Ronnie will play Ali Carter tomorrow in the quarter-finals of the 2023 International Championship, after beating Anthony McGill by 6-2 today in the “last 16” round. Here are the scores:
He wasn’t at his absolute best but he was focussed and solid. There was a lot of respect between the players throughout the match.
As usual ES shared some videos on their YouTube channel
The end of frame 2 – Ronnie’s 133
Frame 5 …
The last frame of the match
There were also a few images shared on weibo …
And speaking about weibo, they share a snippet of an interview where Ronnie promises that if he has the opportunity he will make a 147 for the Chinese fans … and ONLY in China …
Ding Junhui also progressed to the QF round, but the upsets continued as John Higgins and Mark Selby were beaten by Jordan Brown and Tom Ford respectively.
World number 43 Jordan Brown scored a superb 6-3 win over four-time World Champion John Higgins to make the quarter-finals of the International Championship in Tianjin.
Brown sensationally won the Welsh Open in 2021 as a 750-1 outsider, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-8 in a thrilling final. However, he has since struggled to reproduce that form on a consistent basis. Today’s win sees Brown make the last eight of a ranking event for the first time since his momentous victory in Newport two years ago.
The last time Brown and Higgins met was at the 2021 Players Championship, where the match unfolded in contrasting circumstances. Higgins blitzed to a 6-0 victory in a devastating display, which saw him make three centuries in the process. Brown ensured there was no repeat today.
The Northern Irishman set the tone from the off with a fine break of 87 to take the opener. Higgins responded with 64 to take the second, but it was Brown who took the next two on the bounce to head into the mid-session 3-1 ahead.
The break didn’t disturb his momentum and when play resumed it was soon 4-1 after a run of 94. Typically, the steely Higgins didn’t fade away and he won consecutive frames to claw himself back into contention at 4-3. Brown crucially won a 48-minute eighth frame to move one from victory and he clinched the tie in style with a break of 116 to get over the line.
“I’m very proud of the performance more than anything. Playing an all-time great like John is never going to be easy, but I think I handled things pretty well out there. I scored heavily and took my chances when they came,” said 36-year-old Brown.
“It has been a tough couple of years since I won the Welsh. I’m always working hard and trying to look for that little bit of an edge. In the last couple of months I have won some matches that have caused me to grow in confidence. It has been frustrating but it is finally coming all together now.
“The game is tough at the end of the day, that is the bottom line. I have been struggling, but I’m really trying to get my form back and I feel like I’m playing better than ever. I feel my game is good enough to win any tournament and I’m certainly not frightened of anybody because I just concentrate on myself. Hopefully that is good enough.”
Brown’s quarter-final opponent will be Stephen Maguire, who ended Ryan Day’s chances of qualifying automatically for the MrQ UK Championship, coming through with a 6-4 win.
Day knew that victory would see him move ahead of Hossein Vafaei in 16th position on the world rankings, but the Iranian remains safe position for now. World number 30 Maguire needs to win the event to break into the top 16.
World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan saw off Anthony McGill 6-2 to earn his place in the quarter-finals where he will face Ali Carter, who defeated Daniel Wells 6-1.
O’Sullivan top scored with 133 in this evening’s encounter and has been in scintillating form this week, firing in six centuries thus far. The Rocket started the tournament knowing that he was in a four-way fight to retain his position at the top of the world rankings. However, Judd Trump, Mark Allen and Luca Brecel have all fallen by the wayside.
European Masters champion Barry Hawkins produced a stunning fightback to overhaul a 5-1 deficit against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and emerge a 6-5 victor. Next up for Hawkins is a quarter-final clash with Tom Ford, who scored a shock 6-3 win over four-time World Champion Mark Selby.
Ding Junhui boosted his chances of staying in the top 16 ahead of the UK Championship cut off, beating Pang Junxu 6-2. He now faces another Chinese compatriot Zhang Anda, who scored a 6-3 win over Lyu Haotian.
