Ronnie book his place in the quarter-finals at the 2021 UK Championship yesterday afternoon. He beat Noppon Saengkham by 6-3 but it was far from a comfortable win: Ronnie really struggled during the first half of the match.
Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted to feeling nervous during his clash with Noppon Saengkham at the Cazoo UK Championship, but came from 3-2 down to win 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals.
Thailand’s Saengkham crucially missed chances to go 4-2 ahead when he looked to have the momentum, and O’Sullivan punished him as he made his way to the last eight of this event for the 18th time. He will meet Kyren Wilson or Ben Woollaston on Friday.
O’Sullivan hasn’t won a title since the 2020 World Championship
Saengkham knocked out Stuart Bingham earlier in the week and posed a serious challenge to O’Sullivan’s bid to win this title for an eighth time. The Thai took the opening frame, then world number three O’Sullivan made a break of 76 for 1-1. Saengkham regained the lead with an 83 before O’Sullivan’s 98 made it 2-2 at the interval.
In frame five, Saengkham trailed 57-6 when he converted a fantastic long pot on a red which was close to a side cushion, and that set him up for a 59 clearance to give him the lead for the third time. The world number 45 had clear opportunities to extend his advantage in the sixth, notably missing the third last red to a top corner when he led 48-14. The frame came down to the colours and a missed yellow from Saengkham allowed O’Sullivan to clear and level at 3-3.
That proved the turning point as O’Sullivan won the last three frames in just 29 minutes with top breaks of 74 and 120.
“At 3-2 down I nearly gave up, I was struggling,” O’Sullivan told BBC Sport. “But I dug in and kept applying myself. I should have gone 4-2 down, but when I won that frame something clicked and I was off and running again.
“I get butterflies, I get nervous. I’m under pressure in every match, you just try to disguise it and try to stay calm and relaxed. Everyone feels pressure, even the greats – I’ve heard of some of them being sick in the dressing room before going out. Maybe that doesn’t happen in team sports, but snooker is a tough one.
“I prefer watching snooker and talking about it than actually playing it. But I have to force myself to get a bit more juice out of playing. It’s going to end at some point but I’ll get as much out of it as I can. I used to hate watching it, but once you start doing punditry you start to enjoy it and get excited. I play for a hobby, not for a job.”
O’Sullivan first won this title 28 years ago and he turns 46 on the day of the final on Sunday. He added: “I no longer think my best is better than everyone else’s. Will I be comfortable with that? Winning is not so important. If I can be the best 46-year-old and compete with Higgins, Williams and people in that category, that’s enough. It’s only a matter of time before the younger guys start winning tournaments.
“I’m comfortable with losing and still having a smile on my face. Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis couldn’t accept that, while Jimmy White and I are fascinated by the game and just enjoy playing.”
Total points 634 Balls potted 181 Pot success 93% Long pot success 57% Safety success 74% Hghest break 120
O’SULLIVAN 6-3 SAENGKHAM
All done and dusted and in some style as a break of 120 secures O’Sullivan’s passage to the quarter finals. He will have a day off tomorrow, before facing either Kyren Wilson or Ben Woollaston as he continues his quest for a 38th ranking title.
There is a steely determination about the Rocket this week, as he weathered a storm from Noppon before taking control of the match.
O’SULLIVAN 5-3 SAENGKHAM (24-7)
Ronnie is one of the very best at closing out matches, and in a couple of shots a difficult table looks promising as he frees the black.
O’SULLIVAN 5-3 SAENGKHAM (0-7)
Noppon edges a safety battle and has a chance. He needs to take it in order to stem the bleeding. He does not, as a red into the right corner, one he was making earlier in the match, stays above ground. Chance for O’Sullivan.
O’SULLIVAN 5-3 SAENGKHAM (0-1)
O’Sullivan is one frame away and this performance has been typical of his efforts in York. He’s been a step short of his best but has been prepared to roll his sleeves up and battle. He’s still got to get over the line, but if he finds his best form, watch out!
O’SULLIVAN 4-3 SAENGKHAM (92-0)
Noppon is continuing in attack mode and an audacious effort down the right rail just fails to drop, but he gets a slice of fortune as he covers the pocket. Noppon rolls the dice again, but this time he is out of luck and hands a second chance to O’Sullivan who knocks in a break of 48 to move within one frame of victory.
O’SULLIVAN 4-3 SAENGKHAM (44-0)
It’s now Noppon who is making errors and this one looks costly as O’Sullivan knocks a red into the centre of the pocket of the bottom right. He gets to 44, but runs out of position. Noppon is still alive.
O’SULLIVAN 3-3 SAENGKHAM (74-14)
Accelerating like a Ferrari, O’Sullivan races through the gears with a glorious break of 74. For the first time in the match, he has the cue ball under tight control and it shows with a superb contribution. A red does not drop into the left middle and Noppon comes back to the table, but it does not come to anything as O’Sullivan moves into the lead.
O’SULLIVAN 3-3 SAENGKHAM (16-0)
An excellent starting red from O’Sullivan, beautifully cued into the bottom left. The split of the reds is not brilliant, but he has one into the left middle and is up and running in the seventh.
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 SAENGKHAM (64-48)
Ronnie does not pot the yellow, but gets a second bite as Noppon’s effort at a fiendishly difficult yellow does not drop. His attacking play is a good sign, but there are times when erring on the side of caution is the way to go. Ronnie mops up the colours to draw level. Turning points, anyone?
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 SAENGKHAM (37-48)
It’s more miss than hit at the moment, with Noppon missing a red into the left corner, O’Sullivan following with a miss into the right middle and Noppon hitting back by missing another to the bottom left. O’Sullivan finally gets in and is back in the frame with on red remaining on the table. He knocks in a glorious red along the bottom rail and has a massive chance.
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 SAENGKHAM (14-29)
The black O’Sullivan missed in the previous frame came as a surprise. Surprise was more like shock in the sixth, as he missed a simple blue into the right middle. He was trying to force it coming in and out of baulk, but it was not good. Noppon misses shortly afterwards and it’s getting very edgy – and we’re only in the sixth frame.
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 SAENGKHAM (1-22)
Commentator’s curse strikes as he misses an albeit tough red into the left middle and it hands O’Sullivan an easy starter.
O’SULLIVAN 2-3 SAENGKHAM (0-22)
Noppon gets a lovely split of the pack off the black and he’s in with a great chance again. After the previous clearance, he is full of confidence.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 SAENGKHAM (57-65)
Noppon knocks in a fantastic red down the right rail to get his chance. He takes full advantage with a clearance of 59 for an unlikely steal. O’Sullivan had the frame at his mercy but missed the black. I’m sure someone somewhere is talking about turning points and momentum shifts.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 SAENGKHAM (57-1)
Ronnie gets in again off the back of a poor safety from Noppon. Handing chances to arguably the greatest player to pick up a cue is not the wisest strategy, but O’Sullivan breaks down on 45 when missing a black into the left corner.
“The black stays out, incredible,” said David Hendon on Eurosport comms. True, very true.
Frame is still alive.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 SAENGKHAM (12-0)
Noppon misses a long red by some distance and O’Sullivan gets in and immediately splits the pack. An excellent red goes cleanly into the left middle, but he runs out of position and misses a long red. It’s still very stop-start.
O’SULLIVAN 2-2 SAENGKHAM
We’ve back underway with the match well poised. Will Ronnie find another gear, or is Noppon primed to keep the shocks coming?
JIMMY’S THOUGHTS
“Ronnie took quite a bit of time to settle,” White said. “He’s not really got going.
“I think we are going to see some bigger breaks and better quality after the interval.”
O’SULLIVAN 1-2 SAENGKHAM (98-8)
O’Sullivan’s break reaches 33, and the crucial split of the reds from the blue works a treat. With reds split nicely, he knocks in a break of 98 to draw level at the interval. It was a good break, but the cue ball got away from time to time suggesting he is still not fully happy with the table. He’s spoken before about enjoying difficult conditions as he seems them as a challenge. We’ll find out if that’s the case after the interval. See you shortly.
O’SULLIVAN 1-2 SAENGKHAM (12-8)
A good safety from O’Sullivan draws a mistake from Noppon and with his hand on the table, Ronnie knocks in a good starting red and he’s in the balls. He could do with a decent contribution to settle things.
O’SULLIVAN 1-1 SAENGKHAM (5-117)
Noppon knocks an excellent long red into the green pocket and it’s an excellent chance. This time he takes full advantage, as a break of 83 is enough to secure the third frame. The camera pans to O’Sullivan who now knows he is in a match.
O’SULLIVAN 1-1 SAENGKHAM (5-34)
Noppon does not take full advantage as he break down on 33. Fortunately, he’s not left Ronnie an easy starter and it’s a case of O’Sullivan being patient as his opponent is having a favourable run of the balls.
O’SULLIVAN 1-1 SAENGKHAM (5-20)
Noppon has a hug slice of luck as a missed red flies round the table, flicks the pink and drops into the middle. He has an excellent chance with the balls favourably split.
O’SULLIVAN 1-1 SAENGKHAM (5-1)
Tense stuff at the start of the third. O’Sullivan lays an excellent safety after Noppon missed a routine blue into the middle – with his mind more on splitting the pack. O’Sullivan not at his best yet, he’s playing solid snooker.
