Kyren Wilson narrowly missed out on making four consecutive centuries and Judd Trump fired in the eighth 147 break of his career, as both players secured respective whitewash victories on day two of the BetVictor Scottish Open in Edinburgh.
Wilson was pitted against three-time Women’s World Champion Ng On Yee in the opening round and treated the early morning crowds to a break building blitz, making three consecutive century runs of 100, 100 and 114 to move 3-0 ahead.
Only Neil Robertson has made four consecutive centuries to win a best of seven, a feat achieved at the BetVictor European Masters earlier this year. Wilson came agonisingly close to adding his name to the list today. The Warrior had two opportunities among the balls in the fourth frame, but only managed to make 28 on both occasions. However, he did enough to wrap up a 4-0 win and earn a last 64 meeting with Matthew Stevens.
Wilson, who won the BetVictor European Masters earlier this season, currently sits on top of the BetVictor Series standings. The player who accumulates the most prize money over the series will earn a bumper £150,000 bonus.
“It is strange coming off, having had three centuries and feeling a little bit disappointed. That is just me being greedy. I had the chance for four in a row and just missed a red to the middle pocket. I started off really strongly with a long red on the first shot of the day. I made 100 from it and followed suit in the next two frames. I am pleased with that performance,” said 30-year-old Wilson.
“Matthew has been playing well and qualified for the UK Championship. He is a great player who has won many tournaments in the past. It is good to see him back playing well.”
Trump crafted his magical maximum in the opening frame of a 4-0 whitewash win over Mitchell Mann.
It was the sixth 147 break to be made this season and it puts Trump in line for the £5,000 high break prize. It leaves Trump seven behind Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record of 15 professional maximums. Bristol’s 23-time ranking event winner also made further breaks of 62 and 107 on his way to wrapping up this afternoon’s win.
Trump said: “Making a 147 is always super special to me. I could feel the excitement out there. It is a venue I’ve never been to before and my first time in Edinburgh. Snooker hasn’t been here for a long time, so for people to be able to come and watch is good enough. However, to make a 147 isn’t something that happens in every tournament. Everyone who has been here and been part of it can go away with a smile on their face.
“A 147 is the pinnacle for me. It is better than winning any tournament. Maybe winning the World Championship is the exception. Other than that there is no better buzz. The nerves start going to make sure you don’t miss something easy. You know that everyone at home is willing you on to make it. You are a part of history every time you do it.”
Scotland’s Scott Donaldson landed a surprise 4-0 win over 2005 World Champion Shaun Murphy to earn a spot in the last 32.
Donaldson practises in Edinburgh and enjoyed a strong home backing this afternoon. The world number 53 composed runs of 93, 77 and 63 on his way to the win and now plays either Sean O’Sullivan or Anthony McGill.
“I’ve been playing well for a little bit now. To do it in front of my home fans is extra special. It is nice to play in a good atmosphere again,” said former Scottish Open quarter-finalist Donaldson.
“I’ve had to get a few of the players to give me a few passes for the amount of people that have come from the club as it is just a few miles down the road. To play like that in front of my home fans is a good feeling.”
In the evening, World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan held off a Ben Woollaston fightback to earn his place in the last 32 with a 4-2 win.
The Rocket took the opening three frames, before Woollaston kept his hopes alive with a superb run of 132. He then took a dramatic fifth by a point on the black to reduce his arrears to 3-2. However, O’Sullivan snuffed out any hopes of a revival with 93 to get over the line.
Mark Selby eased into the last 32 with a 4-0 whitewash win over John Astley. The two-time Scottish Open winner compiled breaks of 59, 92 and 85 on his way to the win and will face Robert Milkins up next.
Glasgow’s Anthony McGill sealed his progression with a 4-0 whitewash win over Sean O’Sullivan, while Australia’s 2010 World Champion Neil Robertson beat India’s Himanshu Jain 4-1.
Scotland’s home hero John Higgins rallied from 3-2 down to beat China’s Cao Yupeng 4-3 and keep his hopes alive at the BetVictor Scottish Open in Edinburgh.
Higgins is aiming to capture the Stephen Hendry Trophy for the first time in his career, having been runner-up on two occasions. He lost the 2016 final 9-4 to Marco Fu and fell short in the 2021 title match by a 9-5 scoreline against Luca Brecel.
Glasgow’s 31-time ranking event winner played some superb snooker throughout last season, making five major finals, but didn’t add to his silverware collection. Higgins’ last ranking silverware came at the 2021 Players Championship.
Breaks of 72 and 73 gave four-time World Champion Higgins an early 2-0 lead this afternoon, before Cao hit back with three consecutive frames to move one from victory at 3-2. Higgins dug deep and forced a decider with a contribution of 70 and a break of 55 in the final frame saw him over the line a 4-3 victor. He plays Welshman Jamie Jones in the last 32.
The win moves Higgins to £12,000 on the live one-year list. However, that still leaves him some way short of the top 32, where he needs to be a the end of the English Open to qualify for the World Grand Prix. Despite being thrilled at the result, Higgins wasn’t happy with his performance.
Higgins said: “I’m delighted I won, but I don’t know how I won. I don’t normally complain, but I put a new tip on and I was all over the place. I’ve left it too big.
“My oldest son was here today. He was giving me the pep talk in the car, it didn’t really do me too much good. I’m only joking, it was good to have a bit of company.”
Recently crowned UK Champion Mark Allen booked his progression thanks to a 4-2 victory over former German Masters winner Martin Gould.
Allen is aiming to become only the fifth player to win three successive ranking tournaments, following his UK title and victory at the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open. The Antrim cueman top scored with 132 and faces Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the next round.
Current BetVictor Series leader Kyren Wilson edged through with a 4-3 win over former Masters and UK Champion Matthew Stevens. The player who earns the most prize money over the qualifying BetVictor Series events scoops a bumper £150,000 bonus. Wilson will be hoping to go further and build on his lead. He plays Glaswegian Stephen Maguire in the next round after he defeated Ashley Hugill 4-1.
Sam Craigie sent Scotland’s Fraser Patrick home with a 4-3 defeat, while former Masters winner Yan Bingtao beat Liam Highfield 4-3.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has named Sam Craigie as his new favourite player – tipping the Tyneside star to win a breakthrough title.
Craigie, 28, has long been considered a huge snooker talent but he made his mark at this month’s UK Championship in York, where he knocked out defending champion Zhao Xintong on his impressive run to the quarter-finals.
The world no.37 is high on confidence and qualified for the German Masters with victories over Stephen Maguire and Jamie Clarke after his last-eight defeat to eventual winner Mark Allen at the Barbican Centre.
“He’s my new favourite player,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport. “I was looking down the ranking list the other day and there’s five or six players (aged) 27-32 – the new good players and he’s definitely one of them. I think he’s going to win a tournament in the next year or 18 months. He’s got a great cue action. I like his game a lot.“
Eurosport pundit Alan McManus backed up O’Sullivan’s claim: “I certainly believe he’s going to be the next non-winner so far to win a ranking event.“
Craigie edged through to the second round at the Scottish Open and is looking to make further inroads in the rankings with another positive week in Edinburgh. But Craigie has insisted that no current snooker player can ever come close to the irrepressible O’Sullivan.
And here is Trump’s maximum (short form)
A147 is always nice but to claim it’s better than winning a tournament is preposterous… it wins you just one frame, no matter how perfect it is.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
Maybe it’s a reflection of a reality check for him about maximums vs. trophies. 😺😝