a-sports.tv a-sports.tv
 
Nutcharut beats Evans in historic English Open match

Thailand's Mink Nutcharut beat England's Reanne Evans at the English Open in the first match between two female players on the professional World Snooker Tour.

Nutcharut won three successive frames to claim a 4-2 victory in the ranking tournament in Brentwood, Essex.

The 24-year-old's reward for victory over fellow former women's world champion Evans, 38, is a match against Ricky Walden in the second round.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and world champion Kyren Wilson join the tournament from round three in pursuit of a £100,000 top prize.


BBC
 
Holder Trump through to last 16 of English Open

Defending champion Judd Trump reached the last 16 of the English Open with a clinical 4-1 win over Matthew Selt at Brentwood.

Selt did not make a single pot until the third frame as two-time winner Trump eased to a comfortable win. He will face Fan Zhengyi next following his 4-2 win over Oliver Lines.

Second seed Kyren Wilson also progressed with ease courtesy of a 4-1 win over Anthony McGill.

Mark Selby was in good touch with a 4-0 win over Joe O'Connor, peaking with a break of 137 in the second frame. China's Sia Jiahui awaits after coming through a much closer contest, edging his compatriot Jiang Jun 4-3.

Luca Brecel continued his season of disappointment as he slumped to a 4-3 loss at the hands of Pang Junxu, the Belgian unable to recapture the magic that saw him take last year's world championship.

John Higgins, Ross Muir and He Guoqiang all celebrated 4-1 scorelines, beating David Gilbert, Jamie Jones and Stephen Maguire respectively.


BBC
 
Higgins hits 1,000th century in English Open defeat

John Higgins became the second player to hit 1,000 centuries on his way to a narrow 4-3 last-16 defeat to Mark Allen in the English Open.

Ronnie O'Sullivan reached the landmark in 2019, with Higgins back on 745 three-figure breaks at the time.

But scores of 108 and 109 saw the 49-year-old draw level at 3-3 before Allen took a long and tense final frame in Brentwood.

Four-time world champion Higgins has hit 13 maximum 147 breaks in his career, again only second to O'Sullivan. His first century came in the 1992-93 season, with his most prolific campaign coming in 2021-22 when he hit 58., external

Reigning English champion Judd Trump moved to 998 centuries during his 4-2 win over Fan Zhengyi. Trump will now play another Chinese player Wu Yize in the quarter-finals.

Allen faces Chris Wakelin or Pang Junxu and Mark Selby will play India's Ishpreet Singh Chadha, the first Indian to reach the quarter-finals of a ranking event in 11 years.

He only joined the tour at the start of last season after moving to snooker from being a professional gamer playing Counterstrike Global Offensive., external

Neil Robertson will play either Barry Hawkins or Kyren Wilson in the final quarter-final.


BBC
 
Trump defence halted by Wu in English Open quarters

Defending champion Judd Trump suffered a surprising defeat at the English Open as he lost his quarter-final 5-3 to Wu Yize.

China's world number 40 Wu started off with a break of 108 but fell behind 2-1 to England's Trump, who tops the rankings.

However, Wu won four of the next five frames to become the first player to reach the Brentwood semi-finals.

Trump, with 998 career centuries, will have to wait for the chance to become the third player in history to reach 1,000 - after Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2019 and John Higgins this week.

Wu will face India's Ishpreet Singh Chadha in the last four after he overcame England's Mark Selby to reach his first ranking semi-final.

Selby fought back from 4-1 down to level the match with a 131 break. The deciding frame became a cat-and-mouse affair before Singh Chadha sunk a brilliant red and cleared up for the win.

Englishman Chris Wakelin is also into the semi-finals after a 5-2 win over Northern Ireland's Mark Allen.

He will take on Australian Neil Robertson, who beat fellow left-hander Barry Hawkins 5-1.


BBC
 
Robertson survives Wu comeback to win English Open

Neil Robertson has won the English Open title for a second time by beating China's Wu Yize in a thrilling final.

Australian Robertson raced into a 7-1 lead at the interval in the best-of-17-frame match in Brentwood, Essex.

Wu shifted the momentum when they returned to the table, winning six of the following seven frames to force his way back into contention at 8-7.

But Robertson, who also won the 2021 edition, recovered just in time to win 9-7.

"It was nice to get in off a fluke - it was probably the only way I was going to pot a ball," Robertson told Eurosport.

"He completely froze me out. He played the best snooker I've ever seen in a five or six-frame period.

"You start thinking of potentially runner-up speeches and how humble you're going to have to be after being 8-2 in front."

Wu, 20, was featuring in his first ranking-event final and has enjoyed a dream 10 days at the Brentwood Centre, including beating world number one Judd Trump in the quarter-finals.


BBC
 
Champion Williams beaten by world number 81 Thor

Defending British Open champion Mark Williams suffered a shock 4-1 defeat by Malaysian world number 81 Rory Thor in the first round of this year's British Open at the Centaur in Cheltenham.

Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew from the British Open on Monday, just hours before he was scheduled to face Manasawin Phetmalaikul in his first-round match, England's Lewis Ullah coming in as his replacement.

Thor, 36, won the first three frames against three-time world champion Williams, with the help of a break of 85 in the second.

Williams pulled one back, before Thor held his nerve in frame five to get over the line and book his place in the second round.

British Open winner in 1997, 2021 and 2023, Williams lost the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters final 10-9 to Judd Trump earlier this month but has failed to recapture the form that took him to that decider in his subsequent two events.

For the Welshman, it was a second consecutive loss in the first round of a tournament, the 49-year-old having also exited the English Open at the first hurdle last week.

www.bbc.com

British Open: Champion Williams beaten by world number 81 Thor as O'Sullivan withdraws

Defending champion Mark Williams suffers a shock 4-1 defeat by world number 81 Rory Thor in round one of the British Open, as Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from the tournament.
www.bbc.com
 
Table at British Open 'should be burned' - Allen

Mark Allen has branded conditions at the British Open "absolutely embarrassing" and said the table on which he beat Gary Wilson should be "burned".

The world number three from Northern Ireland overcame Wilson by a score of 4-3 but was left frustrated at the match being staged on table two at the Centaur in Cheltenham.

"The conditions out there are absolutely embarrassing," Allen told ITV.

"It's some of the worst weather outside and they've left the massive transport doors open. It's so cold, it's so humid, out there.

"The table needs to be burned."

Allen said it was "not good enough" for a tournament like the British Open.

"The cushions are unplayable, uncontrollable," he said. "It was heavy. The speed was decent.

"There's new guys doing the tables this year and they're clearly not up to it.

"I pride myself on preparing properly for tournaments with good conditions and you turn up and you don't get them. It's not good enough."

Allen, who was runner up at the British Open in 2022, will face Aaron Hill in the next round, but the 38-year-old does not expect his complaints to have any impact.

"I complain every single tournament, fill in table report sheets, match report sheets and nothing ever changes," he added.

A spokesperson for World Snooker Tour [WST] told BBC Sport: "Our table-fitting team has been consistent for some time and works to the highest standards.

"The weather in the area has seen unprecedented rainfall over the last couple of days which can negatively influence the conditions.

"We have raised the issue of an open door with the venue."


BBC
 
Trump, Allen and Robertson progress in British Open

Judd Trump, Mark Allen and Neil Robertson have progressed to the third round of the British Open at the Centaur in Cheltenham.

World number one Trump claimed a 4-2 victory against Ryan Day of Wales, the 2022 British Open champion.

Trump, 35, must wait a little longer to claim the 1,000th century break of his career as the best the Englishman managed against Day was 80 in the final frame.

Allen, from Northern Ireland, ran out a 4-1 winner over Aaron Hill from the Republic of Ireland, while Australian Robertson saw off Scotland's Chris Totten by the same scoreline on Tuesday afternoon.

Fresh from winning the English Open on Sunday, Robertson moved two frames in front with breaks of 100 and 99, before Totten replied with a run of 79 to reduce the arrears.

Robertson, 42, responded with an 86 and 53 to get over the line and continue his revival after a difficult couple of years.

A day after complaining about the conditions at the British Open, saying the table should be "burned", Allen bookended his match with centuries, beginning with a 102 break and adding a 56 in the next to establish a two-frame advantage.

The world number three recovered from a 50-point deficit to claim frame three, and although Hill came out on top in a scrappy fourth, it proved only a temporary reprieve as Allen, 38, then knocked in a 101 to secure victory.

Trump's bid to reach 1,000 centuries will continue in round three against compatriot Mark Davis, who beat Xiao Guodong 4-2.

Only two players have reached the landmark before - Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2019 and John Higgins during his 4-3 defeat by Allen in the English Open last week.

Ukraine's Iulian Boiko, who turned 19 on Sunday, claimed the best win of his career. Boiko, who is not currently on the professional tour, beat Si Jiahui 4-1 and will face Welshman Jak Jones, a 4-0 winner against Alfie Burden.

Allen will take on either Hammad Miah or Ben Mertens in round three, while Robertson will play Mark Joyce or Rory Thor, conqueror of Mark Williams.