20 thoughts on “2023 International Championship – Ronnie is into the QFs after a 6-2 win over Anthony McGill”
It’s worth noting that, in snooker “following the money” also (unfortunately) to a large extent means “following the ranking points”. Setting aside exhibitions, the “ranking events” that pay the most also have the most impact on the rankings, which are an important consideration for players aside from money. As long as WST insists on preserving its inane ranking system that ties money with ranking points, then players are given a very clear incentive to prioritize the events that pay the most, because those events also have the most ranking points as stake.
This might end up making the players look “greedy”, when in fact, WST has forced them into chasing after the mighty ranking point.
Ronnie really is following through on his “promise” to prioritize Chinese events over UK events this season. This is his 6th trip to China since June, and 3 of the 4 events he has entered this season so far have been in China.
I do believe that he genuinely enjoys being there, and it’s also obviously true that there is more money available to him in China than in the UK…
Obviously this is a more proper tournament than a home nation, but a few years ago he didn’t play all these events, only Shanghai. What happened?
LOL Santino. Well, if he is motivated to do well, I’m happy. Good job today, though I was afraid he’d be too exasperated with those snookers in frame 1, but normal service resumed afterwards. Let’s hope Ronnie can do better than the perennial QF.
I don’t want to be mean but at this point I’m fairly sure that Ronnie is on the Chinese Communist Party’s payroll
Deserves a prize for the most preposterous comment ever posted here 🤣
I am obviously joking but I am also seeing a lot of his UK fans on social media being frustrated that he cares about China and China only. I do think he has been going over the too with the China-mania for a while now, it is just all a bit odd
Yes, but Santino is right. It’s just not so simple as a check drawn from Chinese Communist Party coffers stuffed into O’Sullivan’s pocket. But, everyone doing international events in China is doing so in coordination with, if not at the direction of, the Chinese Communist Party. And, in turn, O’Sullivan is lending his fame and prestige to that renowned organisation.
O’Sullivan assured us, repeatedly, that “it’s all strictly business”. That means, O’Sullivan is going where the money is, be it China or other places flush in cash. This has consequences as, insofar O’Sullivan has any opinion at all on the treatment of the Uighurs (for instance), he will wisely decide on uttering it in public, as doing so might have a negative impact on future business.
No, O’Sullivan does not really care about China. He does care about the check, or cheque, in his case. Also, about the celebrity treatment that goes with it. It’s probably not too wild a guess that the Chinese Communist Party is pleased with that, and finds it well worth the investment.
Ronnie hasn’t expressed any opinion on China’s politics. To my knowledge, none of the players ever have and I’m not surprised. China has invested a lot of money in snooker. They are probably WST most important partner. Now think about what happened with Mark Allen and Hector Nunns recently for voicing opinions deemed “detrimental” to WST snooker endeavours. Do you think that criticising WST most important partner – the one that injects huge money into the game – would not be seen as “detrimental”? I wonder really how much freedom the players have when it comes to such matters. And yes, Ronnie is about business. Mark Williams is as well, in a different area. Both are nearing the end of their career. As I wrote previously, they are self employed. They are used to a certain lifestyle and will want to keep it when their snooker careers are over. They will probably live another 30 years after they hang their cues and will get no “retirement” wages. Can you blame them for thinking “business”?
thanks Grump. as I said the last time, I don’t necessarily think that it’s Ronnie’s job to care about the Uighurs or to be politically “moral”. I do however care about his UK fans who I think justifiably feel they are being ignored. I also don’t like his obvious dishonesty in the China fanboying. there’s nothing wrong with liking money but don’t pretend like it’s not your reason
I don’t blame him for going for the money, as a matter of fact I absolutely agree, however I do feel for his many fans in the UK and other places (Germany for instance where he hasn’t bothered to go in years)
I have not mentioned the WST, or the CPBSA, as neither organization had a hand in, or is in any way responsible for, the treatment of the Uighurs. And neither do I criticize thinking business. All I am saying is, the course O’Sullivan is taking, along with snooker as a whole, does have consequences. In short, when lying down with swine, one can’t rise the next morning and complain about the smell. Or complain in case others complain about it. We’ll see what happens in case O’Sullivan, before long, heads to Saudi Arabia to “do business” in order to safeguard his retirement against dire poverty. I guess, that’ll make for some … interesting line drawing.
