Please note that this is NOT an official website. At this point in time Ronnie O’ Sullivan does not have an official website, nor does he wish to have one.
The draw for the qualifying rounds of the 2026 Halo World Championship has been made, with all players seeded outside the top 16 ready to battle for coveted places at the Crucible.
The qualifying event for snooker’s biggest tournament runs from Monday April 6th to Wednesday 15th at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. Tickets to watch are on sale now for just £12 per day – fantastic value for the chance to see an array of former champions, all-time greats and up-and-coming talents.
Fans with an annual WST PLAY subscription can attend the event for free, with one free ticket per day for each member and a unique link will be sent to subscribers. Blue Light card holders will also be able to attend for just £5, with tickets purchased on the Blue Light website.
The qualifying event starts with 128 players, seeded as follows:
Round one pits players ranked 81 to 112 against those seeded 113 to 144
In round two, those 32 winners will face players ranked 49 to 80.
In round three, those 32 winners will face players ranked 17 to 48.
In round four, those 32 winners play each other, with the 16 winners going through to the Crucible.
Notable matches in the opening round include:
Tour rookie Michal Szubarczyk v three-time World Women’s Champion On Yee Ng Six-time Crucible finalist Jimmy White v China’s Gao Yang Reigning World Women’s Champion Bai Yulu v Daniel Womersley 1997 Crucible king Ken Doherty v Patrick Whelan Rising star Liam Pullen v Shoot Out champion Alfie Burden Hong Kong’s finest Marco Fu v Mink Nutcharut
Star names entering the fray as the qualifiers progress will include Jack Lisowski, Stuart Bingham, Ali Carter, Luca Brecel, Stephen Maguire, Gary Wilson, Jak Jones and many more.
With Thepchaiya Un-Nooh playing in this week’s Sportsbet.io Tour Championship and still able to climb from his current provisional seeding of 21 into the world’s top 16, seed numbers from 17 to 21 have been placed in the draw, and those players will be confirmed in those slots once the final seeding list is known.
The final round, on April 14th and 15th, is known as Judgement Day, when places at the Crucible are at stake. As always our Judgement Day show will be live and free for fans to watch on (WST PLAY and YouTube), with full details to be announced soon.
The final stages of the Halo World Championship then run from April 18th to May 4th.
I’ll have a closer look at that after completion of the 2026 Tour Championship
Judd Trump won a match in the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship for the first time since 2020 as he came from 4-0 down to beat Mark Allen 10-8 in the opening round in Manchester.
This event has brought little joy for world number one Trump as he won just one match in the tournament’s inaugural year in 2020 and then suffered a series of first round exits. But he has now ended that streak and set up a quarter-final with Shaun Murphy at Manchester Central on Wednesday.
After a slow start today, Trump impressed with three centuries and five more breaks over 60 as he won ten of the last 14 frames. While the 36-year-old has lifted only one trophy this season, at the German Masters in February, he has been in three other finals and four more semi-finals.
“The first four frames were scrappy, after that we both played some really good stuff, it was an enjoyable game,” said 31-time ranking event winner Trump. “At 4-0 I was just waiting for good opportunities, then I made one break and settled down. At 4-4 I was delighted and tonight was a great standard. I have been consistent for the last five or six months, I have had a lot of semis and finals, I am happy with my form.”
Tied 4-4 after the first session, Allen took the opening frame tonight with a break of 121, before Trump hit back for 5-5 then nicked the 11th on a respotted black to lead for the first time in the match. The high scoring continued as Allen made another 121 for 6-6 before Trump regained the advantage with a 114.
Allen led 42-0 in frame 14 when he overcut a tricky red to a top corner, and Trump punished him with an excellent 86 clearance for 8-6. Allen pulled one back, then in the 16th Trump led 41-0 when he converted an excellent long red to a top corner and added 67 to move to the edge of victory at 9-7. The Englishman had a match winning chance in the 17th, missing a mid-range red at 35-0 and Allen kept his own hopes alive with a 79 clearance. But Trump made no mistake in the next frame, wrapping up the result with a run of 100.