BBC
 
Selby, Higgins and Wilson through at British Open

Mark Selby, John Higgins and reigning world champion Kyren Wilson all progressed at the British Open on Wednesday.

In one of the opening third-round matches during the evening session, four-time world champion Selby clinched a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Yuan Sijun.

Earlier, Higgins reached the third round as the four-time world champion claimed a 4-2 win against Shaun Murphy, after the Scot took the opening three frames.

Duane Jones levelled against world number two Wilson but the Englishman is also into the third round, producing a break of 114 as he took the next three frames to triumph 4-1.

Higgins will take on compatriot Graeme Dott in Cheltenham on Thursday, while Wilson will play Hong Kong's Marco Fu.

World number one Judd Trump faces fellow Englishman Mark Davis as he bids to make the 1,000th century break of his career.

Only two players have reached the landmark before - Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2019 and Higgins during his 4-3 defeat by Mark Allen at the English Open last week.


BBC
 
Allen Makes 147 In Cheltenham

Mark Allen made the fourth 147 break of his career during his third round match with Ben Mertens at the Unibet British Open on Thursday.

Allen's perfect break came in the second frame and put him 2-0 ahead. The key moment of the maximum came after nine reds and blacks, as he ran out of position but then played a clever double to a centre pocket on the tenth red, allowing him to go on and complete the 147. He will earn the £5,000 high break prize in Cheltenham if the break is not equalled this week.

The Northern Irishman becomes the 16th player to make four (or more) 147s and it's his second maximum of 2024 as he made one in the Masters in January. It's the 205th 147 in snooker history and third of the season.


www.wst.tv

Allen Makes 147 In Cheltenham

Allen Makes 147 In Cheltenham
www.wst.tv www.wst.tv
 
RIP Clive Everton. The voice of snooker. Was a big snooker fan as a kid and his immensely knowledgeable commentary was synonymous with the sport.
 
'Voice of snooker' Everton dies aged 87

Renowned snooker commentator Clive Everton has died at the age of 87.

Everton worked for BBC TV for more than 30 years from the 1970s onwards and was a respected broadcaster and journalist.

He was founder of the Snooker Scene magazine and edited the publication for 51 years.


www.bbc.com

Clive Everton: Snooker commentator dies aged 87

Tributes are paid after renowned snooker commentator Clive Everton dies at the age of 87.
www.bbc.com
 
Judd Trump has become the third player in snooker history to reach the mammoth landmark of 1,000 centuries, following in the footsteps of Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins.

Trump, 35, is widely regarded as one of the best break-builders the game has seen, and he reached the milestone at the 2024 British Open against Mark Allen.
 

Selby to face Higgins in British Open final​

Mark Selby will face fellow four-time world champion John Higgins in the final of the British Open on Sunday.

World number five Selby overcame Northern Ireland's Mark Allen 6-3 in a hard-fought semi-final in Cheltenham on Saturday.

The Englishman will now take on Higgins after the Scot beat Oliver Lines 6-0 earlier to reach his first ranking event final since April 2022.

Selby produced a break of 105 on the way to a 3-0 lead in the second semi-final, and then led 4-1, before world number three Allen fought back.

The 38-year-old from Antrim, who made a maximum 147 break during Friday's quarter-final win over world number one Judd Trump, hit a 130 as he cut the deficit to 4-3.

But Selby, 41, found breaks of 95 and 77 to secure victory and reach his first final since losing to Mark Williams in last year's British Open title match.

Currently ranked 99th in the world, 29-year-old Englishman Lines was playing in his first semi-final and had chances in most of the frames.

But Scot Higgins secured each one, his highest breaks of 64 and 67 coming in the last two frames.

Source: BBC
 
Selby beats Higgins to win first British Open title

Mark Selby claimed his first British Open title by beating fellow four-time world champion John Higgins in Sunday's final.

The world number five clinched a 10-5 victory in Cheltenham in his first major final since losing to Mark Williams at last year's British Open.

It is the 41-year-old's first ranking title since winning the WST Classic in March 2023 and the 23rd of the Englishman's career.

He lifted the Clive Everton Trophy in the week that snooker lost the renowned broadcaster and journalist, who died at the age of 87.

The British Open trophy was named in Everton's honour in 2022, in recognition of his contribution to the sport.

Higgins, 49, was playing in his first ranking event final since April 2022 and will climb back up to 14th in the world - just a week after the Scot dropped out of the world's top 16 for the first time since 1995.

Selby led 5-3 after a high-quality opening session, with a break of at least 60 in all eight frames, including three centuries.

Selby went into a 4-2 lead by reeling off three straight frames, including a 137 break.

Higgins made 105 to pull one back, but Selby replied with a 135 to end the session on top.

The first frame of the evening went to Higgins, cutting his deficit to just one, but Selby captured five of the next six to tie up victory, making runs of 91 and 93 in the last two to finish in style.


BBC
 
Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy seal International Championship qualifying wins, Luca Brecel crashes out

Mark Selby safely booked his spot in the International Championship with an assured 6-3 win over Artemijs Zizins. After picking up the British Open title on Sunday, his first ranking-event triumph in 18 months, ‘The Jester’ compiled breaks of 93, 71, 143, 103 and 82 to come through what was a high-quality match in Sheffield. Shaun Murphy followed suit, but Luca Brecel crashed out.

Mark Selby continued his fine run of form with a comfortable 6-3 victory over Latvia’s Artemijs Zizins to qualify for November’s International Championship, but former world champion Luca Brecel suffered a shock defeat.

‘The Jester’ ended an 18-month wait for a ranking-event title with an impressive 10-5 win over John Higgins in the final of the British Open on Sunday and picked up where he left off to come through a tricky encounter against Zizins.

Breaks of 93, 71, 143, 103 and 82 saw Selby prevail in a high-quality contest against his 18-year-old opponent, who looks like a promising prospect for the future.


www.eurosport.com

Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy seal International Championship qualifying wins, Luca Brecel crashes out - Eurosport

Mark Selby continued his fine run of form with a comfortable 6-3 victory over Latvia’s Artemijs Zizins to qualify for November’s International Championship.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from Wuhan Open as snooker absence continues following British Open withdrawal

Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open due to medical reasons.

The seven-time world champion has not played since a shock defeat to He Guoqiang in the first round of the English Open on September 17.

He was due to face Mitchell Mann in the opening round of the Wuhan Open on Sunday, but will be replaced by Mark Joyce.

O’Sullivan, who also withdrew from the British Open, said recently he will have to "pace" himself to extend his career, but has no plans to quit the sport.


www.eurosport.com

Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from Wuhan Open as snooker absence continues following British Open withdrawal - Eurosport

Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open due to medical reasons after missing the British Open last month.
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Judd Trump makes blistering start to Wuhan Open snooker title, Kyren Wilson eases past Liam Davies

Judd Trump produced three splendid century breaks in a 5-1 win over Polish newcomer Antoni Kowalski to get his Wuhan Open title defence off to a flying start on Sunday morning.

The world No. 1 rolled in efforts of 101, 105 and 123 to book his spot in the last 64 and a match against He Guoqiang in the last 64 of the season's sixth ranking event.

Trump has already lifted the Shanghai Masters and Saudi Arabia Masters and finished runner-up at the Xi'an Grand Prix as he bids to extend his outstanding start to the new campaign.


www.eurosport.com

Judd Trump makes blistering start to Wuhan Open snooker title, Kyren Wilson eases past Liam Davies - Eurosport

Judd Trump produced three splendid century breaks in a 5-1 win over Polish newcomer Antoni Kowalski to get his Wuhan Open title defence off to a flying start.
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Zhao wins first tournament since return from ban4

China's Zhao Xintong has won his first tournament since returning from a ban for his involvement in snooker's biggest match-fixing scandal.

The 27-year-old beat England's Craig Steadman 4-3 in the final of the WPBSA Q Tour event in Stockholm, Sweden.

On Saturday, Zhao had made the first maximum 147 break on the amateur tour, which began in 2021 and offers two qualifying places for the professional World Snooker Tour.

Zhao was one of 10 players banned in the corruption scandal. He did not directly throw a match but was suspended for a year and eight months, reduced from two and a half years, after his early admissions and guilty plea.

He accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself.

The 2021 UK Championship winner lost at the last-64 stage of a Q Tour event on his comeback in Bulgaria last month.

In Sweden, he hit eight centuries in his eight matches over three days, including the historic 147.

"I wasn't aiming to be the champion but I just wanted to get back to playing competitively," he said.

After three of the seven Q Tour events, Zhao is in second place in the rankings behind Estonia's Andres Petrov.

The eventual top-ranked player will earn a World Snooker Tour card, with the next 16 going into a play-off competition.


BBC
 
Judd Trump beats Anthony McGill to reach round four of Wuhan Open, Kyren Wilson suffers shock exit

Defending champion Judd Trump is through to round four of the Wuhan Open after a competitive 5-2 victory against Anthony McGill.