O’SULLIVAN 0-1 SAENGKHAM (106-8)
It appears it was the marker who alerted the referee to the issue, but after everything settles down O’Sullivan gets back to the table and mops up a break of 76 to level the match.
O’SULLIVAN 0-1 SAENGKHAM (30-8)
In an amazing act of sportsmanship, O’Sullivan called the miss rule on himself. He missed the brown twice and should have been warned by the referee, as the black was available to hit. O’Sullivan told the referee.
O’SULLIVAN 0-1 SAENGKHAM (30-4)
O’Sullivan looks good with a break of 30, but runs out of position and fouls trying to get a safety on the brown.
O’SULLIVAN 0-1 SAENGKHAM (11-0)
Noppon plays what looks a good safety, but Ronnie sees a long plant to the bottom left and he manoeuvres the first red onto the second and he’s at the table with a chance.
“Well played from Ronnie O’Sullivan who had no choice but to play the shot,” Dale said.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 SAENGKHAM (18-91)
O’Sullivan plays on requiring snookers, but it appears more a case of him getting a feel for the table.
Noppon knocks in a red and finally seals the opening frame.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 SAENGKHAM (13-77)
A massive error from O’Sullivan who fouls the black attempting a safety and it allows Noppon to take a commanding lead in the frame.
“Ronnie has a bit to think about early in this match,” Dale said.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 SAENGKHAM (13-43)
Dale faces Ronnie in the first round of the Scottish Open next week. And jokingly, Dale said: “Let’s hope Ronnie gets to the final here, has a really long game and opts not to play in the Scottish Open.”
On the table, we have a safety battle.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 SAENGKHAM (5-43)
O’Sullivan goes desperately close with a long red, but it wiggles in the right corner. Noppon plays an awful safety to let Ronnie in, but he misses a black off the spot – not for the first time this week – and it’s all a bit nervy.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 SAENGKHAM (4-43)
Noppon’s breaks comes unstuck on 32 as he fails to get a cannon on a red from the black. It’s a decent lead, but he’d have hoped for more.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 SAENGKHAM (4-27)
Dominic Dale on Eurosport comms impressed with Noppon’s tip. “I’ve never seen a top quite like it, it’s like a fruit pastille.”
It seems to be working as he knocks in another long red and is in with a chance.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 SAENGKHAM (4-6)
A nerve-settler for Noppon who knocks in an excellent long red, but he is unable to take full advantage and runs for cover.
O’SULLIVAN 0-0 SAENGKHAM
An unfortunate start for Noppon who goes in-off with his opening shot, but better there than at the bottom end of the table. No damage done in the end.
HERE WE GO
MC Rob Walker is doing his thing (sadly for Rob, John Higgins is out so he can’t make a bad joke about him losing loads of weight) and the players are in the arena.
RONNIE’S THOUGHTS
“I normally feel pretty strong towards the end of tournaments,” O’Sullivan said. “I never struggle to want to play, but sometimes think ‘do I want to give blood, sweat and tears?”
Ronnie O’Sullivan has never lost to Noppon, but is wary of his opponent
“He is a very dedicated, very attacking, very aggressive player,” O’Sullivan said. “I am going to have to play well. Stick to my own game and see how it works out.“
UK Snooker Championship 2021: Ronnie O’Sullivan reaches quarter-final
By Shamoon Hafez BBC Sport
O’Sullivan’s last UK title triumph came in 2018
Record seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed a routine 6-3 win over Noppon Saengkham to reach the quarter-finals of the UK Championship.
Thailand’s Saengkham held his own in first four frames, making 83 in between O’Sullivan’s 76 and 98 breaks for 2-2.
He edged 3-2 ahead but O’Sullivan reeled off four frames in a row, including a century, to seal the match.
O’Sullivan will face Kyren Wilson or Ben Woollaston in the next round on Friday at the Barbican Centre in York.
‘I no longer think my best is better than anyone else’s best’
‘The Rocket’ is firm favourite to lift the trophy for the eighth time after seeing heavyweights including defending champion Neil Robertson, world champion Mark Selby and Judd Trump all make early exits.
“Winning tournaments is not going to make a difference to my life,” O’Sullivan told BBC Two. “It would be great, but we all have different perspectives and at this stage in my career I don’t get excited by winning tournaments. I get excited by having a good life.
“I have been relaxed for a while. I much prefer watching and talking about it than playing it, I have to force myself to get some juice out of it. It is going to end at some point so might as well try and get as much out of it.
“I no longer think my best is better than anyone else’s best. That is always a sign, will I be comfortable with that?
“Winning is not so important, it is not going to change anything. If I can be the best 46-year-old in the world and can compete with John Higgins, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, in that age category, then I am quite comfortable with losing and putting a smile on my face.”
The 45-year-old was far from his fluent best, but showed his proven class as he fought back from behind to triumph.
In control at 3-2 ahead, Saengkham had opportunities for a two-frame advantage, but he did not capitalise when in among the balls and O’Sullivan to begin his revival.
He did not lose a frame thereafter and finished off the match in style with a composed 120 clearance.
O’Sullivan added: “I don’t even talk about my games anymore, I just get upset thinking about it. Leave it out there, it is what it was. I am still in the tournament.
“Every match you get spells like that. At 3-2 I nearly gave up, but I kept applying myself because I was struggling. Something clicked and I was off and running again.
“Everybody is under pressure, it is that type of game. I have heard greats being sick in the dressing room before they went out. In team sports you get people to help you out but snooker is a tough one.”
Analysis
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry on BBC Two:
“That is what O’Sullivan does, as soon as Saengkham gave him the opportunity, we said put the chair in. He is the best that has ever been at clearing matches out and getting over the line. There is no hesitation, he knows what he has to do and I thought it would be the last visit of the match.”
BBC Sport pundit Joe Perry:
“The best thing about that for me was that he didn’t look at this best but went 3-3 and it flicked a switch, there was only one winner after that. It is incredible how he can go through the gears so quickly.
“You can’t let the top players off, once they sense a little bit of weakness they will trample all over you.“
‘I don’t care. I’m going to have a couple of Guinnesses tonight ’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan’s view on UK Championship
Ronnie O’Sullivan may be closing in on more snooker history in York, but the 45-year-old continues to give the distinct impression he would rather be anywhere else than on the cusp of a record eighth UK snooker title.
After reeling off the last four frames to sink Noppon Saengkham 6-3 and reach the quarter-finals, O’Sullivan insisted he had no interest in his performance, and shrugged off the prospect of claiming the crown on his 46th birthday on Sunday.
O’Sullivan insisted: “I don’t care – if I win it, great, and if I don’t it will have no impact on my life and what I do. If anything I’d rather be sitting with Jimmy (White), having a laugh.
“I really don’t celebrate birthdays to be honest. I don’t get excited by that either. I get excited by my work and some little projects I’m working on.”
Even a break of 120 to wrap up a tight contest in which he had looked out-of-sorts in the early stages failed to kindle any evident enthusiasm in O’Sullivan, who will return for his last eight match on Friday.
“I’m just happy to be through and still in the tournament,” added O’Sullivan. “It is what it is out there. I really haven’t got a clue how it all works.
“I don’t care, I really have no interest. I’m going to have a couple of Guinnesses tonight and a bit of mulled wine and some nice food.”
Of course an Irish paper had to mention Guiness …
For what it’s worth, here are my views on Ronnie’s comments: I’m certain that he would be delighted to add to his tally of Triple Crown events and that he feels it out there because he does care. On the other hand, he doesn’t want the pressure everyone piles on him, especially now that he is the highest ranked player remaining in the tournament and seen as the “favourite”. There was nothing in his game yesterday to justify that tag. He had to cope with that pressure and huge expectations for nearly 30 years, they have sometimes been his downfall. He doesn’t want that anymore. He doesn’t want to hurt anymore. He has nothing to prove.
To me, the most “authentic” and revealing is this last one – I promise – by Hector Nunns. Hector is someone Ronnie trusts because they have known each other for many, many years, and he knows that Hector will not misrepresent his quotes for the sake of sensationalism.
Ronnie O’Sullivan: I’d Rather Be A Monk Than Take Snooker Too Seriously
Ronnie O’Sullivan insists he will never go back to treating snooker like a ‘proper job’ – and would rather go and be a monk. The Rocket moved up through the gears against Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham at the UK Championship to seal a 6-3 victory at the York Barbican on Wednesday.
World No3 O’Sullivan is hoping to celebrate his 46th birthday on Sunday by extending his own record with an eighth UK title success. But the winner of 20 Triple Crown tournaments says that while he remains professional about his craft, the game will never again drive him to distraction.
O’Sullivan, who at one time studied Buddhism, said: “Everyone is under pressure, don’t believe anyone who says they aren’t, it’s that type of game. Even the greats – I know of one great player, that I won’t name, who was often sick in the dressing room before going out.
“I still get butterflies and nerves – but I prefer watching and talking about snooker to playing it these days, and I have to force myself to get some more juice out of it. It will all end sometime.
“It is hard going out there, I reckon if you asked most players if they’d rather a job in TV they’d rather that than be sweating and under pressure.
“And I’m not that person anyway, I would sooner retire and go and be a monk and meditate 12 hours a day than do hard labour, even if I’ll always work at my game.