Trump was also asked about last week’s announcement that the World Championship will stay at the Crucible in Sheffield for the long term. He said: “It’s great news, it puts all the uncertainty to bed. For snooker it’s probably the best thing that could have happened. The fact that in a few years time they will improve the venue is even better. It’s an exciting time for snooker, the World Championship is always special and it’s good to keep it in the UK. Any arena (in the round) where you are surrounded and immersed – it brings even more pressure. We’re happy to play there for the next two years but everyone will be keeping one eye on what is going to happen after, and hopefully I’ll have the chance to play in that new arena.”
On the other table, China’s Wu Yize established a 6-2 advantage over Chris Wakelin in a match which concludes on Tuesday evening.
Wu, age 22, is enjoying his breakthrough season having won his maiden ranking title at the International Championship and climbed into the world’s top 16 for the first time.
And he showed his quality again tonight as breaks of 73, 74, 84, 75 and 81 edged him closer to a possible quarter-final with Zhao Xintong.
Barry Hawkins, who knocked Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump out of the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship last year, scored another impressive victory in Manchester as he came from 8-7 down to beat Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 10-8 to reach the quarter-finals.
Un-Nooh enjoyed the best moment of his career just nine days ago when he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the World Open, making a 147 to boot. That earned him a place in this week’s elite 12-man tournament but the Thai couldn’t keep his winning streak going, despite coming from 5-3 down in the second session to lead 8-7. The result also ends Un-Nooh’s hopes of being a top 16 seed for the Crucible, and Ding Junhui hangs on to that status.
Welsh Open champion Hawkins came good at the business end, setting up a clash with Neil Robertson which starts on Wednesday afternoon. The Londoner was a semi-finalist last year and also reached the last four in 2021.
Trailing 5-3 overnight, Un-Nooh won the opening frame today on the colours before Hawkins made a break of 101 for 6-4. World number 11 Hawkins looked favourite in frame 11 when he laid a tough snooker on the yellow, trailing 50-48, but Un-Nooh enjoyed an outrageous fluke on the yellow, flicking it into a baulk corner, and cleared to halve his deficit. Un-Nooh then dominated the next two with top runs of 48 and 62 to lead 7-6. And he had a chance to extend his advantage but under-cut a fiddly short range red to a centre pocket on 50 and his opponent punished him with a 72 clearance.
Un-Nooh’s run of 66 helped him regain the lead and he was on 48 in frame 16 when he missed a straight-forward red to a top corner, and again Hawkins took advantage with 68 for 8-8. The 17th came down to the last two reds and a fine long pot from Hawkins to a baulk corner edged him in front. He took control of the next with a break of 63 and eventually sealed the result on the colours.
“I don’t know how to sum up that game, one minute Thepchaiya looked like he was going to start playing well and had the balls at his mercy, then all of a sudden I was back at the table,” said Hawkins. “If he goes on one he is near enough unstoppable, but then he misses balls you don’t expect him to miss, which can be off-putting.
“I nicked quite a few frames. I didn’t feel I played great, I was just battling away. It was getting twitchy at the end so it’s a great win. I have had good runs in this event, especially as it’s such a tough event just to win matches in, given the players who qualify. Against Neil I will have to make sure I don’t miss those easy balls, because he will punish me.“
Hawkins was suffering from a back injury last month which forced him to pull out of the World Open, but added: “It feels ok now, it’s just a bit tight in the mornings but it doesn’t affect me playing at all.”
On the other table, defending champion John Higgins came from 2-0 down to take a 6-2 lead over Mark Williams, in a match which concludes from 7pm tonight.
Williams, who won this event in 2024, started strongly with runs of 59 and 121 to take the first two frames. But fellow ‘Class of 92’ member Higgins won the next six in a row with top breaks of 64 and 73.
Day 2 – Evening
Higgins Elated After ‘Special’ Win Over Williams
More than three decades after their first professional meeting, defending champion John Higgins scored a thrilling 10-8 victory over fellow legend Mark Williams to reach the quarter-finals of the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship.
These two warriors of the baize first went head-to-head on tour back in 1994 and are now into their 50s, but both remain fiercely competitive at the highest level, ranked inside the world’s top six. In recent times, Williams has got the better of their high profile matches, notably in the Crucible final in 2018 and the quarter-finals in Sheffield last year. But this time Higgins came out on top in a tense finish, scoring a first win against his ‘Class of 92’ rival in a multi-session match since the 2011 World Championship.