An initial break of 58 got Trump going nicely and, despite a fightback from McGill, Trump was able to see out the first frame.
McGill’s response was exemplary as his sixth century break of the season - ending on 105 - levelled the match.


www.eurosport.com

Judd Trump beats Anthony McGill to reach round four of Wuhan Open, Kyren Wilson suffers shock exit - Eurosport

Defending champion Judd Trump is through to round four of the Wuhan Open after a 5-2 victory against Anthony McGill, while Kyren Wilson suffers shock exit
www.eurosport.com www.eurosport.com
 
Trump into Wuhan Open last eight despite cue mix-up

Defending champion Judd Trump beat John Higgins 5-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open - despite taking another player's cue into the arena after the mid-session interval.

Leading 3-1, Trump alerted the referee as he was about to break off for the fifth frame and told Higgins that he had inadvertently picked up the wrong cue.

"My cue was in the case I think, but Ben [Woollaston] put his cue next to my case," Trump said to the Scot as he was reunited with his own cue, with Higgins seeing the funny side of the mix-up.

World number one Trump went on to win the fifth frame to go 4-1 up and, although four-time world champion Higgins responded with a break of 126, Trump wrapped up victory to set up a meeting with either fellow Englishman Chris Wakelin, who made successive century breaks of 128, 139 and 132 to beat home favourite Ding Junhui 5-3


www.bbc.com

Wuhan Open: Judd Trump overcomes cue mix-up to beat John Higgins and reach quarter-finals

Judd Trump beats John Higgins to reach the Wuhan Open quarter-finals, despite returning from the mid-session interval with another player's cue.
www.bbc.com
 
Trump beats Wakelin to reach Wuhan Open semi-final

Judd Trump pinched a tight deciding frame as he came from behind to beat fellow Englishman Chris Wakelin and reach the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open.

Wakelin, who beat Chinese home favourite Ding Junhui in the previous round, continued his impressive form to establish a 2-0 lead, helped by a break of 97 in the first frame.

Trump edged the third but Wakelin closed out the fourth to hold a 3-1 lead, before the defending champion made 54 and 58 in the next two frames to level.

Wakelin regained the lead in the following frame but Trump clinched victory by taking the next two for a thrilling 5-4 win, snatching the close-fought decider on the colours.


BBC
 
Si compiles 147 maximum as he sweeps past Trump

Si Jiahui compiled the first 147 maximum break of his career as he beat world number one Judd Trump 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open.

Trump described Si's display as "the best performance there has been against me, by quite far".

The 22-year-old from China reeled off four consecutive frames with breaks of 144, 61, 147 and 81 after Trump had taken the opening frame with a century of his own.

While Trump took frame six with an 89, Si, who had lost his previous six meetings against the Englishman, sealed his win with another century and a run of 71.

Si will now face Xiao Guodong in a best-of-19 encounter in what will be only the third ranking final in the history of the sport to be contested by two players from China.


BBC
 
Xiao wins Wuhan Open to end 17-year title wait

China's Xiao Guodong beat compatriot Si Jiahui 10-7 in the Wuhan Open final to earn his maiden ranking title after 17 years as a professional.

In his third ranking final - 11 years after losing the first of those to Chinese snooker doyen Ding Junhui in Shanghai - Xiao withstood a fightback to prevail in a high-quality match.

Xiao made an impressive start and moved into a 5-3 lead following a 129 break in the opening session of only the third tour final between two players from mainland China.

Si showed resolve with a century break in the eighth frame to pull one back but Xiao later made a run of 113 to extend his lead to 8-4 before winning the next frame of the evening session to move one away from victory.

He would have to wait for his crowning moment as Si produced a stirring surge, which included a break of 131, to reduce the deficit to 9-7.

The 22-year-old Si, who made the first 147 break of his career in a semi-final win over world number one Judd Trump, was playing elegantly as he chased down the lead.

He had the first opportunity of the 17th frame but a miss on 46 opened the door for Xiao, who crafted a testing snooker and went on to end Si's challenge.

The 35-year-old Xiao's success secured the top prize of £140,000.

Xiao, who knocked out reigning world champion Kyren Wilson earlier in the tournament, will jump 11 places to 18th in the world rankings with his long-awaited title.


BBC
 
Allen impresses in NI Open first-round win

Mark Allen started his bid to win a third Northern Ireland Open title in four years by breezing past China's Liu Hongyu 4-0 in the first round on Monday.

The world number three delighted the home crowd at Belfast's Waterfront Hall by compiling a break of 71 to win the first frame and made it 2-0 thanks to a 76 clearance in the next.

The Antrim man then took a scrappier third and capped off an impressive potting display by putting together a run of 70 to seal victory.


BBC
 
Hong Kong should always have an event – Robertson

Neil Robertson has welcomed the recent announcement that this season's World Grand Prix will be held in Hong Kong, external, the first ranking event to be held there for 35 years.

The news continues the ongoing globalisation of the sport, with increased prize money and host venues with large capacities adding to the impression that the sport is heading in a positive direction.

The inaugural version of the lucrative Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters was held in Riyadh in late August and early September, with Judd Trump collecting a winner's prize of £500,000, the same as is on offer for the World Championship.

The tournament in Hong Kong will be staged in the 4,000-capacity Grand Hall at the Kai Tak Arena from 4-9 March 2025.

Ronnie O'Sullivan will be the defending champion at the competition, which will host the top 32 players qualified by virtue of the sport's one-year ranking list with a first prize of £180,000.

Total prize money for the event will rise from £380,000 to £700,000.

A potential sell-out crowd at the venue would represent a record attendance for a ranking event.

An invitation event featuring eight players was staged in Hong Kong two years ago, with O'Sullivan winning the final in front of 9,000 enthusiastic fans.

"I played Ronnie in the semi-final there, had three centuries in a row and the crowd was going crazy," reflected Robertson after beating Graeme Dott 4-3 in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

"I was wondering why we weren't going back as for me the tournament was a huge success.

"Everyone's been working hard behind the scenes to make it happen, they've increased the prize money and the ranking points available, which is really a step in the right direction. Hong Kong should always have an event."

'Nice to get early reward'

Robertson has shown improved form this season - most notably a win in the English Open in September, his first in a ranking event for over two years - having previously won at least one tournament every calendar year since 2006.

His hard-earned win over Dott on Monday keeps him on track to become the first player ever to win all four Home Nations Series tournaments.

Last season the Australian dropped out of the world's top 16 and failed to qualify for the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre, but he says he is now in a much better place after that disappointing campaign.

"When you're working hard and have got that day-to-day structure, it's nice to get that reward early on in the season," said the 42-year-old.

"I think I've played really well so far and my main goal this season was to qualify for the Masters, which was a really big task given that I started the season ranked 27.

"I definitely want to be there and I want to push through the momentum. It's great to be back in the Champion of Champions too - everything is positive and moving forward. I'm looking forward to every event I play in, whereas last year I was chasing results."

Robertson says he "enjoyed" his first-round NI Open victory over his Scottish opponent in what was a repeat of the 2010 World Championship final, as "the standard of the snooker was really good".

"I thought we played to a very good level and when you get a healthy crowd in watching it, it kind of adds to the enjoyment. I thought it was a good game, there wasn't much in it."

O'Sullivan has 'earned the right' to miss events

The NI Open takes place this week without seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, who withdrew from the event on Sunday.

The 48-year-old has not played competitively since losing in the first round of the English Open on 17 September.

"He [O'Sullivan] is at a stage of his career where he has won absolutely everything and pretty much smashed every record there is," said 2010 world champion Robertson.

"The only thing would be to win another Worlds and then he's completely on his own, so he has earned the right to do that [sit out some tournaments]. At his stage of his career it is going to be all about the Triple Crown events, and maybe the Saudi ones.

"He's incredibly busy off the table now. It's up to him, I hope he's OK, but I'm sure we'll see him back in the Champion of Champions or the UK Championship."

BBC
 
Allen suffers shock defeat by Lines at NI Open

Mark Allen suffered a shock 4-3 defeat by Oliver Lines, ranked 83, in the second round of the Northern Ireland Open at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

Lines won a nervy final frame decider after a mostly scrappy encounter on Wednesday, where Allen failed to find the form which helped him advance from his opening match of the tournament against Liu Hongyu earlier in the week.

Lines took the first frame on the black, then Allen levelled thanks to a break of 87.

A run of 73 in the next allowed the Englishman to restore his one-frame advantage but the world number three battled back to restore parity once again.

The Antrim player edged ahead for the first time but Lines won the next two to secure one of the biggest wins of his career.


BBC
 
Murphy, Wilson & Williams reach NI Open last eight

Shaun Murphy beat fellow former world champion Stuart Bingham on the final black to reach the Northern Ireland Open quarter-finals.

Two more Crucible winners - Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams - joined Murphy in the last-eight Belfast line-up, along with China's Pang Junxu.

Murphy recovered from 3-1 down to win 4-3 against Bingham, while Wilson saw off exciting teenager Stan Moody 4-1, Williams defeated Ma Hailong 4-2 and Pang whitewashed Martin O'Donnell 4-0.