“I no longer think my best is better than everyone else’s best, so that’s always a sign of what might be to come in the future. I’m still in, and the win’s everything. I did manage to finish it at the first attempt 6-3 – you don’t get paid for overtime, do you?
“I almost gave up at 3-2 down, I was struggling and he should have been 4-2. But something clicked and I was off and running again.
“I just want to be the best 46-year-old snooker player in the world, competing with the John Higginses and the Mark Williamses, and maybe even the Neil Robertsons.
“But it’s only a matter of time until the younger guys start winning titles. And I am comfortable with losing and still smiling, where Stephen Hendry couldn’t do that.
“I have to try still because there is a crowd out there, the fans have been loyal to me and I would never sell them short. Today was a day where I dug in. Anyone left in this is there by right, they are there because they have beaten people.”
…
Ronnie will need to play better in the quarter-finals, and, importantly, to start the match better. He will face Kyren Wilson who was impressive yesterday evening, especially before the MSI.
The trend continues in York, as more top players crashed out over the last two days, most notably, John Higgins and Judd Trump seen by many asthe tournament favourite.
John Higgins let slip a 5-3 lead and lost 6-5 against Zhao Xintong in the third round of the Cazoo UK Championship, becoming the latest big name to be knocked out in the early stages of the tournament in York.
Defeat for Higgins means that seven of the world’s top 12 players have been eliminated, as he joins Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui, Yan Bingtao, Mark Williams among the casualties. Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is still going strong as he scored a 6-3 win over Mark King.
Zhao’s best run in a ranking event came at the 2018 China Championship when he reached the semi-finals
China’s Zhao is widely recognised for his raw talent and break-building class, but he also showed tactical nous and resilience today to beat one of snooker’s all-time greats. The 24-year-old goes through to the last 16 to face Sam Craigie or Peter Lines.
Higgins led 2-1 with a top break of 80, then in frame four he trailed 76-0 with five reds left but got the snookers he needed and eventually cleared the colours to extend his lead. Zhao pulled one back and had chances in frame six, but a safety error on the final pink allowed Higgins to pot the pink then execute a clever cocked-hat double on the black for 4-2.
A break of 110 gave Zhao frame seven, then Higgins made 67 in the eighth as he went 5-3 ahead. World number 26 Zhao pulled one back, then in frame ten Higgins had an early chance but made just 22 before running out of position as he split the pack. Zhao replied with 59 and when he thumped in a long pot on the penultimate red it was 5-5. A rare safety error from Higgins in the decider handed his opponent a chance, and Zhao grasped it with a superb 83.
“I played very well,” said Zhao. “In the last frame, John gave me an easy chance and I took it. I like this venue and I get support from the local fans, it’s very exciting. When I was 3-1 and 5-3 down I just tried to take it easy and play one ball at a time. It’s my biggest win and it gives me more confidence.”
Higgins said: “He was by far the better player, I was just hanging on, I nicked a couple of frames that I shouldn’t have nicked. If I’d have won that game, I wouldn’t have deserved it. Zhao has got so much ability and you can see that he’s trying to round his game a little bit more. He’s super talented and a joy to watch when he’s floating round the table.’’
O’Sullivan is into the last 16 of this event for the 21st time
O’Sullivan, who won this title in 1993, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2017 and 2018, scored breaks of 108, 70, 84, 52, 63 and 53 as he got the better of King. The Rocket now faces Noppon Saengkham or Stuart Bingham.
Barry Hawkins saw off Cao Yupeng with a top break of 103. Three-time ranking event winner Hawkins said: “If I feel confident in my game then I know I can give anyone a run for their money. I’ve faltered a few times when it comes to the business end in these Triple Crown events but if can keep getting in the thick of it the door might open.”
Andy Hicks won 6-5 for the third consecutive match, beating Dominic Dale to reach the last 16 of this event for the first time since 2004.
Zhao’s win realy came as a surprise to me as he’s not had a lot of success against “tactically savvy” players and John Higgins is one of the best, if not the best in that category. But Zhao has improved in that respect and he’s a joy to watch.
Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham won an incredible match with Stuart Bingham by a 6-5 scoreline to set up a fourth round clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Cazoo UK Championship.
Former World Champion Bingham came from 5-0 down to 5-5, only for his opponent to make a break of 121 in the deciding frame. Saengkham is through to the last 16 of this tournament for the first time and will face O’Sullivan on Wednesday or Thursday, while Bingham becomes the eighth member of the world’s top 16 to be knocked out of the event in York.
Saengkham is based at Ding Junhui’s academy in Sheffield
Saengkham seemed in total control in the first part of the match as breaks of 61, 131, 53, 64 and 56 put him 5-0 ahead. The momentum swung Bingham’s way as he took five in a row with top runs of 52, 72 and 69. But the Englishman didn’t get a chance to complete the fight back as Saengkham won the decider in a single visit.
World number 45 Saengkham said: “At 5-0 up I was very confident and enjoying it. At 5-5 I went to the toilet and told myself I am always happy to play against a World Champion, even if I lose. I believed I could win and just wanted one chance.
“My target was to play Ronnie because I want to learn something from him. If I am good enough I can beat him, I hope I do well. When I started watching snooker, Ronnie and Mark Selby were my heroes so I am very excited.
“I practise for ten hours a day and I have Ding Junhui and my coach Steve Feeney to teach me. They have helped me to learn about cue ball control, safety and how to become a big name. I learn something every day.”
Fifth seed Kyren Wilson was pushed hard by tour rookie Wu Yize but came through 6-3. China’s Wu made a break of 89 to go 2-1 up before Wilson took three frames in a row with a top run of 115. The next two frames were shared to leave Wilson 5-3 ahead, and he enjoyed two huge slices of fortune during a battle on the colours in frame nine, as he fluked the green when escaping from a snooker, and later fluked the brown which got him over the winning line.
“I fell over the line,” admitted Kettering’s Wilson, who has never been beyond the quarter-finals of this event. “I’m pleased to get through but I need to play better.”
He now meets Ben Woollaston, who came from 3-1 and 4-3 down to beat Liam Highfield 6-4. Leicester’s Woollaston is through to the last 16 of a knock-out ranking event for the first time since the 2020 Northern Ireland Open.
Jack Lisowski came from 2-1 down to beat Graeme Dott 6-2 with high scores of 54, 74 and 110. “The longer the match went on, the more I settled down and felt relaxed,” said Lisowski, who now meets Xiao Guodong or Hossein Vafaei.
Wu Yize showed good things but he’s still very raw. I thought that he handled the main table, on telivision, very well considering he’s a rookie on tour.
Noppon is a very solid player. He’s had a difficult time last season and I’m glad the see him playing well again. I would be a shame if either he or Theppy fell off the tour, not just because they are both good, even very good, but because they are important for the future of snooker in Thailand.
Judd Trump admitted his performance was “so poor I deserved to lose” as he went down 6-3 against Matthew Selt in the last 32 of the Cazoo UK Championship.
Selt, a former Indian Open champion, described the victory as one of the best of his career and sealed the result superbly with a century in the last frame as he earned a meeting with Barry Hawkins in the last 16. Ten of the world’s top 13 players have now been eliminated from the field.
World number two Trump arrived in York full of self-belief having won the Cazoo Champion of Champions just days earlier, but failed to click into top gear at snooker’s second biggest ranking event. Since winning this title in 2011, he has been runner-up twice but in every other year has been knocked out before the quarter-finals.
From 2-1 down, Selt reeled off three frames in a row with breaks of 55, 55 and 60. Trump pulled one back, and in the crucial eighth frame he got the snooker he needed on the final green, and had a chance to clear for 4-4 but ran out of position and missed a difficult thin cue on the black. After a brief bout of safety, Trump left the black too close to a top corner and Selt slotted it in for 5-3.
World number 35 Selt finished the match in fine style with a break of 128 to reach the last 16 of this event for the third time in his career.
“It is a very satisfying win, probably the best of my career because of the circumstances,” said Romford’s 36-year-old Selt. “That last break, I just tried to make it as quick as I could, I don’t normally play that quickly. I felt like I played pretty solidly, I could have scored a bit heavier, but overall I’d give that performance an eight or nine out of ten.
“Judd struggled a bit today which was delightful for me, partly due to my safety being pretty good, but he missed a few balls that he normally doesn’t.
“My confidence is really high, my game has been good for a while. I changed cue a year ago and since then I have been making a lot more 50s, 60s and frame winning breaks.
“I’m hoping it will be a good match in the next round, it is the last 16 of the UK Championship so regardless of who you play it is a big occasion, and Barry is a fantastic player.”
Trump said: “I had my chances at the start should have been 3-1 up but after the interval I was poor so I deserved to lose. I felt flat. It’s a venue that I don’t play well at. Even in the year I won it I should have gone out, I was lucky. The tournament start to finish is just so long and I am not a big fan of waiting around in between games. Everyone has their venues that they don’t perform well at.
“I prefer playing the top players because I always seem to get up for the game, and this season I have struggled a little with lower ranked players.”
Gilbert won his first ranking title earlier this season at the BetVictor Championship League
David Gilbert enjoyed one of his best ever fight-backs as he came from 5-2 down to beat BetVictor Northern Ireland Open champion Mark Allen 6-5. Gilbert will reach the quarter-finals of this event for the first time if he can beat Andy Hicks.
Allen built a 5-2 lead with top breaks of 75 and 78, but he missed several match-winning opportunities in the last four frames. Gilbert clawed his way back to 5-5 and secured victory with a break of 63 in the decider.