Higgins sets up a battle with Mark Selby on Thursday in Manchester, a repeat of last year’s final which he won 10-8 before describing it as his “greatest ever win.” While he hasn’t added to his trophy haul since that day, the 50-year-old Scot has enjoyed a high level of consistency this season, reaching three finals, two more semis and now five more quarter-finals.
Leading 6-2 after the first session, Higgins took the opening frame tonight with a break of 84. He had chances in the next but missed a tough pot on the final green to a baulk corner when 44-30 ahead, and Williams cleared to close the gap. That proved a turning point as Williams fired breaks of 74 and 82 in the next two frames and also dominated the next to close to 7-6.
Higgins hit back with a 110, then Williams responded with 107 and 76 for 8-8. But four-time World Champion Higgins got the better of a fragmented 17th frame with a top break of 48, then in the next he led 14-1 when he knocked in a sizzling long red, setting up a superb match-winning 52.
“I am delighted to do to Mark what he has done to me in the last few years, making a frame winning break at the end was very pleasing,” said Higgins. “It’s still extra special to play Mark, I always think back to when we first played at the Mita Masters when we were 15, and fast forward 35 years and we are still doing it in the big arenas. We deserve pats on the back I think. It would have been a tough loss having been 7-2 in front, I always knew Mark was going to come back at me. It’s a great win and I have a day off now then I can get ready for Mark Selby.”
Meanwhile, Chris Wakelin made an extraordinary come back from 6-2 down against Wu Yize, winning eight frames in a row for a 10-6 victory, earning a tie with World Champion Zhao Xintong. Scottish Open champion Wakelin is playing in this event for the first time and made it a memorable debut, scoring one of his best ever fight backs as China’s Wu crumbled under pressure. Breaks of 84, 62 and 108 helped Wakelin to run away with the tie tonight.
He said: “The way Wu played in the first session, I went to bed last night thinking I can’t compete with that. I knew I had to come out tonight and find my own form and get something going. He missed a couple of balls in the first frame and I thought I could apply some pressure. Once I got back to 6-4 it was game on. I just believe in myself now, it’s a simple as that.”
Wu Yize had a really bad evening in office yesterday. Credits to Chris Wakelin though for the way he reacted to a difficult first session, and for being able to concentrate on his own job when his young opponent, rather unexpectedly, started to struggle badly. Wu looked lost and embarrassed, sitting in his chair but it happens to all of them, even the very best.
And then of course, WST reported on Trump’s delight about the World Championship staying at the Crucible. So far thought I can’t remember seeing quotes by a non British player about this topic. It would be interesting to hear from them as well …
Midnite Brings Neon Green Cue Ball To The Crucible
World Snooker Tour has confirmed the iconic white ball will be replaced by a neon green colour at the 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship.
The new neon green ball will be paying homage to Midnite, the official UK betting and casino partner for the tournament.
The iconic white ball has been involved in every snooker tournament since its inception, but will change to neon green, Midnite’s flagship colour, for the full 17 days at the Crucible.
World No.2 Kyren Wilson, who won the 2026 Masters, has backed the move, saying:
“I honestly think it’s a fantastic step forward for snooker. The idea of the white ball turning Midnite neon green might sound bold at first, but that’s exactly what our sport needs right now – something that grabs attention and gets people talking.
“We’ve got such a proud history, especially at the World Snooker Championship, but evolution is key if we want to keep growing and bringing in a new generation of fans.
“From a player’s perspective, it’ll be really interesting as well. The visuals are such a big part of how we read the game, so having that bright green cue ball under the lights at the Crucible could actually enhance our game.
“You’ve got to be open-minded about these changes. If it helps showcase the sport in a new way and makes people stop and watch, then that’s a win for everyone. Personally, I’m really excited by it. I think it could give the whole championship a fresh energy and create something quite iconic in its own right.”
Jason Ferguson, Chairman of snooker’s global governing body WPBSA, added:
“Tradition and heritage are so important in our sport but we are also excited by innovation. Fans and players will love this new cue ball which is exclusive to the World Championship.