Williams will face reigning world champion Wilson in a heavyweight last-eight encounter, with Murphy awaiting the winner of Thursday evening's all-English match between Barry Hawkins and Judd Trump - the defending NI Open champion and world number one.

Pang will play either English Open winner Neil Robertson or Oliver Lines, conqueror of Mark Allen, in another of Friday's best-of-nine-frame quarter-finals.


www.bbc.com

Northern Ireland Open: Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams win to reach quarter-finals

Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson and Mark Williams advance to the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.
www.bbc.com
 
Trump beats Hawkins to reach NI Open quarter-finals

Judd Trump continued his defence of the Northern Ireland Open title with a 4-1 victory against Barry Hawkins in Belfast on Thursday night.

The world number one made breaks of 69 and 63 to move into a 2-0 lead before Hawkins pulled one back.

Trump won the fourth frame before a 105 break saw him seal victory and a place in the quarter-finals at the Waterfront Hall.



BBC
 
Trump reaches semi-finals of Northern Ireland Open

World number one Judd Trump booked his place in the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Open with a 5-1 win over Shaun Murphy at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

Trump continued his superb run of form to set up a last-four encounter with Elliott Slesser.

After grinding his way into a 2-1 lead over Murphy, the reigning champion fired off breaks of 128 and 125 to put himself in a commanding position and he secured a comfortable win.

The 35-year-old will face Slessor, who also put in a strong display to defeat Louis Heathcoate 5-1 in Belfast.

Slessor reached the last four of the Welsh Open in 2023 and was a semi-finalist in Belfast in 2017.

Kyren Wilson will face Pang Junxu of China in the other semi-final tie.


BBC
 
Wilson hammers Trump to win Northern Ireland Open

Kyren Wilson claimed his first Northern Ireland Open title by beating world number one Judd Trump 9-3 in Belfast.

The reigning world champion got off to a blistering start at the Waterfront Hall as he reeled off seven frames in a row.

The 32-year-old was able to see out the final in the evening session.

Wilson, who is world number two, said his rivalry with Trump is "good for the future of snooker".

“What Judd has been achieving lately is inspiring, to be as dominant as he has been with the sort of level of standard on Tour these days is phenomenal," Wilson told Eurosport.

"I don’t know where he gets the stamina from - it's got to be applauded.

“He makes me raise my game and I’m glad I’m up there and competing."

Wilson, 32, hit breaks two breaks of 77, 58, 81 and 88 as he raced into a commanding lead.

Trump, who has won the Alex Higgins trophy for a record four times, managed to halt Wilson's momentum by pinching the final frame of the afternoon session.

However, knowing he required just two frames to win, Wilson was able to relax into the final session.

The pair, who also met at the Xi’an Grand Prix final in which Wilson won, exchanged early frames before Trump recorded his third frame with a superb break of 143.

But Wilson secured victory in style with a break of 119 in Belfast.


BBC
 
O'Sullivan beats Nutcharut after safety delays

Ronnie O'Sullivan eventually overcame women's world number one Mink Nutcharut 6-3 after their match was delayed several times because of safety concerns.

The 48-year-old hit two centuries - including a final frame break of 132 - to see off Thailand's Nutcharut in the first round of the International Championship in Nanjing, China.

But the start of the match had to be delayed by more than 50 minutes as spectators crammed into the arena, forcing the morning session between Zhang Anda and Ishpreet Singh Chadha to end early.

"Due to the amount of spectators, for safety reasons the afternoon session has been delayed until 2.50pm," read a World Snooker Tour social media post.

When play did start, it was Nutcharut who took the first frame as O'Sullivan, who had not played since the English Open in September, struggled to find his rhythm.

The seven-time world champion won four frames in a row from there, but let two slip as Nutcharut made it 4-3.

O'Sullivan regained his composure, playing his best frames of the session to claim victory.

"An absolute privilege to play such a talented opponent. Thank you for the game and good luck in the future," said O'Sullivan.

He will face He Guoqiang in the next round.


BBC
 
O'Sullivan beaten by China's Pang in Nanjing

Ronnie O'Sullivan suffered a 6-4 third-round defeat by Pang Junxu as the seven-time world champion was knocked out of the International Championship in Nanjing.

The match was tied at 2-2 in the eastern Chinese city before 24-year-old Pang made breaks of 85 and 73 to take a 4-2 lead.

O'Sullivan, 48, took the next two frames to level the match again only for his Chinese opponent to rattle off 120 and 123 breaks to secure victory.

Pang will face Welshman Jackson Page, who beat Ali Carter 6-4, in the last 16.

John Higgins thrashed Matthew Stevens 6-1 to progress, while Judd Trump was a 6-4 victor against Joe O'Connor.

Shaun Murphy's participation was ended as he lost 6-3 to Chris Wakelin, who made breaks of 116, 102, 60, 85 and 63.

Former world number one Mark Allen is also out after losing 6-2 to China's Xiao Guodong, whose countryman Xu Si thrilled the home crowd with a 147 break - the second of his career - on his way to a 6-2 win over Wales' Ryan Day.

World champion Kyren Wilson progressed with a 6-4 win over Wu Yize, while Barry Hawkins beat Neil Robertson 6-1.


BBC
 
Judd Trump fell victim to a huge upset at the International Championship, as Xu Si continued his impressive form to knock out the world No. 1 in Tianjin.

Xu, 26, ousted Trump 6-4 to reach only his third-ever quarter-final at a ranking event.

He will face either Mark Selby or Gary Wilson for a spot in the last four, who face each other in Wednesday's later session.
 
Angry Higgins beaten in quarter-finals by Wakelin

An angry John Higgins lost to Chris Wakelin in the quarter-finals of the International Championship in Nanjing after the deciding frame was pushed back by several hours.

With the best-of-11 frame contest level at 5-5 the referee ruled the afternoon session had concluded, to the evident disgust of four-time world champion Higgins, who gestured and appeared to swear before leaving the table.

When the players finally resumed, after the evening session had taken place, 32-year-old Wakelin's break of 62 secured a 6-5 victory - his third straight win over a former world champion in Nanjing, eastern China.

The defeat for Higgins, 49, means the Scotsman fails to qualify for the Champion of Champions event in Bolton next week.

Having defeated Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams in the previous two rounds, Wakelin will face China's Xiao Guodong in the semi-finals after he beat Wales' Jackson Page 6-4.

China's Ding Junhui is also through to the last four, compiling breaks of 129 and 123 in a 6-4 win over Kyren Wilson.

Junhui will play compatriot Xu Si, after he beat Gary Wilson 6-5.


BBC
 
International Championship 2024: Ding Junhui knocks out Kyren Wilson, Chris Wakelin beats John Higgins to reach semis

Ding Junhui moved into the semi-finals of the International Championship with a 6-4 win over Kyren Wilson in Nanjing.

Ding, playing in front of a boisterous home crowd, was up 3-1 at the interval, but was pegged back by the second seed to 4-4.

Wilson, who has never reached beyond the second round in this competition, threatened to complete what would have been a remarkable comeback in an enthralling match, but, to the crowd's delight, Ding dug deep.


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International Championship 2024: Ding Junhui knocks out Kyren Wilson, Chris Wakelin beats John Higgins to reach semis - Eurosport

Ding Junhui moved into the semi-finals of the International Championship with a 6-4 win over Kyren Wilson in Nanjing. John Higgins exited to Chris Wakelin.
www.eurosport.com www.eurosport.com
 
Chris Wakelin scraps past Xiao Guodong to reach International Championship final after edging 17-frame thriller

Chris Wakelin reached the final of the International Championship after beating Xiao Guodong 9-8 in a thrilling semi-final.

Xiao fought back from 6-3 down to level at 8-8 but Wakelin won the decider to reach the final.

Wakelin will play the winner of Ding Junhui and Xu Si, who will meet on Saturday, live on Eurosport and discovery+.

Wakelin took the lead in the opening frame of the semi-final 64-15, but Xiao levelled after a hard-fought 71-46 win in the next frame.

The first half century of the match followed in the third, as Xiao went ahead in front of his home crowd.

Wakelin duly responded with his own half centuries in each of the next three frames to nudge 4-2 in front, but both continued scoring heavily.


www.eurosport.com

Chris Wakelin scraps past Xiao Guodong to reach International Championship final after edging 17-frame thriller - Eurosport

Chris Wakelin defeated Xiao Guodong in an epic 9-8 victory at the International Championship in final, to reach the Sunday’s final.
www.eurosport.com www.eurosport.com
 
Ding wins first ranking title in five years

China's Ding Junhui beat Englishman Chris Wakelin in the final of the International Championship to claim his first ranking title in five years.

The vocal home crowd roared on Ding as he came from behind to win 10-7 in Nanjing, China.

It was his first title since winning a third UK Championship crown in 2019 and followed defeats in his past three finals.

"I didn’t know my family were going to be at the trophy presentation, it was great to see them," Ding told World Snooker.

"My kids hadn’t seen me win anything live before."