“I’m over the moon,” said Tamworth’s Gilbert. “Obviously it wasn’t pretty, far from pretty from both of us. At 5-2 down and struggling with my game, I felt like I could hang on if I could just keep the magic going on as long as possible. It was a fantastic break in the last frame, that will give me confidence moving forward.”
Gilbert has raised over £2,600 for Movember and added: “I’ll 100% be keeping the ‘tash until we’re done with the competition. I hope it stays until Sunday. And if I win the competition, I promise you it will stay until the end of the season!”
Anthony McGill was also involved in a thrilling finish and clinched a 6-5 victory with a century in the decider. McGill trailed Zhou Yuelong 4-2 and 5-3 but came out on top, and over the match the Scot fired breaks of 133, 61, 60, 96 and 135.
That results blows open the Race to the Cazoo Masters as McGill is sure of a spot at Alexandra Palace in January but China’s Zhou is in 16th position and can’t add to his tally. Gilbert leads the chasing pack but all players outside the top 16 in that race who are still in the field in York have a chance to climb into the elite.
Peter Lines is through to the last 16 of a ranking event for the tenth time in his 30-year career as he beat Sam Craigie 6-3. From 3-1 down, Leeds cueman Lines won five frames in a row with a top break of 75 to set up a match with Zhao Xintong.
Judd Trump’s defeat only came as half surprise to me because, frankly, he has not been at his best since the Gibraltar Open last season. Of course he won the Champion of Champions but he was helped by a very easy group draw, and uncharacteristicly poor Kyren in the SF, and facing an exhausted Higgins in the final. He also had rest days between his Group, SF and Final performances. What surprised me however is that Matt Selt was able to hold it together in the latter stages of the match. To his own admission, he’s not renowed for performing well on the TV table.
Judd Trump said that the rournament is “so long” and that he struggles with idle time between matches. That doesn’t bode well for the Crucible then.
The Allen v Gilbert match was frankly bad. Credit to Gilbert though for fighting it through.
Luca Brecel believes he is playing well enough to win the Cazoo UK Championship as he whitewashed Stephen Maguire 6-0 to reach the last 16.
Brecel’s highest break in the match was just 50 but he did enough to dominate his opponent and win six frames without reply. He goes through to the fourth round to face Anthony Hamilton on Thursday. Defeat for Maguire means that 11 of the world’s top 13 players have been knocked out in York.
Brecel’s only ranking title came at the 2017 China Championship
It’s nine years since Brecel reached the quarter-finals of this event as a 17-year-old prodigy, and the Belgian ace insists he is a far better player now having improved his safety and shot selection.
“It’s unbelievable to win 6-0 tonight,” said world number 40 Brecel. “There were not many big breaks but I potted a lot of good balls towards the end of frames and got him in snookers. Stephen missed a few easy ones.
“I am a very different player now to what I was nine years ago. The way I prepare for tournaments is so different. I am only 26 but I have got so much experience at this level, it’s crazy. I’ve got 20 years now to fulfil my full potential. I try to look at other players like Neil Robertson and learn from them in terms of being disciplined and professional. In the past I went to for too many shots, now I use my safety game more.”
Asked if he is playing well enough to win the £200,000 top prize this week, Brecel added: “Definitely. The one thing I have is that I am not afraid to win when I am under pressure and I have to make a clearance. I have got a lot of bottle and that’s what you need to win a tournament.”
Hamilton is into the last 16 of this event for the first time this millennium
Hamilton felt he “behaved like a spoilt brat” against Ricky Walden but he came through 6-4 to reach the last 16 of this event for the first time since 1999. Veteran Hamilton, age 50, came from 4-2 down to score a gritty victory. The tenth frame came down to a respotted black and after a long safety exchange, Walden had a golden chance to make it 5-5, but missed a short range pot to a centre pocket. Hamilton converted a thin cut on the black to the same pocket to secure the result.
“It’s a relief to win but the standard was so bad,” admitted Hamilton. “I couldn’t play, but luckily for me Ricky was a bit worse. We are playing for big money and pride. I let my problems get to me, I’d had enough of it. I behaved like a spoilt brat which was disappointing. At least I can try to redeem myself in the next round. I’m looking forward to playing Luca, he’s exciting and plays unusual shots. It would be great for snooker if he was winning tournaments.”
Iran’s top player Hossein Vafaei continued his fine run as he beat Xiao Guodong 6-2 with a top break of 69. World number 63 Vafaei is through to the last 16 of a Triple Crown event for the first time and now meets Jack Lisowski.
Jordan Brown, enjoying his best run since he won the Welsh Open in February, beat Mark Joyce 6-3 with top breaks of 128, 53, 62 and 61.
Last 16 line-up:
Jordan Brown v Anthony McGill Anthony Hamilton v Luca Brecel Kyren Wilson v Ben Woollaston Ronnie O’Sullivan v Noppon Saengkham Matthew Selt v Barry Hawkins David Gilbert v Andy Hicks Zhao Xintong v Peter Lines Jack Lisowski v Hossein Vafaei
Only two of the top 8 remain in the tournament – Kyren and Ronnie – and should they win today, they are set to meet in the quarter-finals. It’s been a strange one so far!.
Ronnie played a solid match to beat Mark King by 6-3 in the last 32 round of the UK Championship. As I expected, it wasn’t a particularly easy match. Those two have history and it goes way back in time. Ahead of this match, Mark was leading 5-4 in their head-to-head. At the 2017 German Masters, Ronnie had lost by 5-4 to Mark, having been 4-1 in front. That was their most recent match before their yesterday encounter.
Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is still going strong as he scored a 6-3 win over Mark King.
…
O’Sullivan is into the last 16 of this event for the 21st time
O’Sullivan, who won this title in 1993, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2017 and 2018, scored breaks of 108, 70, 84, 52, 63 and 53 as he got the better of King. The Rocket now faces Noppon Saengkham or Stuart Bingham.
Ronnie will actually face Noppon Saengkham who beat Stuart Bingham by 6-5 in yesterday’s evening session.
UK Snooker Championship 2021: Ronnie O’Sullivan reaches last 16, John Higgins out
By Shamoon Hafez BBC Sport
Ronnie O’Sullivan won the last of his seven UK titles in 2018
Record seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan cruised past Mark King 6-3 to reach the last 16 of the UK Championship in York.
O’Sullivan left King scoreless in the first two frames with breaks of 108 and 70 – and led 3-0.
O’Sullivan faces Noppon Saengkham next after the Thailand player edged Stuart Bingham 6-5 in an incredible contest.
…
‘Lovely, beautiful’ seeing big names going out
Since winning the World Championship last year, O’Sullivan has had a disappointing 15 months by his own high standards, reaching just one semi-final this season on the back of losing five ranking finals last term.
And, although the 46-year-old opened with a century break and compiled five further breaks of 50 or more, he remained patient and was made to work for his opportunities.
O’Sullivan told BBC Two: “I am pleased to be through, Mark is a tough player so I just had to focus. I am trying, I have been playing exhibition snooker since the World Championship and that is not good enough for the nitty gritty.
“I haven’t got long now and this is one last effort to see how it goes. I am trying to take one ball at at a time. The result is irrelevant, I just want to apply myself.
“I never look at the draw, I have no interest in it. I don’t care who I play, but do I enjoy everything I do. I have fathomed a way that works for me. I enjoy how I have life at the moment.”
Asked about the big names that have exited early from the tournament, O’Sullivan replied: “I have a little chuckle to myself when I see them all getting bombed out. Lovely, beautiful.”
Analysis
1991 world champion John Parrott on BBC Two
“There has never been anyone better finishing games off, it is not an easy thing to have in your armoury. You can get embroiled in battles, but O’Sullivan gets the chance and finishes it off.”
1997 world champion Ken Doherty
“O’Sullivan looks very good, stroking the ball in nicely, some good breaks and great long pots. He matched King in the safety department and was very patient.”
“His concentration looked good, it can waver when you are looking at other matches, but he finished the match off. He never baulks at the winning line, he gets over it very easily.”
This UK Championship keeps giving… as we enter the lat 32 stage, none of the current “Triple Crown” holders remain in the tournament. Neil Robertson, the reigning UK Champion, had been beaten in his opening match and, yesterday,h bot Yan Bingtao, the reigning Masters Champion and Mark Selby, the reigning World Champion, bowed out.
Ronnie O’Sullivan recovered from a slow start to beat Robbie Williams 6-2 and reach the last 32 of the Cazoo UK Championship.
From 2-1 down, O’Sullivan looked sharp and focussed as he won five frames in a row with top breaks of 91, 74, 66 and 55. He will face either Mark King or Gerard Greene in the third round on Monday or Tuesday.
Chigwell’s O’Sullivan first won this tournament in 1993 and has since lifted the trophy six more times. At the age of 45, he remains among the favourites for the title.
“I had to apply myself mentally today, you can only control the controllables,” said O’Sullivan. “Mental strength can be the difference between winning and losing. I try to enjoy myself and have fun – at my age it’s just nice to be getting my cue out of its case. This is the second biggest tournament and I have got a good record in it.”