“This is one of the biggest changes to the equipment in the 150-year history of our sport and it will be fascinating to see this in action at the Crucible.“
Peter Wright, WST’s Chief Commercial Officer said:
“Players are going to have to adapt fast to the new neon cue ball, especially under the intense pressure that the Crucible always brings. This could really change the dynamic of the game and enhance the viewing experience for fans. We know it’s a bold move but we are a sport which thrives on rising to the challenge.”
Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, commented:
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of such an iconic moment for snooker. Seeing the traditional white ball reimagined in Midnite neon green at the World Snooker Championship is an exciting way to celebrate our partnership with WST.
“This is about bringing a fresh energy to a historic tournament while respecting everything that makes it so special. The Crucible has produced some of the most memorable moments in sport, and to have our brand reflected in such a visible and creative way during those 17 days will be truly special for us.
“We’re passionate about engaging fans in new and innovative ways, and this initiative does exactly that. We can’t wait to see the Midnite neon green ball in play on snooker’s biggest stage.”
If it isn’t an April fool … the snooker gods will turn even greener than the said ball … 🙄
Snooker’s World Championship will remain at the Crucible in Sheffield following a landmark long term agreement between World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council.
The new deal will see snooker stay in Sheffield until at least 2045, with an option to extend to 2050.
Separately, plans are being developed to transform the Crucible theatre, with the sport’s most famous venue set to benefit from a major refurbishment, including the potential to add up to 500 additional seats in an ‘in the round’ configuration, alongside other significant improvements such as enhanced spectator facilities.
The Championship will continue to be staged at the Crucible in its current design through to 2028. During the planned redevelopment period, the event is expected to be hosted temporarily at an alternative venue before returning to a transformed Crucible.
The agreement reflects a citywide commitment, ensuring Sheffield and its partners continue to benefit from snooker’s long term future in the city.
From cultural venues such as Sheffield Theatres to sporting facilities including the English Institute of Sport, and businesses across the city centre, the deal supports ongoing economic and reputational benefits as the sport continues to grow its global audience and profile.
Snooker’s flagship event first came to the Crucible in 1977 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the iconic venue next year. The current agreement runs until 2027, and principles for a new long-term arrangement have now been agreed to secure one of the world’s greatest sporting events at its traditional home.
This year’s Halo World Championship runs from 18 April to 4 May, as the world’s top 16 players and 16 qualifiers gather to compete for a trophy first contested in 1927, alongside a top prize of £500,000. The event has a global cumulative audience of 771 million.
WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “This is the news that players and fans around the world have been waiting and hoping for. It comes following years of close negotiation with Sheffield City Council and the UK Government and we are delighted to have reached this far reaching agreement.
“I would like to thank our partners as we have shared a vision which continues the wonderful relationship between snooker and Sheffield. I can imagine walking back into that arena as the planned transformation is delivered and seeing something even more fabulous.”
Barry Hearn, President of Matchroom Sport, said: “For over 50 years I have been promoting sport all over the world but no venue on this planet means more to me than the Crucible. I am so happy that after a long period of meetings and discussions we have finally agreed a deal to stage the World Championship at its historic home – the Crucible. My thanks must go to Sheffield City Council for all of their hard work in ensuring this great tournament remains at its spiritual home.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We have a deep cultural and sporting heritage here in the UK – sport, art and culture are the very best of us. It’s what makes us proud not only of the country, but the places that we’re from.
“I had the pleasure of recently visiting Sheffield, the home of the oldest football club in the world, to urge partners to support a major redevelopment of the iconic Crucible theatre to keep sport and culture thriving in this city.
“I’m delighted with today’s confirmation that the theatre and the city will stay host to the famous World Snooker Championship for at least the next two decades.”
Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield loves snooker – and it’s here to stay. We’ve reached an agreement to keep the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible, the home of snooker, supporting its future in our city.
“Snooker is part of Sheffield’s identity, and I’m incredibly proud that it will continue to be played on the world stage right here. And the ambition doesn’t stop there. Separately, plans are in place for a £45 million transformation of the Crucible, which would deliver around 50 per cent more seats and enable the venue to operate as a theatre in the round.
“This progress has been made possible through close work with the World Snooker Tour, Sheffield Theatres and Government partners. It’s a hugely proud moment for Sheffield, and we’re excited about what comes next.”
Snooker legend Stephen Hendry said: “There is simply nowhere else like the Crucible or anywhere else that could replicate that atmosphere or the sense of history. It was always my favourite place to play and I still love going to Sheffield. I am thrilled that we are staying there long term.”