Wakelin opened up a 4-1 lead courtesy of breaks of 63, 92, 85 and 64, but Ding won the next six frames, the last of those after Wakelin missed a red along the cushion when he had a chance to clear up.

Wakelin, whose only previous ranking title came in the Shoot Out in 2023, made an 85 and 82 to cut the deficit to 7-6 before Ding responded with a 98.

Wakelin took a scrappy 15th frame but Ding won the next three to wrap up victory.



BBC
 
Defending champion Allen defeats Jones to progress

Defending champion Mark Allen progressed to the semi-finals of this year's Champion of Champions tournament in Bolton by defeating Jak Jones 6-4 in Monday's Group One final.

The world number three from Northern Ireland mounted a successful comeback after trailing his Welsh opponent 3-0.

Breaks of 72, 64 and 104 helped Allen draw level, followed by a clearance of 66 in frame seven, which he won by a single point.

The Antrim man took the next as well with a run of 82 to move to within one of victory but 2024 World Championship finalist Jones fought back with a 104 in the ninth frame to reduce his deficit to one.

Allen got over the line by winning frame 10 to book his place in the semi-finals.


BBC
 
Williams through to Champion of Champions semis

Mark Williams progressed to the semi-finals of the Champion of Champions tournament by defeating Kyren Wilson 6-5 in Tuesday's Group Two final.

Wilson came back from 5-3 down to force a decider but Williams did enough to secure victory over the reigning world champion.

Williams, the world number six, went 3-2 up after breaks of 109 and 72, only for England's Wilson to draw level with a century of his own.

The Welshman then produced runs of 140 and 71 to restore a two-frame advantage in Bolton, but world number two Wilson replied with a 123.

A break of 56 put Williams on the brink of victory in the 10th frame, and although Wilson hit 58 to keep the match alive, Williams did enough to ensure he marched on.

Earlier, Williams beat China's Bai Yulu, the women's world champion, in the group semi-finals.

Although the women's world number four, 21, levelled things up at 1-1, Williams won the next three frames to clinch a 4-1 victory, his highest break of 92 coming in the opener.

Wilson also won his first match on Tuesday 4-1, hitting two centuries against Belgium's Luca Brecel to romp to victory after the 2023 world champion took the first frame.

Williams follows Northern Ireland's Mark Allen into the semi-finals of the invitational tournament, where 16 players are divided into four groups of four.

The winners of each group contest the semi-finals and the winner of Sunday's final will collect a first prize of £150,000.


BBC
 
O'Sullivan knocked out of Champion of Champions by Xiao

Ronnie O'Sullivan was knocked out in the opening round of the 2024 Champion of Champions tournament in Bolton by China's Xiao Guodong.

O'Sullivan, 48, a four-time winner of the event, had taken a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven-frames match, only to lose 4-3 after a superb comeback from Xiao.

Breaks of 95 and 125 in frames two and three respectively had seven-time world champion O'Sullivan on course to reach Thursday's quarter-final at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

But Xiao produced breaks of 130, 88 and 85 before winning the final frame 64-35.

It is O'Sullivan's second consecutive defeat. Last week, he was knocked out of the 2024 International Championship by Pang Junxu, also from China, at the last-32 stage.

Xiao will face Mark Selby in the quarter-finals after his 4-2 victory over fellow Englishman Shaun Murphy.

Selby recorded breaks of 96 and 132, clinching the win by taking the final frame 115-0.


BBC
 

King gets five-year ban and fine in match-fixing case​


Mark King has been banned for five years and fined £68,000 after being found guilty of match-fixing.

An independent disciplinary committee found the 50-year-old Englishman guilty of one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information on a match.

The former Northern Ireland Open champion was suspended by the sport’s world governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), on 18 March, 2023 after suspicious betting was reported on his match with Joe Perry on 13 February, 2023 at the Welsh Open.

King, who denied the charges in the case, has until 28 November to appeal against the decisions of the independent disciplinary committee.

The panel also heard accusations that King fixed a match against John Higgins on 13 December, 2022 as well as provided inside information on it but those charges were dismissed.

Perry and Higgins were not accused of any wrongdoing.

King turned professional in 1991 and reached a career-high world ranking of 11 in 2003.

"I have known Mark since he was young, he is a very experienced player who has enjoyed great success, and I am deeply saddened to read the finding in this case," said WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson.

"However, the integrity of this sport will always be our number one priority.

"This case is testament to the fact that no stone will ever be left unturned in ensuring that the hundreds of millions of snooker fans worldwide, and our many global partners, can have full confidence in this incredible sport."

www.bbc.com

Mark King given five-year ban and £68,000 fine in match-fixing case

Mark King is found guilty by an independent disciplinary committee of one count of match-fixing and one count of providing inside information on a match.
www.bbc.com
 
Xiao beats defending champion Allen to reach semis

Xiao Guodong defeated 2023 winner Mark Allen 6-3 as he moved into the final of the Champion of Champions in Bolton.

China's Xiao, who is enjoying his best campaign as a professional, took the opener with a 71 clearance after world number three Allen broke down on 65 and he also enjoyed runs of 83 and 71 to establish a 3-1 lead at the interval.

However, the Northern Irishman drew level at 3-3 before Xiao pulled clear again, taking two hard-fought frames before sealing his victory.

Xiao, who had already beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby on his way to the last four, will now face either Mark Williams or Neil Robertson on Sunday (13:00 GMT) in a battle for the £150,000 top prize.


BBC
 
Williams beats Robertson to set up Xiao final

Mark Williams convincingly beat Neil Robertson 6-2 to set up a Champion of Champions final against Xiao Guodong in Bolton.

Three-time world champion Williams moved into a 4-0 lead in the best-of-11 semi-final before Robertson hit back with a break of 78 to win the fifth frame.

A superb clearance of 132 from Welshman Williams restored his four-frame lead before Robertson compiled a 68 to win frame seven.

But the Australian could not launch a comeback, with Williams sealing victory in the next frame with a break of 66.

Williams will face China's Xiao in the best-of-19 final on Sunday from 13:00 GMT, with £150,000 for the winner.

Xiao has beaten Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby and 2023 champion Mark Allen on his way to the final.


BBC
 
Williams wins first Champion of Champions title

Mark Williams held off a fightback from Xiao Guodong to claim his first Champion of Champions title with a 10-6 victory in the final in Bolton.

Welshman Williams, 49, surged into a 5-0 lead before China's Xiao reeled off four frames in a row, including two century breaks.

After the interval, three-time world champion Williams compiled breaks of 104, 62, 80, 95 and 67 to seal the win, with Xiao only able to win the 12th and 14th frames.

"I can't believe it," Williams told ITV. "I'm stood here just about to pick that trophy up and I don't know how I'm doing it really, but I'm sticking in there.

"The interval came at the perfect time for me because if it carried on, he was probably going to run away with it.

"I'm lost for words really. I'm over the moon."

Despite defeat, Xiao, 35, is enjoying his best campaign as a professional and beat Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby and 2023 champion Mark Allen on his way to the final.


BBC
 
Record-breaking Bai one win off UK Championship

Bai Yulu is one win away from becoming the first woman to reach the last-32 of the UK Championship after a record third victory in the qualifiers.

The 21-year-old Chinese won the final three frames to defeat world number 44 Scott Donaldson 6-5 as she became the first woman to win three matches at a ranking event.

Bai, who won the Women's World Championship earlier this year, will play England's world number 21 Jack Lisowski in the final qualifying round on Wednesday (19:00 GMT) for a place in the main draw in York.

The last-32 stage gets under way on Saturday, 23 November and will be televised on the BBC. The top 16 seeds will be drawn against 16 qualifiers, with record eight-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan defending the title.

Bai, 120th in the rankings, had already become the first woman this century to win back-to-back matches at a ranking event with victories over Jamie Jones and Farakh Ajaib.

She is playing on the professional tour for the first time this season and had not won a match on the main tour before this week.

BBC
 
Wilson ready to 'strike while the iron is hot' as he targets UK glory

Kyren Wilson says he wants to "strike while the iron is hot" and follow his world title success with more glory at the UK Championship.

Wilson, 32, suffered a first-round exit to qualifier Jamie Clarke 12 months ago and has only progressed beyond the quarter-finals once in 11 previous appearances at the first Triple Crown event of the campaign.

However, he will get under way at the York Barbican on Monday, having already won two ranking events this term in arguably his best-ever start to a season.

And far from being weighed down by his triumph at the Crucible in May, he appears to be relishing all that goes with being world champion and taking his game up to another level.

"I feel like I am coming to the peak of my powers and starting to play some of my best snooker consistently," said Wilson. "It is coming out on the match table.

"It has been frustrating because it has always been there in practice. It is hard to transfer it over to the match table sometimes because it means so much, but I feel like that is coming now and you are seeing the best version of me.

"So obviously I want to strike while the iron is hot. I love going to tournaments and being introduced as the reigning world champion.

