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.
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.“
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.“
Ronnie beat Shaun Murphy by 5-3 in a match that was entertaining as one can expect from these two as they are both positive attacking players. Ronnie already had a quite superior head-to head over Shaun and he’s only “extended” it!
Ronnie O’Sullivan extended his winning record over Shaun Murphy, prevailing 5-3 to make the quarter-finals of the World Open in Yushan.
Having elected to adopt a limited calendar for the season, this will be the Rocket’s first quarter-final appearance since making the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters last August.
The Rocket stated earlier this week that he has spent his time away from the match arena rebuilding his game and technique. He previously revealed that the one goal left in his career is to capture a record-breaking eighth World Championship crown.
Victory today for O’Sullivan avenges a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Murphy earlier this season, at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. It also means O’Sullivan has now beaten Murphy in 15 of their 19 professional meetings.
It was Murphy who took a 2-1 lead this afternoon, top scoring with 139 in the second. However, from there 41-time ranking event winner O’Sullivan powered for the line. Breaks of 70, 121, 89 and 76 saw him take four of the next five to secure a last eight tie with Ryan Day, who beat Latvia’s Artemijs Zizins 5-4.
After today’s win O’Sullivan stressed it is performances over results which are his main focus at the moment.
“Shaun has been playing unbelievably. He has been so strong. I was happy when I got to 2-2. I thought at least I’ve been involved in a game against a top quality player. To win is even better,” said 50-year-old O’Sullivan.
“If I can get my cue through the ball I will be alright. It doesn’t matter whether I win or lose. I am able to do that now. It has been torturous to be honest with you. It has been really hard work.
“For me, just going out there and playing is a victory. Whether I win or lose is irrelevant. For me to be able to go out there and not feel scared is a victory. I am happy to go out there and feel that if I get a chance I might do something. Before I was thinking please don’t miss, don’t let me on the table. This is what was going through my head.“
Some images shared by WST on Weibo:
And videos shared by WST and TNT on Youtube
There isn’t really much to add to the above report. That’s one good aspect of these “elite” events: because the field is small every match can get the exposure, attention and reporting it deserves.
Ryan Day is next for Ronnie in the QF round. Ryan is another very attacking player so that should be a good one to watch as well. Ryan IMO has underachieved as a professional. I have seen him play in exhibitions and what he showed at the table on those occasions was surreal really. Ryan’s relative “weakness” is that he’s more vulnerable under high pressure than other top players.
Shaun Murphy set up a blockbuster showdown with Ronnie O’Sullivan at the World Open in Yushan, after thrashing China’s Xu Si 5-1.
The Magician hasn’t fared brilliantly against the Rocket over their career head-to-heads, with O’Sullivan leading 14-4. However, their most recent clash at this season’s Riyadh Season Snooker Championship ended in a 4-0 win for Murphy.
Today’s win for Murphy saw him put on a break building clinic. Contributions of 84, 117, 61 and 59 saw him come from 1-0 down and lead 4-1. He then embarked on an ambitious maximum break attempt. Having potted 15 reds with blacks, after battling to get the white in position throughout, he missed a yellow to end his run on 120.
Murphy said: “I just lost my composure I think. I was a bit excited. I made a 147 here last year. It would have been a great moment. I played a lot of great shots to keep getting on the black and then when I had them on a plate I lost my brain. It isn’t as easy as some people make it look.
“I’ve been playing well for a season or two. I ran into Chang Bingyu at the Welsh Open and he played snooker from the Gods. I feel a bit sick of saying that but it has been like that. I’ve been running into superheroes playing unbelievable snooker. It is a test of perseverence snooker. It is about mental toughness. Can you keep going? With this event, the Tour Championship and World Championship to come. It is a great time to be hitting form.
“Any time Ronnie is in the event it adds a certain buzz to it. There is always that bit more media attention. As Ronnie says it isn’t as if he hasn’t been playing. A bit like when he took the year out and won the World Championship, it wasn’t like he didn’t play at all. It is a bit of a myth to say he hasn’t played any snooker. He looks in good touch to me. Some people might say he isn’t as sharp, others might say he is fresh. All this talk about an eighth World Championship. What a position to be in, some might say he has done it the right way and kept himself fresh.
O’Sullivan booked his progression with a 5-0 whitewash win over Matthew Selt.
The seven-time Crucible King compiled contributions of 77, 138, 96 and 52 to book his place in the last 16. Afterwards, he reiterated Murphy’s point about a lack of match time equalling a lack of work on his game.
“I always prepare well. I know people question if I practise enough. Everyone has done that since I was a kid. They seem to think I just turn up. I prepare harder than probably any other player and I work harder. I think people just assume I only need to get out of bed and pot balls. That isn’t the case. I work very hard,” said 50-year-old O’Sullivan.