Current World Champion Zhao Xintong added: “I am so happy because I love the Crucible, it is a very special place and all Chinese players want to play there. Sheffield has become my home in the UK and it is famous around the world as the home of snooker. I am so pleased that we are working together to keep the World Championship in the city.“
Well , at the risk of being hang, drawn and quartered … I’m not sharing that “happiness”. That event is called the WORLD championship, and as such it should travel the world, not being played every year in a lovely but not really big city in England. So, either you call it the “Sheffield Championship” – which is actually what it is currently – or you really make it a “World” event that travels around so that fans all over the world get the opportunity to attend it, if only once, even those fans who don’t have the means to travel to the UK, which isn’t cheap and for some an administrative nightmare.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Sheffield and I love the Crucible when there is only one table. However, as it currently is, in the early stages, the venue is inadequate, the “floor” is too small to host two tables comfortably. It’s also not very “stable”. The dressing rooms are very small and players can’t even leave their stuff in there between sessions in the early stages. Hopefully that changes after the refurbishment. The Crucible would be a fantastic venue for a prestigious invitational event, it definitely is (currently) NOT adequate for the World Championship in its current format. And, unless the “refurbishment” allows for a bigger “stage”, that won’t change.
End of rant … but I “persist and sign” as we say in French.
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh beat Ronnie by 10-7 in the 2026 World Open Final today, a match where the momentum swung from one play to the other throughout. Ronnie won the first four frames, then Theppy won the next six, only for Ronnie to win three on the bounce, before Theppy won the last four frames, making a 147 in the process. Fifteen of the seventeen frames played featured a break over 50.
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh made three consecutive centuries, including a stunning 147 break, in the last three frames to beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7 and win the World Open final in Yushan.
It’s a second ranking crown for the Thai star, renowned for his rapid pace of play. His first appropriately came at the Shoot Out in 2019, when he defeated Michael Holt to capture the top prize.
Victory this evening sees Un-Nooh become the second player from Thailand to win a full format ranking event. His legendary compatriot James Wattana last achieved the feat back in 1995 at the Thailand Open.
Un-Nooh pockets £175,000 for the win, the biggest payday of his career. It sees him catapult from 39th to 22nd in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings. He also earns a spot in the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship in Manchester, which is reserved for the top 12 earners this season in ranking events. O’Sullivan moves from 12th to 10th in the world rankings.
It’s a disappointing end to a momentous and encouraging week for seven-time World Champion O’Sullivan. The Rocket revealed that he has been suffering stage fright in recent months and has been working to rebuild his game. That work paid dividends in his quarter-final with Ryan Day, when he made a historic 153, the highest break of all-time.
Coming into this evening the momentum, in a match which swung one way then another, was all with Un-Nooh. Having trailed 4-0 this afternoon, he reeled off five on the bounce to lead 5-4 ahead of the concluding session.
He extended his lead to 6-4 when play got underway tonight, but was then met by a break building barrage from 50-year-old O’Sullivan. Three consecutive century runs of 114, 132 and 136 saw him sweep to a 7-6 lead at the mid-session.
When they resumed, breaks of 77 and 132 saw Un-Nooh, who was runner-up to Judd Trump here in 2019, regain the lead. He then moved 9-7 up with a stunning maximum 147 break to send a packed Yushan crowd into raptures.
For the first time in history though, the high break prize for the final stages of a ranking event was paid out to a score higher than 147. O’Sullivan’s 153 took the £5,000 spoils.
Un-Nooh’s perfect run is the seventh 147 of his career and the 240th in professional snooker history. That puts him level with Ding Junhui in seventh position on the all-time list. It is the 23rd of an incredible season, which has smashed the previous record of 15 for most 147s in a single campaign.
If that wasn’t enough, he followed that up with a total clearance of 131 to power over the line and secure the title. Yesterday he said this would be his dream final, after today’s match he admitted it was better than he possibly could have imagined.
“It is like a double dream final now. This has always been my dream, to lift the title against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final. For the rest of my life this is something I’m not going to forget,” said an elated 40-year-old Un-Nooh.