"It is incredible and gives me goosebumps down my back. There is definitely a feelgood factor and I go into my games with a lot more clout now and confidence around me and you do create a little bit of a fear factor around yourself."


www.bbc.com

Kyren Wilson: World champion targeting UK Championship success

World champion Kyren Wilson is ready to 'strike while the iron is hot' as he targets UK Championship glory in York.
www.bbc.com
 
Lisowski ends Bai's historic UK Championship bid

Jack Lisowski ended Bai Yulu’s bid to become the first woman to reach the last 32 of the UK Championship with a comfortable 6-1 win in the final qualifying round in Leicester.

The Englishman made breaks of 79, 69, 64 and 77 as he reeled off the first four frames.

Chinese world women's champion Bai, 21, made a half-century of her own to briefly reduce her arrears but her hopes of reaching the televised stages in York were dashed as Lisowski sealed his victory with runs of 85 and 66.

"Obviously, it was all about Bai," said Lisowski. "It would have been incredible if she could have qualified, but she had an incredible run anyway.

"It was just about trying to keep my concentration. I get easily distracted normally at the best of times. So obviously, that storyline was in the back of my head.

"I think she missed the blue to make it 1-1 and then I made 50s and 60s each frame. We sort of dragged each other down a little bit, but I'm happy to get through. If it goes 1-1 it’s game on, I think that was the key moment in the match.”

Lisowski, 33, who is regarded as one of the best players to have never won a ranking tournament, now goes into Thursday afternoon's draw for the first Triple Crown event of the season in York.



www.bbc.com

Jack Lisowski ends Bai Yulu's bid for historic UK Championship appearance

Jack Lisowski ends Bai Yulu’s bid to become the first woman to reach the last 32 of the UK Championship with a 6-1 win in the final qualifying round.
www.bbc.com
 
Robertson sets up Trump meeting at UK Championship

Neil Robertson will play world number one Judd Trump in the first round of the UK Championship after advancing past Matthew Stevens 6-2 in the final qualifier in Leicester.

Their encounter will be a repeat of their epic 2020 final, won by the Australian, who also got the better of the Englishman earlier this month at the Champion of Champions.

Robertson, who has won all three of snooker’s Triple crown events, opened with a superb break of 136 against the 2003 winner Stevens, who levelled at 1-1.

However, Robertson then took the next three, including the pivotal fourth frame, which the Welshman had looked on course to win, before sealing the victory.

The 42-year-old's meeting with Trump is arguably the tie of round one despite there being several other mouthwatering encounters to kick off the televised stages.

Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and Barry Hawkins will reprise their meetings from the World Championship and Masters finals of 2013 and 2016.

Zhao Xintong, who won the tournament in 2021, will face former world champion Shaun Murphy, after returning from a ban for his involvement in snooker's biggest match-fixing scandal.

Jack Lisowski, who ended the qualifying run of women's world champion Bai Yulu, has been drawn to face Mark Selby, with Champion of Champions winner Mark Williams taking on a fellow former Crucible winner in Stuart Bingham.


BBC
 
O'Sullivan bids for record-extending ninth UK Championship title

Snooker great Ronnie O'Sullivan starts his bid for a record-extending ninth UK Championship title at York Barbican on Saturday.

O'Sullivan, who celebrates his 49th birthday four days after this year's final on 1 December, is the defending champion and top seed for the first of this season's Triple Crown events.

However, the Rocket has only won one title since beating Ding Junhui 10-7 in the final last year and has yet to reach a final this season, losing in the first round of last week's Champion of Champions.

Second seed Kyren Wilson, winner of last month's Northern Ireland Open, will seek to add the UK crown to the world title he won in May.

Third seed Judd Trump, the UK champion in 2011, is the in-form player this season having already won three titles, while fourth seed Mark Allen will aim to reclaim the trophy he won in 2022.

Two-time winner Mark Williams, who claimed the Champion of Champions trophy on Sunday, will hope to win the UK title for the first time since 2002.

Ding Junhui is another recent tournament winner having won the International Championship to claim his first ranking title since lifting his third UK title in 2019.

Former champions Mark Selby, John Higgins and Shaun Murphy will also hope to add the title to their collection of trophies.

The 32-strong field will consist of the world’s top 16 players and 16 qualifiers.


www.bbc.com

UK Snooker Championship 2024: Match schedule, BBC coverage times, prize money, top seeds and format

The UK Snooker Championship - the first of this season's Triple Crown events - gets under way on Saturday and you can watch live coverage across the BBC.
www.bbc.com
 

Hawkins defeats eight-time UK champion O'Sullivan​

Eight-time UK champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was knocked out on the opening day of the 2024 event, losing 6-4 against world number 20 Barry Hawkins, who called the win one of the best of his career.

O'Sullivan led 3-1 and 4-2 at the York Barbican before Hawkins played some superb snooker to complete a shock win.

"It has been eight years since I've beaten him so that win has to be right up there for me," said Hawkins, after only his third win in 21 matches with O'Sullivan.

"It's a massive win. So many times I've played him and he has done well and other times he has been there for the taking and I've crumbled and could not take advantage.

"He looked sharp to me, but I felt strong at the end to get a win. Hopefully this gives me a lot of confidence and I can take that into the next round, but I can't get carried away."

Hawkins, 45, lost 18-12 to O'Sullivan in the 2013 World Championship final and led 9-6 in the 2021 Tour Championship semi-finals, only to lose 10-9 in the last frame.

The Englishman, who had to fight through two rounds of qualifying to get to York, admitted he feared the worst when he was drawn against 48-year-old O'Sullivan.

"I thought 'here we go, I'm going home again'," said Hawkins, who will face either China's Xiao Guodong or England's David Gilbert in the last 16.

"So many times I've been on the brink of winning against Ronnie and it has gone to the last frame and I've lost a decider. Maybe I was a bit more aggressive today, I had a bit more confidence and belief.

"Obviously this is a great result but there's no way I will be happy if I beat Ronnie and then lose in the next round. I know I can do it, but sometimes I've not turned up, played awful and crumbled, but I've now just beaten the best player in the world."

www.bbc.com

UK Championship: Barry Hawkins defeats eight-time UK champion Ronnie O'Sullivan

Eight-time UK champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is eliminated out on the opening day of the 2024 event, losing 6-4 against world number 20 Barry Hawkins.
www.bbc.com
 

Murphy backs Zhao snooker return after betting ban​


Former world champion Shaun Murphy says snooker is better for having Zhao Xintong in it after the Chinese player made his return to top-level competition following a 20-month ban.

Zhao, 27, was one of 10 players banned in a corruption scandal but, after a suspension of one year and eight months, has returned and qualified as an amateur for the UK Championship - the competition he won in 2021.

He did not directly throw a match but was initially suspended for two and a half years, reduced after his early admissions and guilty plea. He accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself.

"Xintong was always a slightly different case to the others," said Murphy, who beat Zhao 6-5 in the opening round of the UK Championship on Saturday at the York Barbican.

"He was not a cheat, he did break the rules but admitted that and served his punishment. He should be allowed to move on and come back to the sport when he qualifies. The game is better for having Xintong in it."

Earlier this week, in an interview with the BBC, Zhao urged other players to learn from his error and added: "Two years ago I made a little mistake, now I've come back.

"I know how important snooker is to me and now I just want to come back to the snooker table.

"Let them know this is a big lesson, don't make the mistake. Play snooker, it's a very good thing."

Murphy felt Zhao would be welcomed back to the sport on a full-time basis if he qualified again for the main World Snooker Tour.

"We've all made mistakes, he has served his time, he should be allowed the opportunity to go through the qualifying criteria to get back on the tour," added Murphy.

While Murphy is welcoming Zhao back to the game, he feels the other nine players involved - Liang Wenbo, Li Hang, Lu Ning, Yan Bingtao, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu, Zhao Jianbo and Bai Langning - should never be allowed to play competitive snooker again.

"If you are caught cheating you should be banned for life," added Murphy.

"Cheating is cheating, there's no room for it in any sport or our sport, but I can't emphasise the point enough - Xintong was not accused of that, he was not guilty of that, so I do believe he should be able to compete."

www.bbc.com

Shaun Murphy backs Zhao Xintong's snooker return after betting ban

Former world champion Shaun Murphy thinks snooker is better for having Zhao Xintong in it after the Chinese player made his return to top-level competition after a 20-month ban.
www.bbc.com
 
Allen battles past Page at UK Championship

Former winner and world number three Mark Allen moved into the last 16 of the UK Championship with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over qualifier Jackson Page.

Northern Ireland's Allen, who won the tournament two years ago, only made one break of 50 against the Welshman in York.

It was a fine effort from 23-year-old Page, 41st in the rankings, in his first match at the later stages of the tournament.

He led 3-2 but Allen, an 11-time ranking event winner, made his experience count as he won four of the next five frames to secure victory.


www.bbc.com

UK Championship: Mark Selby, two-time champion, loses in first round

Two-time UK Championship winner Mark Selby loses in the first round of the 2024 event as fellow Englishman Jack Lisowski produces a superb fightback.
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Two-time UK champion Selby loses in first round

Two-time UK Championship winner Mark Selby lost in the first round of the 2024 event as fellow Englishman Jack Lisowski produced a superb fightback at the York Barbican on Sunday evening.