Kyren Wilson scored an impressive 6-0 whitewash of Jak Jones with a top break of 116. World number five Wilson said: “Jak is tough to play against in terms of his rhythm. I lost to him in a qualifying match last season when I got involved in his style of play. I made sure that didn’t happen this time and focussed on my own pace and rhythm.”
Matthew Selt scored a 6-2 victory over Joe Perry, earning a meeting with the winner of Sunday’s match between Judd Trump and Chris Wakelin. “I would love to play Judd, I have known him since he was eight years old and we are very close,” said Selt. “He is a phenomenal player. If I perform I will have a chance, if I collapse like I usually do on the TV table then I’ll lose 6-0. But Judd will have a tough match first against Chris.”
Si Jiahui knocked out Shaun Murphy in the first round but his time in the spotlight ended with a 6-4 defeat against Dominic Dale. Ben Woollaston top scored with 136 as he beat Cazoo Masters champion Yan Bingtao 6-3, while Jack Lisowski enjoyed a 6-4 win over Martin O’Donnell.
Andy Hicks scored a second consecutive 6-5 win as he beat Michael Holt with a break of 88 in the decider. “I should have won both matches more comfortably but I’m very pleased to get through,” said Hicks, who reached the semi-finals of this event back in 1995. “I am creating a lot of chances and then getting tight when I see the winning line, which is natural because this is a big event. I would love to have a run.”
This afternoon, Ronnie will face Mark King. This is not an easy match for Ronnie. Indeed, Mark King has beaten him 5 times out of 9 competitive matches they played. Mark won their last encounter in the last 32 of the 2017 German Masters; it went to a decider. All the other matches date back to 2010 and earlier so they may not be that relevant. King however is having an excellent season. He recently reached the semi-finals at the 2021 English Open, losing by 6-4 to the eventual Champion, Neil Robertson; he had beaten Judd Trump in the quarter-finals. He is currently ahead of Ronnie in the “one year list”.
Mark Allen is determined to collect more silverware this season and moved a step closer to success at the Cazoo UK Championship with a 6-4 victory over Joe O’Connor.
Allen enjoyed one of the best moments of his career last month in Belfast when he won the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open on home turf, beating John Higgins 9-8 in the final. Not content to rest on his laurels, the 35-year-old is fired up as he looks ahead to the third round in York.
Allen was UK Championship runner-up in 2011 and 2018
The first six frames tonight were shared and O’Connor looked to have the momentum when he made a break of 79 for 3-3. Frame seven came down to a safety tussle on the final pink and when O’Connor missed a tough long pot to a baulk corner, Allen punished him to edge ahead.
A run of 66 gave Allen a 5-3 advantage then O’Connor pulled one back with an 85. But world number 11 Allen dominated frame ten to seal the result. He will now meet David Gilbert, who top scored with 115 in a 6-3 defeat of Alexander Ursenbacher.
Allen said: “It wasn’t pretty at times, not because we were missing balls, but because of the way the balls went in a few frames. Every match is different and you have to be ready for that. I am proud of the way I battled for everything. I won three frames I had no right to win. On another night Joe would have won 6-2 and that would have been a fair reflection because he was the better player throughout.
“It’s always nice to win a title early in the season because that’s a box ticked and you relax. But when you get into matches in other events the pressure comes back. I want to win multiple tournaments this season. Maybe winning my home event under that sort of pressure could be what turns it around for me. I like the city of York, it reminds me a lot of what Sheffield is like at that time of year in that everyone knows the snooker is on.
“David Gilbert is a class act, he was the seed in his section and at the start of the week I fully expected to play him if I got that far. He’s a brilliant player to watch and has had some deep runs in the big events, but hopefully I won’t be watching too much of him.”
John Higgins continued his bid to reach a fourth consecutive final as he beat Sunny Akani 6-3. Scotland’s Higgins, who was runner-up in each of the last three tournaments, took a 5-0 lead with top runs of 87 and 131. Akani pulled three back before Higgins clinched victory with an 86 in frame nine.
“I was expecting Sunny to play well because I’ve seen some of his matches,” said three-time UK Champion Higgins. “I played well in the middle to the match then tailed off. It could have got interesting if he had made it 5-4. It will be a tough match next against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh or Zhao Xintong – their match should be televised, it will be that exciting. The way Thepchaiya dismantled Stephen Hendry in the first round – he makes the game look so easy. He has incredible touch when he’s in the balls. He’s got all the talent in the world.
“Zhao is the same. Perhaps he should try to emulate Judd Trump, who was very attacking when he came on to the scene and sometimes went for one shot too many. He went away and worked at his game, rounded his game and now he’s an unbelievable all round player. Maybe that’s something Zhao should learn from.”
Mark King, a semi-finalist at the recent BetVictor English Open, scored a 6-2 victory over Gerard Greene to set up a third round clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan. Gary Wilson made a 147 in round one but his run is over as he lost 6-4 to Liam Highfield.
Barry Hawkins saw off Gao Yang 6-1 while Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham fired runs of 128 and 119 in a 6-3 defeat of Ali Carter. That result ends Carter’s hopes of a place at Alexandra Palace in January as he is in 20th spot in the Race to the Cazoo Masters.
The match between Theppy and Zhao wasn’t televised of course… unfortunately because it was indeed, by all accounts a fantastic match.
AAs for Mark Allen, it’s a strange one. He looks fired up indeed, but at the same time continues to allude to the possibility of him having to pull out and leave the tournament.
I’m glad to see Noppon Saengkham playing well again and I won’t shed a tear about Ali Carter missing the Masters.
Judd Trump was far from his best against Chris Wakelin in the second round of the Cazoo UK Championship but came through 6-3 and remains confident of winning one of the longest events on the calendar.
Trump looked in danger of a shock exit when he trailed 3-2, but eventually battled through to a third round match with Matthew Selt. World number two Trump is aiming for back-to-back titles having won the Cazoo Champion of Champions a week ago.
A break of 84 – his highest of the match – put Trump 2-1 ahead, then Wakelin took frame four and made a 51 clearance to snatch the fifth. Trump levelled with a run of 66 then won two scrappy frames, lasting over an hour in total. And the Bristolian left-hander soon sealed victory in frame nine with breaks of 37 and 26.
“It was a slow match, the balls went awkward,” said 32-year-old Trump, who won this title in 2011. “A few years ago I might have lost that match but mentally I am stronger now. Chris is a good player and you can’t expect your opponent to lie down and give it to you.
“This is a long event, almost as long as the World Championship. You can’t play at your best all the way through, you just have to get through the early rounds and then try to peak at the right time. It’s ten years since I won this event but I have been in two other finals since.”
Looking ahead to his match with close friend Selt, Trump added: “It could be a similar game because he is very good at the tactical side. I practised with him when I was younger and learned a lot about the game from him.”
Ding Junhui will miss the Cazoo Masters for the first time since 2006 as he lost 6-3 to Sam Craigie. That leaves Ding in 25th place in the race to Alexandra Palace and with only the top 16 at the end of this event to qualify, the Chinese cueman will not be among the field in London in January.
World number 55 Craigie enjoyed one of his best career results as he compiled breaks of 55, 69, 105 and 84 in a superb win. “In the first half of the match, Ding was all over the place,” said Craigie. “He missed two or three blacks off the spot, he looked shaky and I really fancied it. Then after the interval he made a couple of big breaks but I responded well. The money and the ranking points mean a lot to someone in my position.”
Martin Gould is also out of the running in the Cazoo Masters race as he lost 6-3 to Cao Yupeng.
Stephen Maguire was in tremendous form in a 6-1 thrashing of Tian Pengfei. Breaks of 75, 127, 104, 73 and 90 helped Maguire into the third round. “I played very well, the crowd gave me a buzz and I fed off that,” said the Scot, who will now face either Tom Ford or Luca Brecel. He joked: “Tom has been staying in my apartment in York but if he we’re playing in the next round I’ll kick him out. He can go and find a hotel for £250 a night.”
China’s Zhao Xintong edged out Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 6-5 in a tremendous match which had an average frame time of just 14 minutes. At 3-0 down, Zhao potted 15 reds with blacks in frame four but ran out of position and missed the yellow on 120. He also made 114, 50, 92 and 56 in taking a 5-3 lead. Un-Nooh recovered to 5-5 and led 66-30 in the decider, only for Zhao to take it with a 43 clearance.
Ding’s miserable run continues and his ranking is quickly spiralling down. There seems to be very little fire in him. That said Sam Craigie played very well.
World number one Mark Selby and three-time Crucible king Mark Williams joined the big-name casualties to be knocked out of the Cazoo UK Championship in York before the second week has started.
Selby lost 6-2 to Iran’s Hossein Vafaei in the second round while Anthony Hamilton scored a 6-5 victory over Williams, who admitted that he fell asleep midway through the match. Welshman Williams has suffered from gout and Covid-19 in recent weeks, leaving him with severe fatigue.
Selby and Williams follow Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui and Yan Bingtao out of the exit door in York within the first two rounds.
Leicester’s Selby won his fourth Crucible crown in May but has made a poor start to the current season – he is yet to go beyond the last 16 of a ranking event this term. Vafaei can celebrate once of the best wins of his career so far and look forward to a last 32 match with Xiao Guodong.
Breaks of 109, 69, 55 and 56 helped put world number 63 Vafaei 5-0 ahead. Selby fought back to take the next two frames with a top run of 80, and would have added another had he not missed a tough final pink to a top corner when leading by 13 points. The frame went to a respotted black, and after a long tactical exchange, Vafaei fluked the black to a centre pocket from a tight angle when playing safe.