“I went to the practice room in the interval, spoke to myself and managed my emotions. After being sat on my chair watching Ronnie make three centuries, I told myself this is a great final and to enjoy it. I don’t know how what happened after the interval came true. I can’t believe it. I’m still stunned with my performance. How did I do that? Sometimes snooker is one way traffic. To make a 147 in the final against Ronnie O’Sullivan in a final is a great honour.
“This is my first time winning a major event and this is the biggest prize of my career. It is a dream come true and a step forward. I want to make snooker come back to be as famous as it used to be in Thailand. Like the old times.”
O’Sullivan said: “It has been a positive week, but I have to say Thepchaiya was unbelievable. He deserved his victory. He played much better than me today. I watched his semi-final and he was strong. I couldn’t go with that. It was far too good for me.
“Thepchaiya was flowing and had every shot in the book. I have to accept that is how it is. If I found that bit extra I could have made it tougher than him. I am in a much better place than I was even two weeks ago. I’m taking each day as it comes.”
Here are the scores for that match:
Ronnie fought hard, but it wasn’t enough. He made four centuries1 but it wasn’t enough…
Will Ronnie win another ranking event? I want to hope so but I’m not sure. Time waits for no-one … and Ronnie is 50. He has nothing to prove, of course, but … 💔
Ronnie O’Sullivan produced a nerveless clearance in the final frame to beat Wu Yize 6-5 and secure his place in the final of the World Open in Yushan.
The Rocket is flying high after a moment of history yesterday saw him craft the highest break ever seen in professional snooker, a run of 153. Having stated at the start of the week he was rebuilding his cue action and struggling to find confidence in his game, it has been a remarkable showing from the seven-time World Champion to this point in the event.
O’Sullivan can now look forward to the 66th ranking final of his career tomorrow over the best of 19 frames. He will face either world number one Judd Trump or Thepchaiya Un-Nooh for the £175,000 top prize.
50-year-old O’Sullivan could enjoy another landmark moment with victory in tomorrow’s title match. He would become the first ever player to win a ranking event in his teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
Wu and O’Sullivan’s only previous meeting came at the 2022 European Masters. On that occasion it was a one-sided 5-1 win for O’Sullivan. However, Wu is a different prospect these days.
The 22-year-old Chinese star won his first ranking title earlier this season at the International Championship. He defeated John Higgins 10-6 to capture the silverware. Wu came within one frame of the Masters final earlier this year, losing his semi-final 6-5 against Kyren Wilson.
The opening exchanges this afternoon went the way of 41-time ranking event winner O’Sullivan, who made breaks of 86 and 78 en route to a 3-1 lead at the mid-session.
Wu dug deep and after taking the fifth frame he edged a dramatic sixth to make it 3-3. It came down to the final ball and Wu deposited a black along the top cushion reminiscent of O’Sullivan’s shot to seal his 153 break yesterday.
The pair began to trade big breaks as the match went down to the wire. Runs of 97 and 118 from O’Sullivan and 86 and 77 from Wu ensured the match went down to a final frame at 5-5. The first chance went the way of Wu but he was forced to play safe on 43. O’Sullivan sensed his chance and deposited a daring red to the yellow pocket. From that he made 89 and ran out the victor.
“I like my bottle when I’m flowing. I like my bottle anyway really,” said Englishman O’Sullivan. “At 5-5 when he missed I had a chance on the red I had to go for it. The ball went in, which I couldn’t believe, and I made a great clearance.
“I knew that if I got the red I fancied I could clear up. In previous years I was begging my opponent to not miss because I didn’t want to embarrass myself. That is different now. I feel a lot happier because I’m in that frame of mind. Even if I miss, at least I fancy it.
“His cue power and snooker brain is great. He has a lot to learn but it is the easy bits he needs to learn. He’s like me before I met Ray Reardon. He can pot balls and score really well. I’m telling him he needs to learn the other side of the game.”
WST also shared the important sixth frame on YouTube
Here are the scores for that match:
As you can see by these scores it was high quality from both and extremely close from start to finish. It was a really good match to watch, very competitive but played in great sporting spirit, with mutual respect.
There isn’t much to add about the match really.
Ronnie will now face Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the final. Indeed “Theppy” beat Judd Trump by 6-4 only minutes ago1. Both finalist are very attacking players who go for their shots. I don’t expect too much defensive snooker tomorrow. It should be a great final to watch.