Lisowski, 21st in the world rankings, was 3-0 behind and had only scored six points as Selby dominated the early stages with two stunning centuries.

But Lisowski got back into the match and, aided by breaks of 55, 63, 100, 70 and 61, won six of the next seven frames to take the victory 6-4 and set up a last-16 tie with Ali Carter.

A shock did not look on the cards when Selby scored 329 points in the opening three frames, with Lisowski, who battled through two qualifying rounds, only potting a red and a blue.

However, Selby felt a failure to go 4-0 in front proved critical.


www.bbc.com

UK Championship: Mark Selby, two-time champion, loses in first round

Two-time UK Championship winner Mark Selby loses in the first round of the 2024 event as fellow Englishman Jack Lisowski produces a superb fightback.
www.bbc.com
 
Wilson sweeps past Maguire to move into round two

Reigning world champion Kyren Wilson moved into the second round of the UK Championship with a convincing 6-0 victory against former winner Stephen Maguire.

Both players were struggling for form on table one, with Wilson's break of 71 in the fifth frame the first half-century of the match.

He then followed that up by winning the sixth frame, helped by a run of 86, as Maguire, the 2004 champion, suffered a tame exit from the tournament.

Wilson's victory comes after four of the 16 seeded players were eliminated from the tournament on the opening two days, including top seed and 2023 champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and fifth seed Mark Selby.

But Wilson, ranked second in the world, moved into the last 16 with ease to set up a match against either 15th seed Chris Wakelin, who defeated former UK quarter-finalist Matthew Selt 6-4.


www.bbc.com

UK Championship: Kyren Wilson sweeps past Stephen Maguire to move into round two

Reigning world champion Kyren Wilson moves into round two of the UK Championship with a convincing 6-0 victory against former winner Stephen Maguire.
www.bbc.com
 
Trump recovers to beat Robertson at UK Championship

World number one Judd Trump won five frames in a row as he fought back from 3-1 down to beat three-time UK champion Neil Robertson 6-3 and move into the last 16 in York.

Australian Robertson had a glorious chance to move 4-1 ahead but missed the penultimate ball and that proved to be the turning point in the match.

Trump then made breaks of 73, 126 and 67 to move 5-3 ahead, and sealed the ninth frame to set up a tie with three-time champion John Higgins.


www.bbc.com

UK Snooker Championship 2024: Judd Trump recovers to beat Neil Robertson

World number one Judd Trump fights back from 3-1 down to beat three-time UK champion Neil Robertson 6-3 and move into the last 16 in York.
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Zhang makes maximum 147 break at UK Championship

China's Zhang Anda made the first maximum 147 break of this year's UK Championship in his 6-3 first-round win over compatriot Lei Peifan.

Zhang, 32, potted 15 reds and 15 blacks and then all the colours in order with a packed crowd at the York Barbican giving him a standing ovation as he sunk the final ball.

His maximum break is the 21st in the history of the UK Championship, the 208th ever in professional snooker and the sixth in the 2024-25 season.

The achievement earns Zhang a £15,000 prize - although that will be shared if other players do likewise in the rest of this week's tournament, which concludes on Sunday.

"This is my third time making a maximum and this time it just felt different as the UK Championship is a big event so I'm just very happy," said Zhang.

"I opened the reds so well and then I knew I could make it. It was just very exciting, my heart was beating so quickly."

Zhang's 147 came when he was 2-1 down on table two, with the mid-session interval immediately following. He then won four of the next five frames to move into the last 16, where on Thursday he will play England's Stuart Bingham, who fought back from 5-2 down to beat Mark Williams.

Zhang, the 11th seed, had previously made two 147s - against Anton Kazakov of Ukraine in qualifying for the 2022 European Masters and then again in the International Championship final against England's Tom Ford a year later.

If Zhang makes another maximum in the rest of the tournament, in January's Masters or the World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield in April and May, then he would earn a £147,000 reward.

BBC
 
Trump edges past Higgins in final-frame decider

World number one Judd Trump defeated three-time champion John Higgins 6-5 in a final-frame decider to book his place in the quarter-finals of the UK Championship at the Barbican in York.

A hard-fought opening to the match with several tactical exchanges left the scores level at 2-2 at the mid-session interval, with the contest becoming more fluent thereafter.

Trump crafted a superb break of 111 and also made two half centuries to lead 5-4, but Higgins, who made breaks of 58 and 106 forced an 11th frame with a composed 66 under pressure.

However, a loose safety shot from the Scot was heavily punished by Trump, who sealed his victory with a wonderful century.


BBC
 
Trump beats Zhang to reach UK Championship semis

World number one Judd Trump produced a devastating display of attacking snooker on his way to a 6-2 win over Zhang Anda and the semi-finals of the UK Championship at the Barbican in York.

Trump, whose only title in this Triple Crown event came in 2011, opened up with an 89 break to win the first frame in less than 10 minutes.

He continued in the same vein with exhilarating breaks of 126, 120 and 131 in a rampant performance to lead 4-0 at the mid-session interval.

Having reached 527 points without reply in the fifth frame, Trump looked on course to eclipse Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record of 556, set in 2014 against Ricky Walden, before missing a red to the right corner on 61.

Zhang exuberantly celebrated finally potting a ball but Trump still won the frame and, though his opponent took the next two, the Englishman then sealed his victory with his fourth century of the match.

Trump will now face world champion Kyren Wilson or qualifier Michael Holt in the last four on Saturday.



BBC
 
Wilson advances to face Trump in UK Championship semi-final

World champion Kyren Wilson beat Michael Holt 6-3 to set up a mouthwatering UK Championship semi-final meeting with world number one Judd Trump at the Barbican in York.

With Trump having earlier produced a sublime display of attacking snooker to defeat Zhang Anda 6-2, it means that the current top two ranked players on the globe will renew a growing rivalry on Saturday afternoon.

Both have already won two titles this season, with both of Wilson's – the Xi'an Grand Prix and last month's Northern Ireland open – coming at the expense of Trump.


www.bbc.com

UK Championship: Kyren Wilson sets up semi-final meeting with Judd Trump

World champion Kyren Wilson beat Michael Holt 6-3 to set up a mouthwatering UK Championship semi-final meeting with world number one Judd Trump at the Barbican in York.
www.bbc.com
 

Trump beats world champion Wilson to reach UK final​


Judd Trump reached his fourth UK Championship final with a comfortable 6-2 victory over world champion Kyren Wilson at the Barbican in York.

While the match failed to scale the heights of the expected blockbuster between the world's top two ranked players, the outcome provides Trump with a small measure of revenge after his losses to Wilson in the finals of the Xi'an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open earlier this term.

World number one Trump had looked slightly out of sorts in the opening two frames, with a purposeful Wilson enjoying a run of 62 to lead 2-0.

However, the momentum shifted spectacularly the other way with Trump then reeling off six consecutive frames against an opponent who looked shorn of confidence.

A 43rd century of the season allowed Trump to draw level and with Wilson's play punctuated by loose safety shots, unexpected missed pots and moments of misfortune, he took full advantage.

A run of 65 helped Trump go 5-2 up and he sealed his win with another century break.

"He missed a couple of pots with the rest which he doesn't normally miss and it kind of changed the game," said Trump.

"I was able to pot the long ones after the interval. I was getting in from his break-off and getting a good lead or winning the frame. He didn’t do that much wrong. Overall I am very happy to win."

Trump's success also dashed Wilson's hopes of becoming the first player to win the world and UK titles in the same year since Mark Selby in 2016.

And it ensured that Trump, who is aiming to win the tournament for the first time since 2011, has tipped his earnings for the season over £1m regardless of the result in Sunday's final against either Mark Allen or Barry Hawkins.

Source: BBC
 
Hawkins beats Allen to reach UK final against Trump

Barry Hawkins battled back to win a final-frame decider 6-5 against Mark Allen in the early hours of Sunday morning to reach his first UK Championship final, where he will meet Judd Trump.

World number one Trump had earlier defeated world champion Kyren Wilson 6-2 and would likely have already been asleep by the time Hawkins and Allen’s gripping contest concluded at 00:57 GMT.

Hawkins, 45, came through qualifying and defeated reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the opening round, and trailed 4-2 and 5-4 to world number three Allen.

However, breaks of 57, 84 and 114 helped him force an 11th frame which he emerged victorious from in a tense finale.

"I am absolutely knackered. It was ridiculous, it was so hard from start to finish. I feel drained. At 4-2 I just tried to speed up a bit," Hawkins told BBC Sport.

"It is massive, I have not had a good record here over the years, getting to one semi-final, so to finally get to the final is amazing. I was a nervous wreck, you can miss anything at that stage."

Trump and Wilson’s encounter failed to scale the heights of the expected blockbuster between the top two ranked players in the world.

But the outcome did provide Trump with a small measure of revenge after his losses to Wilson in the finals of the Xi'an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open earlier this term.