“I want to make my people proud of me,” said Iran’s top player. “I want to make snooker bigger in my country and I am doing that with wins like this.”
Hamilton has been 3-0 down in each of his first two matches but came through both and now faces Ricky Walden
Williams led 4-2 with top breaks of 66 and 71 before Hamilton won three in a row with 64, 88 and 65. Two-time UK Champion Williams won frame ten then had first chance in the decider but made just 21 before running out of position. Former German Masters champion Hamilton made an excellent match-winning 70, albeit helped midway through the break by a massive fluke on a red which dropped into a baulk corner after he had missed it to a centre pocket.
Williams said: “After 30 years as a pro, that’s the first time I have fallen asleep during a match. The score was 3-2 and I was sitting in my chair then I was out like a light. My head dropped down which woke me up and for about five seconds I had no idea where I was. It’s been a few weeks since I had Covid and I am feeling better but I still get very tired. It was a good match though, we both made some good breaks. He had a fluke in the decider but I have had plenty of those over the years.”
Nottingham’s Hamilton, ranked 56, said: “I was twitching all over the gaff at the end. That’s why I want to stay on the tour because you only get that thrill from sky-diving and playing snooker. I won’t get that when I retire, these emotions are hard to come by so I want to stay on tour for another couple of years and get as many of them as possible. I love being under pressure, it’s great, you feel alive.”
Zhou Yuelong saw off Ashley Hugill 6-2 to boost his status in the Race to the Cazoo Masters while 2006 World Champion Graeme Dott kept up the chase by beating Jimmy Robertson by the same scoreline.
Welsh Open champion Jordan Brown thrashed Farakh Ajaib 6-1 while Belgium’s Luca Brecel came from 5-4 down to edge out Tom Ford 6-5. Stuart Bingham was a 6-2 winner over Stuart Carrington while Anthony McGill top scored with 130 in a 6-4 defeat of David Grace.
Ronnie won his second round match in York, beating Robbie Williams by 6-2. Ronnie wasn’t at his brilliant best, but was very focused mentally, especially after the MSI.
His attitude and answers in the BBC post-match interview are very positive signs.
Ronnie O’Sullivan recovered from a slow start to beat Robbie Williams 6-2 and reach the last 32 of the Cazoo UK Champ
From 2-1 down, O’Sullivan looked sharp and focussed as he won five frames in a row with top breaks of 91, 74, 66 and 55. He will face either Mark King or Gerard Greene in the third round on Monday or Tuesday.
Chigwell’s O’Sullivan first won this tournament in 1993 and has since lifted the trophy six more times. At the age of 45, he remains among the favourites for the title.
“I had to apply myself mentally today, you can only control the controllables,” said O’Sullivan.
“Mental strength can be the difference between winning and losing. I try to enjoy myself and have fun – at my age it’s just nice to be getting my cue out of its case.”
“This is the second biggest tournament and I have got a good record in it.”
UK Snooker Championship 2021: Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and three-time winner John Higgins advance in York
27 November 2021
By Steve Sutcliffe BBC Sport
Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins both reached the third round of the UK Championship with routine wins in York.
Seven-time champion O’Sullivan made breaks of 91, 74, 66 and 55 as he reeled off five frames on the trot to seal a 6-2 win over Robbie Williams.
I am going to try and not enjoy it – and see what happens
It is almost three decades since O’Sullivan, 45, collected the first of his seven UK Championship titles in 1993. And a sumptuous opening red was a timely reminder of the quality of a player who – despite being regarded as one of snooker’s greatest ever stars – has downplayed his enthusiasm for participating in recent years.
“I have been enjoying it so much that it took the edge off my game. I thought maybe I should start applying myself a bit more mentally” O’Sullivan told BBC Sport.
“If I had not got my act together he would have probably taken advantage and won. I made him feel it out there and made him feel that I was there to try and win.”
“I am going to try and not enjoy it this week and see what happens”
While O’Sullivan took the first frame with a break of 58, Williams, 34, responded with breaks of 114 and 68 in a high-quality opening, and but for a kick on the pink he may have headed into the interval with a 3-1 lead.
Instead, O’Sullivan knocked in a 91 to draw level and went through the gears as he made his greater experience in these type of occasions count to book a last-32 meeting with Mark King, who won 6-2 against Gerard Greene.
Apparently, this is Ronnie’s idea to make sure he doesn’t enjoy it 😂
O’Sullivan Keeps Bid For Eighth UK Championship On Track With Win Over Williams
By Hector Nunns
Ronnie O’Sullivan insists he still has “hand grenades” to lob at opponents after keeping his bid for an eighth UK Championship title on track on Saturday afternoon.
The Rocket won the last five frames to seal a 6-2 victory over Robbie Williams as he looks to extend his own record haul at the York Barbican. World No3 O’Sullivan, 46 on the day of the UK final, did not make a century but rattled in breaks of 58, 68, 91, 74, 66 and 55 to see off the Wirral professional.
O’Sullivan said: “If my game is good then I don’t worry too much about the opponent. If I can hit them with enough grenades then hopefully that beats their best.
“It’s like Goran Ivanisevic was in tennis, however well his opponent played they knew they had to cope with that serve. If you apply your good assets, that will serve you well.
“I just tried to apply myself which I did well, and delete the horrific shots, and not listen to that voice telling me I can’t play and I’m useless.
“So I’ll refocus, not worry about how well or bad I’m playing and get on with the next one.
“That voice happens quite a lot, I can be my own worst enemy. It’s about trying to ignore it and play. It was great to be playing in front of a crowd here in York in a big tournament.
“We are judged on what we do in the three majors at the end of your career, and I am trying to stack up as many as I can.
“I would love to rack up another one or two, great, it gets harder as you get older – but if I don’t get any more they still have to chase me on 20. I regard that as one of the important records.
“Back in 2011 I didn’t see another victory coming after starting to work with Steve Peters and I lost belief – but it can come back and it did for me.”
The Sporstman also adds this piece of information, explaining why Steve Davis isn’t in York (yet)
Meanwhile snooker legend Steve Davis has missed the break at the UK Championship – after being struck down with Covid. The six-time winner of the event is now a popular pundit for broadcasters the BBC and had been due to start his duties yesterday.
Davis, 64 is recovering and completing his isolation at home in Essex but is hopeful of being in York from Wednesday for the latter stages of the first major of the season.
Former world No1 Davis won the prestigious event twice in its infancy and then another four times in a row from 1984-87 after it was given full ranking status. That mark of six was a record that stood through the Stephen Hendry era until 2018 when it was beaten by O’Sullivan.
And the BBC showed this piece about Ronnie’s career and status in the game:
Shaun Murphy unhappy about amateurs competing in UK Open after defeat to Si Jiahui
Shaun Murphy was unhappy following his UK Open exit, stating his victor Si Jiahu should not be in the tournament, on account of being an amateur: “It’s wrong, in my opinion, to walk into somebody who’s not playing with the same pressures and concerns I am”
Sky Sports
Last Updated: 24/11/21
Shaun Murphy was unhappy after his exit from the UK Open
Shaun Murphy said amateurs should not be allowed to play in professional snooker tournaments after he lost in the first round of the UK championship to 19-year-old Si Jiahui.
The 39-year-old, who was UK champions in 2008 and runner-up in the World Championship this year, fought back from 5-1 down to level the match but lost the deciding frame to the Chinese amateur.
Murphy, who has won more than four million pounds in prize money in his career, vented his frustration after the defeat in York on Tuesday.
“I’m going to sound like a grumpy old man but that young man shouldn’t be in the tournament,” Murphy, known as the Magician, told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“It’s not fair, it’s not right… I don’t know why we as a sport allow amateurs to compete in professional tournaments. This is our livelihood. This is our living. We’re self-employed individuals and not contracted sportsmen. We don’t play for a team.”
Si Jiahui edged the contest
Si is competing as an amateur due to falling off the main tour at the end of last season and takes on 49-year-old veteran Dominic Dale in the second round.
“The other 127 runners and riders in the tournament, it’s their livelihood too. It’s wrong, in my opinion, to walk into somebody who’s not playing with the same pressures and concerns I am,” Murphy added.
“He played like a man who does not have a care in the world, because he does not have a care in the world. I’m not picking on him as a young man, he deserved his victory.
“This is how I put food on the table. This is how I earn money. Since turning professional at 15, I’ve earned the right to call myself a professional snooker player. He hasn’t done that.”
Murphy later said on Instagram he had been playing with a severe injury.
Murphy suffered a 6-5 defeat
World Snooker Tour issued a robust response, saying it “strongly disagreed” with Murphy’s claims and insisting the opportunity for young amateur players to compete on the biggest stage formed a “crucial part” of their development.
The organisation said in a statement: “Si Jiahui earns a place in ranking tournaments this season as one of the leading players on the 2021 Q-School rankings.
“While he may have amateur status, he deserves his place in our events, based on his results.
“Amateurs play under the same rules as professionals, they can earn prize money and places on the World Snooker Tour based on results.
“Many elite amateur players like Si Jiahui train and compete full-time in the hope of earning a guaranteed tour place, therefore they are competing under significant pressure with no guarantees.