“I played alright today. I didn’t give him much room to do what he would have liked to do. I take credit for him not playing his best. Matt is a really good player and he plays to a very high level. I was aware I had to play to a high level.”
World number one Judd Trump sealed his last 16 place with a 5-2 defeat of Welshman Jackson Page. The Ace in the Pack top scored with a century run of 118.
World Champion Zhao Xintong was a 5-1 victor against Englishman Sam Craigie and now looks forward to a last 16 meeting with Gary Wilson.
World number 17 Stuart Bingham’s chances of leap frogging Ding Junhui, moving into the top 16 and qualifying automatically for the Halo World Championship were ended with a 5-4 loss against Wu Yize. He moves on to face Masters Champion Kyren Wilson, who beat Allan Taylor 5-1.
Jack Lisowski also bowed out of the Crucible race after a 5-1 loss to Mark Allen. The Pistol faces Zhou Yuelong in the last 16.
Hossein Vafaei rallied from 2-0 down to beat Mark Williams 5-2, crafting a fine 127 break along the way. He now plays Zhang Anda, who beat Xiao Guodong 5-2.
There isn’t much to add about the match. Ronnie played well but not at his very best. That said he didn’t need to and he certainly scored heavily when in the balls.
Here are the scores for that match:
Some images shared on Weibo…
And videos shared by WST on Youtube
There isn’t much to add about the match.
Ronnie has an excellent record against Shaun Murphy, but every match is different and Shaun is a top player. I’m sure Ronnie will not take it for granted.
On another topic … Ronnie has NOT entered the 2026 Tour Championship, despite qualifying for it1. This has been shared on social media by reliable sources. It is obvious that, at this stage of his career, Ronnie priorities aren’t all about his snooker. Life, wellbeing, time for family and other interests have taken precedence. He has nothing to prove anyway.
and despite the huge prize money./ranking points ↩︎
Ronnie beat Ross Muir by 5-1 in his first round held-over match at the 2026 World Open in Yushan.
Here are the scores for that match:
As you can see, Ronnie played pretty well and scored heavily when in the balls. He didn’t make many mistakes. I can’t say that Ross made many mistakes himself because, more often than not when he made one, it was ruthlessly punished and he didm’t get another chance.
Here are the last two frames of the match shared on Youtube by WST.
Ronnie was due to play Ishpreet Singh Chadah in round 2, but Ishpreet has withdrawn, so, next for Ronnie is a round 3 match against Matt Selt on Wednesday.
Ronnie O’Sullivan eased through his opening clash with Ross Muir at the World Open in Yushan with a 5–1 victory, but afterwards admitted that restoring his game to the level he wants would be the “biggest achievement” of his career.
The Rocket has recently embarked on a quest to rebuild his game in a bid to rediscover his top form before his career is over. Earlier this season he admitted that his one remaining goal in snooker is to win a record breaking eighth World Championship.
O’Sullivan came close to perfection in today’s encounter with Scotland’s Muir. The Englishman deposited 15 reds and 14 blacks in the fifth frame, before going in off with the 15th black to end his run on 113. He went on to fire past the line with 114 in the next to progress. With his last 64 opponent Ishpreet Singh Chadha having withdrawn from the event, O’Sullivan now progresses to the last 32, where he will face Matthew Selt.
“I got here a week early just to do some practising on my own. I’ve been working really hard on my game. I know I haven’t played a lot of tournaments, but I’ve been working because my game has been in such a bad place. It isn’t like I’ve had my feet up while everyone has been playing. I’ve decided I really need to attack this now. I have one last throw of the dice really. The last three years have been awful in terms of confidence. I’m trying to work on that now and see if I can get back to delivering the cue freely,”
“I’ll commit to two years to work on it and try to prolong my career. Cueing how I was cueing, there was going to be no longevity in it. I’ve been working harder than I ever have done, it just hasn’t been on TV. It has been behind closed doors. I’m trying to attack it rather than hope something changes. I’m breaking it down and trying to recoach myself.
“I was saying to a friend the other day that if I manage to get out of this it would be my biggest achievement in snooker. If I can feel how I did six or seven years ago, that would trump anything. Seven World Championships, eight Masters, this would rank higher than any of those achievements. I’m under no illusions how difficult it will be but I’m not going to retire because something I tried didn’t work for me. I’m going to get back to my natural instinct of playing and recoach myself in some sort of way.” said O’Sullivan.
Ronnie has achieved what he has in his career so far BECAUSE he’s a perfectionist, although this constant quest for perfection has also been his undoing at times, and a torture… but he is who he is, it’s his core nature, it won’t change. He has to live with that nature through successes and disappointments, through bliss and despair at times … and we, fans, live it with him.