Trump had looked slightly out of sorts in the opening two frames, with a purposeful Wilson enjoying a run of 62 to lead 2-0.

But the momentum shifted spectacularly the other way with Trump then reeling off six consecutive frames against an opponent who looked shorn of confidence.

A 43rd century of the season allowed Trump to draw level and with Wilson's play punctuated by loose safety shots, unexpected missed pots and moments of misfortune, he took full advantage.

A run of 65 helped Trump go 5-2 up and he sealed his win with another century break.

"He missed a couple of pots with the rest which he doesn't normally miss and it kind of changed the game," said Trump.

"I was able to pot the long ones after the interval. I was getting in from his break-off and getting a good lead or winning the frame. He didn’t do that much wrong. Overall I am very happy to win."

Trump's success also dashed Wilson's hopes of becoming the first player to win the world and UK titles in the same year since Mark Selby in 2016.

And it ensured that his own earnings for the season will tip over £1m regardless of the outcome of his match against Hawkins.

Table conditions not conducive to classic

After so much, hype, hope and expectation of a classic contest it proved to be a slightly underwhelming affair given the quality of the two players on show.

While Trump made two centuries, there were only two other breaks in excess of 50 and both players struggled to find their normal rhythm despite being presented with numerous opportunities to score heavily.

But while the tournament has reached the one-table set-up stage both Wilson and Trump stressed that early-event concerns over the conditions have not gone away.

"I don't like to drop anyone in it but for me you have to be looking at the table fitters. The tables have been really poor all week. Every time I have played, they have been drifting to the right and even today, with just one table to focus on, it was the same scenario," said Wilson.

"When you lose faith in the table you start to question your technique and wonder if you are putting side on the ball and you play different shots to the ones you would normally.

"If World Snooker want to have these great matches and these great rivalries, they need to be looking at conditions a bit more.

"Something is going on, whether the floor is not quite level... something needs looking at because unfortunately the fans are not going to get value for money. It did not just happen to me, it happened to Judd a few times."

Trump added: “It was tricky. I think there was black I played towards the end that rolled off quite a lot and ended up missing.

"As long as the table is not rolling off it is playable which it was a little bit today."

In response, a World Snooker spokesperson said: "Our table-fitting team work to the highest standards, often through the night, to ensure the best possible playing conditions.

"However, they can only respond to the issues which get reported by players. Only two condition report sheets have been submitted this week.

"We always welcome feedback from players and encourage them to engage with us to make sure that table conditions are as good as they can be."

BBC
 
Trump beats Hawkins to win second UK Championship crown

Judd Trump claimed his second UK Championship title with a hard-fought 10-8 victory over Barry Hawkins at the Barbican in York.

Only Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins have won more than the 35-year-old’s tally of 30 ranking titles although, given his current dominance, the expectation on him now will be to add to his haul in the Triple Crown events.

He is currently joint-eighth on the all-time list with Alex Higgins in fifth position.

However, he had to endure a stirring fightback from Hawkins, who fought back from 9-6 to 9-8 and almost got the two snookers he required in a dramatic 18th frame to force a decider before Trump prevailed.


BBC
 
Allen compiles three tons to advance in Scottish Open

Mark Allen compiled three century breaks as he came from one frame down to defeat Ryan Day 4-2 in the last-32 stage of the Scottish Open in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

Allen put together a run of 104 in the first frame but Welshman Day responded with a break of 122 in the next to level and then moved 2-1 ahead.

The high quality nature of the contest continued in frame four as Allen's break of 127 restored parity and the Northern Ireland player stamped his authority on the match with runs of 78 and 103 to secure victory.

The world number five will continue his challenge for a second Scottish Open title when he faces Jack Lisowski in the last 16 after the English player beat Si Jiahui 4-0.

Allen prevailed 6-3 when he played Lisowski in the recent quarter-finals of the UK Championship in York.

Earlier on Wednesday, world champion Kyren Wilson lost 4-2 to Stephen Maguire while Ding Junhui saw off Jackson Page 4-2 and Luca Brecel beat Zhou Yuelong 4-1.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Williams all withdrew from the tournament.


BBC
 
Allen beats Lisowski to reach Scottish Open last eight

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen edged out Jack Lisowski 4-3 on Thursday to reach the quarter-finals of the Scottish Open in Edinburgh.

The world number five twice trailed in the match but won the final-frame decider with a break of 68 to book a last-eight match against Thailand's Noppon Saengkham, who beat Ali Carter 4-2.

A break of 106 put Lisowski 1-0 ahead but his opponent replied with a 78 in the next to draw level.

The English player went in front again but a run of 112 helped Allen make it 2-2.

Allen nudged into the lead for the first time at 3-2 but an 80 break from Lisowski restored parity, only for the Northern Irishman to win frame seven and repeat his victory from the quarter-final stage of the recent UK Championship.


BBC
 
Three centuries help Allen seal Scottish Open semi spot

Mark Allen remains on course for a second Scottish Open title after putting on another impressive exhibition of break-building to score three centuries in a 5-2 quarter-final win over Noppon Saengkham.

The match in Edinburgh was a high-scoring affair, with Allen completing his second treble of tons, having also achieved the feat in his last-32 win over Ryan Day on Wednesday.

His Thai opponent compiled an 87 to win the first frame on Friday night, but the world number five levelled by taking the next, before reeling off three straight frames.

Allen put together breaks of 87, 120 and 127 in moving 4-1 ahead, but Noppon replied with a 136 to reduce the deficit to two.

A run of 105 from the Northern Ireland player in frame seven saw him over the line and stay in contention to repeat his 2018 success in the tournament.

Allen will face Lei Peifan in the semi-finals on Saturday after the Chinese player edged out last week's Shootout winner Tom Ford 5-4.

The other last-four tie will be contested by two other players from China, Wu Yize and Xiao Guodong.

World number 27 Wu defeated 16-ranked Chris Wakelin 5-4 in his quarter-final, while Xiao beat 2023 world champion Luca Brecel 5-1.


BBC
 
Allen suffers agonising Scottish Open semi-final defeat

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen suffered an agonising defeat at the semi-final stage of the Scottish Open as Lei Peifan staged a remarkable comeback to win 6-5 after trailing 5-2.

Breaks of 73 and 97 helped Allen into a 3-0 lead in Edinburgh but the Chinese 21-year-old won the next two frames to reduce his deficit to one.

The world number five looked to be on the verge of victory when he won frames six and seven but a missed pink in the next proved crucial as his dogged opponent, ranked 84, battled his way back to win four frames in a row in an attritional contest.

Lei Peifan had never previously reached the quarter-final of a ranking tournament and has twice lost his Tour card during his career but now finds himself in Sunday's final against compatriot Wu Yize.

Wu Yize booked his place in the decider by coming from 4-2 behind to see off another Chinese player, Xiao Guodong, 6-4, in the day's other last-four encounter.

Also aged 21, he will be competing in the second ranking event final of his career, having lost 9-7 to Neil Robertson in the English Open decider in September.

The world number 27's comeback win included a break of 115 in the ninth frame to move ahead for the first time in the match.

The two young Chinese players will contest a best-of-17 frame final on Sunday, with the winner collecting £100,000 and the Stephen Hendry Trophy.

For Allen though, he misses out on a glorious opportunity at a shot to collect a 12th ranking title and a second Scottish Open crown, having previously won the tournament in 2018.

The Antrim player had been in prolific scoring form all week at the Meadowbank Sports Centre, racking up a series of centuries on his way to the last four.

BBC
 
O'Sullivan cruises past Ding in Saudi Arabia

Ronnie O'Sullivan cruised past Ding Junhui to reach the semi-finals of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship with a 4-0 win in Saudi Arabia.

Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan raced into a 2-0 lead before making consecutive breaks of 129 and 113 to claim victory.

China's Ding failed to register a point in the final two frames as O'Sullivan finished with an impressive 84% pot success rate.

The 49-year-old Englishman will face Mark Allen in Friday's semi-final.


BBC
 
Allen beats O'Sullivan & Brecel to win Riyadh title

Mark Allen beat Luca Brecel to win the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship and claim his first title of the season.

Northern Ireland's Allen beat defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 in the semi-final before outplaying Belgium's Brecel in the final later on Friday in a 5-1 victory.

"I was very nervous in the last few balls. I am happy to get over the line," Allen said.

"You are never there until you're there. I played some good stuff all week."

Brecel, the 2022 world champion who beat Mark Williams 4-2 in his semi-final, won the opening frame of the final but Allen levelled with a 104 clearance.

A break of 109 in the fourth put Allen 3-1 up and he took the next two after the interval to win and take the £250,000 prize pot.

Allen's semi-final against O'Sullivan was more competitive - with a break of 134 sealing victory.

Having taken the first frame, O'Sullivan missed a red in the second, which sparked a turnaround for Allen, who took a 3-1 lead.

O'Sullivan cut his deficit by winning the fifth but Allen's clearance ended the seven-time world champion's run.

BBC
 
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