“Providing opportunities for the best amateur players is important for our growth as a sport and that is something that Shaun benefitted from during his early days as a player.
“We have come a very long way as a global sport over the past decade and that has partly been down to the structures we have built both at professional and grassroots level worldwide.
“For the best young players, the chance to compete on the big stage is a crucial part of their development and the development of the sport as a whole.
“We respect Shaun’s opinions, but in this case we strongly disagree with his comments.”
Of course, the opportunity to play in professional events for those who do well and top the “order of merit”, is part of the “Q-School” package and WST are of course under obligation to respect that “contract”. This season there are only 122 players on the tour – something that Shaun doesn’t seem to be aware of – and as a result even more amateurs are involved in pro events than usual.
Despite this, a number of other top players have been supporting Shaun’s views:
However, Selby has vowed to “stand by” Murphy and after his win against Muir he told BBC Sport: “I think a lot of players agree with him.
“Because he [Shaun Murphy] said it after he lost, people probably think it is sour grapes and he wouldn’t have said it if he had won – but I totally stand by everything he said.
“There’s a reason there is a Q School to try to get on [the professional tour], and if you don’t get on, you should have to wait another year and play in the amateur events.“
Of course, the latter sentence is not compatible with WST obligations under the current “Q-School contract” to provide opportunities for the amateurs topping the order of merit.
‘Shaun’s said it after he’s been beaten, but he’s got a point,’ said the Scot. ‘The way that social media works now, top players especially are not allowed to complain about anything. He’s got a point but what other way is there round it? 122 players, you need a top up to 128, what are you going to do?
‘Shaun’s saying that the guy is not playing for any ranking, and of course that helps. But the flipside, you’re playing on the main table, the experienced player would in theory have the advantage. Shaun’s playing with a bad injury, back trouble, that’s not much fun. People will have opinions one way or t’other, I don’t have a huge opinion on it, it’s just the way it is.
‘Shaun’s anything but a sore loser, it’s nothing to do with that, that’s absolute bunkum. Shaun’s got a view that amateurs shouldn’t be playing pro events. He’s got a point.’
And then… there is Neil Robertson…
Here is the audio …
Now what I find truly baffling and disturbing here is that Neil seems to target the young Chinese amateurs specifically. I’m very surprised that there wasn’t a reaction by WST on this. This is completely wrong in my views.
Those comments came to bite Neil in the bum … as himself then lost to an amateur as well, an English amateur, John Astley.
Amateur John Astley Claims Sweet Win Over Defending Champion Neil Robertson
John Astley created a sensation at the UK Championship on Thursday as the amateur knocked out defending champion Neil Robertson.
An angry Shaun Murphy had said earlier in the week after losing to teenager Si Jiahui that those not currently on the professional tour had “no place in the building” at York’s Barbican – or at any major tournament as a top-up player.
But unranked Geordie Astley, 32, a yo-yo player who has fallen off the circuit twice, proved his worth with a stunning shock 6-2 victory over the Australian.
The last-time three-time UK winner and world No4 Robertson defended his title in York in 2016 he also went out to an amateur in the shape of Peter Lines.
But after world No6 Murphy’s ‘boot them out’ rant Astley was under no illusions that this was an especially sweet win against a man who publicly agreed with Murphy – and one for the little guys.
Astley said: “It probably is the biggest win of my career, in a massive tournament. And maybe the stars were aligned a bit with all that has been said this week.
“I was having a joke about it with my brother this morning who was down with my dad, that wouldn’t it be funny if I beat the defending champion as someone not on the tour.
“I had seen Neil’s opinion on it too, which everyone is entitled to. One thing where I really don’t agree with Shaun is about byes, you should earn your wins.
“There shouldn’t be byes in a big event, and there is talent off the tour as I and Si Jiahui have shown this week. Shaun said he is trying to put food on the table – but so am I.
“There was probably only a handful of people who thought I could win this match. I haven’t won a match in the UK since beating Ken Doherty a few years ago.
“Even if I am an amateur at the moment, I do play pretty much full-time, as well as doing some coaching. Snooker is still very much my life, and so I am not a naïve young player.”
It was only the second match Astley had ever won at the UK Championship after the victory over former world champion Ken Doherty he referred to, a thrilling 6-5 success over the Irishman that came way back in 2013.
A crestfallen Robertson, 39, said: “I defended Shaun a bit because I know where he is coming from. Ronnie O’Sullivan drew Michael White and he is not an amateur at all, really.
“Ronnie, me, Shaun would all rather play the world No125 than Michael in the first round. Maybe I paid the ultimate price for expecting things to happen and not forcing them.
“Maybe John was fired up by the row about amateurs and even what I had said about it. He was getting a lot of support from friends and family in the arena.
“John is technically an amateur…but it’s not like he’s a 17-year-old golfer. He has spent a lot of years on the tour, and keeps getting on and falling back off, like a semi-pro.
“The reason these guys don’t win more matches is sometimes when they under the pump they don’t produce – but today he did.
“It hurts, as defending champion you don’t want to go out in the first round and I made it a bit easy for him.
“Look, John played a great, brilliant match – the match of his life – and was fearless out there. He had a crowd, stood up to it and played as if he had nothing to lose.
“I was pretty off the pace for the first five frames, and lacked focus and energy. If I had played well today, I would have won. But I didn’t.”
Whilst I agree that, in sport, no matter what sport, you shouldn’t be allowed to play in events you didn’t qualify for, the thing is that, with the Q-School rules set by WST/WPBSA, the players at the top of the Order of merit did actualy “qualify” to fill the gaps whenever there aren’t 128 professionals in the draw. It’s that simple really.
The “anomaly” here is that there are players on the main tour – and it’s not just one or two – who are significantly weaker than those “top amateurs” and this is an indication that there are serious flaws in the way tour cards are allocated. I don’t want to open the can of worms here and now, but certain “nominations” are clearly wrong as the beneficiaries stand next to zero chance to succeed. The Q-School itself is inadequate in many ways. The pros who just dropped off the tour have a massive advantage over pure amateurs, notably because they are used to the environment and the conditions. The vast majority of Q-School laureates are former pros. This season we have only ONE true rookie.
Lewis will tell me that all this could be solved by opting out of the “ranking” model and opting for an elo type of rating system … he’s rigth but it’s not gonna happen for a zillion of reasons. Let me just cite a few
for WST it would mean relinquishing power and control over the “professional” game
it would need the various bodies involved in snooker to agree, work together, adhere to the model and the way to apply it. No chance here.
it would definitely be harder for the fans to “follow”.
that in turn could make snooker less attractive for the betting market, currently its main sponsors
We had two eventful and dramatic days at the York Barbican as the first round of the UK Champuonship was played to a finish: two massive upsets, a 147 and a media/social media storm around the “status” of the amateurs in snooker and their rights to play in “professional” events. I will write a specific post about that topic later today. Meanwhile here is what happened on the baize.
Gary Wilson made the fourth maximum break of his career in the first round of the Cazoo UK Championship at the York Barbican.
His perfect break came in the sixth frame of his match with Ian Burns and put him 5-1 ahead. Wilson had already made breaks of 104, 71, 67 and 89.
World number 21 Wilson becomes the 11th player in snooker history to make more than three 147s. It’s his second maximum of the year, having made one at the WST Pro Series in January. This time, the 147 will be worth £15,000 if it is not equalled during the tournament.
It’s the 172nd maximum in snooker history and sixth of the season.
Wilson, who went on to win 6-2, said: “I knew on 32 that I was going for it. I didn’t care what angle I had on anything, I was just going for it. It’s nice to make a few 147s and be in the elite group of players making that many on the tour.
“But mainly I’m happy to just win the match, the 147 only gets one frame. I was a little bit disappointed by the way I finished the match, in the last couple of frames I missed a few, maybe it was just a little lapse in concentration. I was trying to tell myself don’t let it slip now that you’ve made a maximum and got such a big lead.”
David Gilbert top scored with 131 as he beat Alfie Burden 6-1 while former semi-finalist Ricky Walden saw off Craig Steadman 6-4.
You can watch Gary’s 147 here:
There were also wins for Noppon Saengkham, Xiao Guodong, Stuart Carrington, Liam Highfield and Robbie Williams.
The latter will be Ronnie’s opponent tomorrow afternoon.
Mark Williams admits that the effects of Covid and gout have left him exhausted, but he summoned the energy to beat Lei Peifan 6-3 in the first round of the Cazoo UK Championship.
Welshman Williams has suffered from both illnesses in recent weeks and had to pull out of the BetVictor English Open and BetVictor European Masters. Following a period of isolation he has recovered enough to be able to compete, but is still battling symptoms.
Williams won the British Open earlier this season
“I am knackered all the time and my body aches,” said the three-time World Champion. “The gout has gone and I’m improving every day since I got through Covid, but I am still very tired. They are two things I never want to get again.’’
Williams made top breaks of 106 and 112 against China’s Lei as he set up a second round match with Anthony Hamilton or Allan Taylor.
World number one Mark Selby also progressed safely into the last 64 as he beat Ross Muir 6-2. Two-time UK Champion Selby was hauled back from 2-0 to 2-2, but then stepped up a gear after the interval and compiled runs of 67, 93, 95 as he earned a match with Hossein Vafaei or Pang Junxu.