Ronnie’s last ranking title came at the World Grand Prix in January 2024, more than two years ago. Can he do it tomorrow? I certainly hope so.
O’Sullivan Makes Snooker’s Highest Ever Break With Historic 153
Ronnie O’Sullivan once again made snooker history after crafting the sport’s highest ever break, a stunning 153, in his quarter-final with Ryan Day at the World Open in Yushan.
The Rocket has achieved a perfect 147 break a record 17 times previously. However, this contribution was aided by a free ball and included 14 blacks with two pinks, before he deposited all of the colours to end on 153. That left the Englishman two points shy of the highest possible run of 155.
The only ever break to have exceeded 147 prior to this was a 148 made by Jamie Burnett at 2004 UK Championship qualifying. O’Sullivan’s incredible run this afternoon eclipses that and puts him in line for the £5,000 high break prize.
Earlier this season the seven-time World Champion became only the second player in snooker history to make two maximum 147 breaks in a single match, achieving the feat in his Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters semi-final with Chris Wakelin. He followed on from Jackson Page, who made two maximums in the penultimate round of 2025 World Championship qualifying.
Further runs of 62, 110, 103 and 95 saw him run out a 5-0 victor and book a place in the semi-finals against Wu Yize.
Here are the scores for that match
What can I add really? The man never ceases to amaze!
Tomorrow of course is another day, with another match to play … his opponent will be Wu Yize who beat Mark Allen by 5-1.
In the evening (in China), Judd Trump beat Hossein Vafaei by 5-1 and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh beat Gary Wilson by the same score, 5-1.
All four quarter-finals matches were one-sided. 😳 All the players still in the draw are fast and attacking. 😊
Ronnie O’Sullivan made an incredible 153 break, the highest ever in snooker’s history, during his 5-0 whitewash win over Ryan Day, which sets up a semi-final meeting with Wu Yize at the World Open in Yushan.
The momentous contribution came in the opening frame this afternoon, after Day left a free ball for O’Sullivan. He went on to deposit 14 blacks and two pinks, before clearing the colours to take the break to 153. That is just two points short of the highest possible break of 155.
He went on to conjure further runs of 62, 110, 103 and 95 to storm to victory in just 55 minutes. The Rocket averaged just 13.6 seconds per shot during the masterclass triumph.
“It was a great buzz. I could have tried to get the extra black, but I just thought nobody had made a break bigger than 147 on TV so I wanted to be the first. I’ve been the first of many things so I thought I might as well get that one as well. I feel blessed to achieve these things,” said 50-year-old O’Sullivan.
“Thank God for YouTube and streaming. If you are interested in a subject the algorithms will throw all sorts of good stuff at you. When a long time passes and I’m not here there will still be people saying it is pretty cool what that guy did.
“We are all blessed with a certain amount of ability to handle a certain amount of pressure. You are either a good pressure player or you aren’t. There are techniques which you can do to handle yourself well. I could have let the nerves get out of control but you have things you can do to lower the heart rate, stay focussed and stay present.
“I’ve never made anything more than a 147 (even when practising). For me if the excitement and the buzz is there, I can do great things. Unless there is something at the end of it I don’t. I hadn’t made a 147 for years, but I realised that I hadn’t made two in one tournament before so I went for it (at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters).“
International Champion Wu continued his bid for a second title of the season with an impressive 5-1 demolition of Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen.
China’s 22-year-old Wu won his maiden title earlier this season by defeating John Higgins 10-6 in the International Championship final. Breaks of 83, 140, 77, 109 and 53 helped him storm to victory this afternoon and set himself up for a crack at O’Sullivan in the last four.
Wu said: “Today I felt really good. When I got down on the shot, I felt very confident. When I can find that form I know I’m capable of producing some very high quality snooker. I did prepare mentally for this match. Mark is a tough opponent and can drag you into his rhythm, but I felt ready for that today. My safety has been good recently, so as long as my break building goes well, I think I can handle these situations.
“The 153 break from Ronnie O’Sullivan was actually the first time I’ve experienced something like that. It was quite special and I was happy to witness Ronnie making another record. I’m really happy for him. Of course, he’s an idol. I think he’s an idol for everyone.“