“I played well really from start to finish,” said Leicester’s Selby. “Ross started well, at the interval I was happy to be at 2-2 because I could have easily been 3-1 down. After the interval I played a lot better, when I got my chances I took them.
“Ross is a good player as he was on the tour himself a few years ago. It’s not the easiest first round draw because you look at some of the amateurs and the standard they play to is probably better than some of the pros on the tour.”
Ding Junhui, who has lifted the trophy three times, saw off Zhang Anda 6-2 with a top break of 129. Barry Hawkins beat women’s World Champion Reanne Evans 6-1 with a top run of 94.
There was also a good 6-1 win by Cao Yupeng over Jamie Jones in that session. Why it isn’t mentioned is a mystery to me.
Also no less than three matches scheduled that session were interrupted because they were running late. They were played to a finish in the late evening, and resulted in wins for Sunny Akani, who very importantly keeps winning his first round matches, Hammad Miah who beat former UK Champion, Matthew Stevens in a decider and Fan Zhengyi who got the better of Elliot Slessor, also in a decider. This is a very good and important result for young Fan who struggled during his first years in the UK.
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh equalled the record for the most century breaks in a best-of-11 frame match as he made five tons in a 6-1 defeat of Stephen Hendry.
Thailand’s Un-Nooh needs wins under his belt to be sure of keeping his tour card at the end of this season, and boosted his hopes with a tremendous display against legend Hendry.
Just 30 minutes into the contest, former Shoot Out champion Un-Nooh led 3-0 thanks to breaks of 129, 100 and 107. Hendry made a 57 clearance to steal frame four, but was on the wrong end of another barrage after the interval as Un-Nooh fired runs of 52, 136 and 106.
Hendry said: “I told him at the end he’s a fantastic snooker player, he really is, he just plays beautifully. Someone told me he’s fighting for his place in the tour which I found absolutely bizarre. I just sat and admired him all night.
“I’ve got a pretty good idea where my own game is. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, I make fun of people who say they play well in practice so I don’t want to be that person.”
Jack Lisowski needed just 76 minutes to beat Sean Maddocks 6-0 with a top break of 126, while Mark King top scored with 101 in a 6-2 defeat of Jackson Page.
Stephen Hendry’s reaction to being properly outplayed, outpotted and out-everything surprised and amused me. He used to be the grumpiest, angriest person when he lost as a younger professional. The press could barely extract a word off him at times, nevermind a praise of his opponent.
Once again a WST just fails to mention half of the matches outcomes. There were wins for Alexander Ursenbacher, Gerard Greene, Matthew Selt and Anthony Hamilton.
Day 3
The second major upset of the first round came in the afternoon of day 3, as the defending champion, Neil Robertson was beaten, and well beaten, by John Astley, another amateur.
Neil Robertson was on the wrong end one of the biggest first round shocks in Cazoo UK Championship history as he lost 6-2 to amateur John Astley.
World number four Robertson won this title for the third time last year, but failed to jump the opening hurdle this time as Astley recorded what he described as the best win of his career. He goes through to the last 64 to play Mark Joyce.
Astley’s career best ranking event performance took him to the quarter-finals of the 2016 Riga Masters
Robertson becomes the second top player to lose to an amateur in the opening round this week, following Shaun Murphy’s defeat against Si Jiahui on Tuesday.
Australia’s Robertson arrived in York full of confidence having won the BetVictor English Open earlier this month, but was well below his best today. It’s the second time he has lost to an amateur at the Barbican when defending the title, having been knocked out by Peter Lines in 2016.
Breaks of 74 and 83 helped give Gateshead’s Astley a 4-1 lead. Robertson pulled one back with a 124 but his opponent responded superbly with a century of his own, 119 to lead 5-2.
In frame eight, Astley went 26 points ahead by potting the final yellow, then Robertson got the snooker he needed on the brown. But Astley converted a clever cocked-hat double on the brown to clinch the result.
“It’s got to be at the best win of my career considering the tournament and who I was playing, I can’t think of anything bigger,” said Astley, who earns a place in this event as one of the leading players in the 2021 Q School rankings.
“It’s a massive tournament so I’ve been practising hard, I’ve felt like my game has been getting better and better this season because I have played in nearly all of the tournaments and the match play has sharpened me up. I thought I was going to have a good chance at putting up a fight today.
“I had a lot of friends and family here today and I could hear them up on the balcony. It’s great because we didn’t have crowds last season, it gives everything a different feel when you’re potting balls and getting claps and making breaks. That makes it makes it even more special.”
Robertson said: “It obviously hurts, as a defending champion you don’t want to give up the title so easily, but you have to credit John there, he played a great match. He was fearless out there, he went for his shots, I was off the pace and lacked a bit of focus and energy to play at the right tempo.
“He probably played the match of his life, you’ve got to give him every credit for that because there was a crowd watching, it was on the main table and he stood up to it. In the early rounds seeds are vulnerable in any sport, if you don’t play well then you leave yourself open to getting beat.”
Ali Carter top scored with 134 in a 6-3 defeat of Jimmy White, while Masters champion Yan Bingtao compiled runs of 100 and 107 in a 6-0 thrashing of Ng On Yee.
Martin Gould fired breaks of 64, 82, 59, 81 and 103 in a 6-1 thrashing of Barry Pinches. Gould said: “I picked up on Barry’s negativity right from the start, my game plan was to give it to him and make him sit there and rue not taking on the couple of shots that he could have taken on.
“I scored heavily, that’s something I’ve been working on for the last few weeks. I’m trying to get the flow that I show on the practice table and take it into the arena, which isn’t always the easiest part to do. Sometimes you bog yourself down, but in my last few matches I’m averaging around the 20 second a shot mark so that’s the flow I like to be in. That way my free scoring comes and I become a handful again.”
China’s Tian Pengfei came from 3-0 down to edge out Germany’s Simon Lichtenberg 6-5 while Joe Perry saw off Fraser Patrick 6-1 with a top break of 111.
Once again, a number of results aren’t even mentioned. It’s a bit as if the arena two barely exists. There were wins for Graeme Dott, Luca Brecel, Martin O’Donnell, Jimmy Robertson and Jordan Brown. Maybe the person writing those reports is following the matches on the streams and not in the arena. But then, Graeme Dott, who is a former World Champion, twice a World finalist, was playing in the main arena… so?
Neil Robertson, who had been very supportive of Shaun Murphy’s views about the presence of the amateurs in the tournament, and had specifically targeted the young Chinese amateurs, got very little sympathy from the fans both in the arena and on social media.
Four days after lifting the trophy at the Cazoo Champion of Champions, Judd Trump was straight back into a winning groove at the Cazoo UK Championship as he thrashed David Lilley 6-1 in the first round.
Trump lost just five frames in Bolton last week as he landed one of snooker’s biggest invitation titles, and insists he is ready for another deep run in York. He lost a dramatic final 10-9 to Neil Robertson in this event last year and hopes to go one better this time and double his tally of UK titles having lifted the trophy ten years ago.
Trump has reached the UK Championship final three times
“It was draining, winning the event last week,” said Trump, who made top breaks of 100 and 132 against Lilley. “But I’ve had a good couple of days practice and I’m prepared for another big tournament. I want to keep my momentum going and enjoy playing snooker.
“I have been playing well all season and I felt it was just a matter of time before I won a title. Getting over the line last week gives me extra belief. To have a title under my belt already this season, I can play with more freedom.”
Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy have been knocked out this week so Trump was relieved to make it to the last 64, where he will meet Chris Wakelin. “Every year there are a few shocks, one or two of the top players go out,” added the world number two from Bristol. “There are a lot of great players lower down and they are capable of beating anyone. You need these FA Cup-style storylines. When I saw John Astley celebrating earlier, he was just so happy to win. It means a lot to every player.”
As for his next opponent, Trump added: “Chris should have beaten me in the World Championship a few years ago. He likes the big stage, he has beaten Mark Selby before. He will be more than up for this game.”
Stuart Bingham came through a tense 59-minute decider to beat tour rookie Dean Young 6-5. Scotland’s Young came from 4-1 and 5-3 down to 5-5, only for 2015 World Champion Bingham to take the last frame on the colours.
“I missed a lot of easy balls and Dean played well to come back,” said Bingham. “I held my nerve to get over the line and that gives me confidence, it could kick-start my season.”
Andy Hicks and Liang Wenbo were pulled off at 5-5 earlier today, and when they returned tonight, former UK Championship semi-finalist Hicks finished the match in style with a tremendous 135 total clearance. He will now meet Michael Holt, who won a knock-out match for the first time this season by beating Zak Surety 6-4.
Leeds potter Peter Lines top scored with 113 in a 6-3 win over Ryan Day while Sam Craigie beat three-time finalist Ken Doherty by the same scoreline. BetVictor Northern Ireland Open champion Mark Allen scored a 6-2 victory over Michael Judge.
I find it very strange to read that last week was “draining” for Judd Trump who is in his early thirthies and fit. He played only four matches over a full week, had the easiest group of all by far, had three days off before his semi-final, where he whitewashed an out-of-sorts Kyren Wilson, had another day off before getting a comfortable win (10-4) over a visibly tired John Higgins. Draining? Seriously?
Robert Milkins, Hossein Vafaei and Ben Woollaston also went through in the early hours of today and unoticed by whoever reports for WST…
O’Sullivan hasn’t won a title since the 2020 World Championship
Ronnie O'Sullivan 