Yes it will … because China has a genuine interest in snooker. Millions play it, it’s taught in schools whilst Saudi Arabia has none or next to none. China’s involvement in snooker is not sports-washing, it’s genuine, CBSA activities and the quality of the recent Chinese rookies are testimony of that. Saudi Arabia is only interested in snooker – and in a number of other sports – for sports-washing.
China – the head honchos of the CCP – have no interest in snooker at all, other than as an opportunity for sports-washing. All they want is to keep down the people they govern, and to keep their power, and everything they do serves this interest. This sports-washing enterprise is helped along by the WST (developing the Chinese leg of snooker), by O’Sullivan (the snooker standard bearer) proudly and loudly proclaiming he’ll prioritize China, and by many a Chinese developing a genuine interest in snooker, which accounts for the many talents they they bring forth. It also allows, I guess, many in the West to distinguish between China and Saudi Arabia, when, in reality, it’s a distinction without a difference. We’re talking about two entirely self-serving, brutally oppressive, autocratic regimes. They have no interest other than their self-preservation. That wouldn’t change one whit in case Saudi Arabia developed, at breakneck speed, a genuine, sprawling snooker scene. It’d still be the same ugly regime interested in making life for themselves easier because they find – snooker, golf, cycling, Formula 1, etc. – scores of enthusiasts abroad willing to overlook the ugliness.
But the people have Grump, a genuine, true love and interest for the sport. It’s part of why the players love to play there: they feel welcome and valued and that’s not just Ronnie, most players like it. Snooker in Chine is mainly what CBSA does of it. They have loads of events, including many specifically to develop young talents. Let’s be serious. Snooker is nowhere as big – money wise and exposure wise – as a sport as football, basketball or formula one, never mind the Olympic games. To work, Sports-washing needs reaching as big an audience as you possibly can. Snooker isn’t in that league, it has a faithful fan base in UK and mainland Europe but it’s still a niche sport in many ways.
hey Grump I have to put an end to the virtue signalling now. this is not a political blog. what you are saying about China and Saudi Arabia not being different is utter undergraduate essay level nonsense. my original comment was about Ronnie being unfaithful to his home fans, not some sort of political finger-wagging
Let’s be serious. Snooker is nowhere as big – money wise and exposure wise – as a sport as football, basketball or formula one, never mind the Olympic games. To work, Sports-washing needs reaching as big an audience as you possibly can.
Of course, it’s nice to reach as big an audience as possible. It’s also horribly expensive, and it isn’t easy. Without a football scene to speak of, it’s close to impossible to have a a sizable impact, in analogy to what the House of Saud may discover shortly, in case they try to get a foothold in snooker (as your comment on that issue demonstrates). Anyway, it’s at least as important to reach your target audience, and maybe (not privy to the top honchos’ deliberations) it’s just the UK they have in their sights – quite possibly to undermine any future sanctions targeting China.
Also, not to forget, a huge part of the top honchos’ audience are the Chinese (with their genuine interest in snooker) themselves, under the ancient “panem et circenses” rule.
Anyway, preposterous as Santino’s comment has been, there was big enough a kernel of truth in it to spark a nice discussion. So, we’ve had a laugh, and got to ponder some interesting thoughts during the subsequent discussion. Thanks Santino!
Well, at one point Ronnie did express political views, so it would not be over the top to expect him to voice an opinion about repressive regimes. Or, staying with snooker only, I felt bad about that Chinese player who complained he received a very bad treatment compared to the British players. But I do understand that this is a tournament that pays a lot better than others and I have to admit that it is a more proper tournament too (best of 11 from the start instead of those laughable best of 7s). Everyone plays there, so it would be silly for a professional to ignore it. However, it is a fact that for years he hardly ever played in China and this suddenly found enthusiasm, while putting down other events, is slightly odd.
yeah exactly, more than odd. I think we’ve seen this movie before. nothing wrong with it just a bit obvious
For years he was terrified of flying… he still doesn’t like it but has found ways to manage it. Once in China, he always loved the food, the fact that players were made to feel welcome and the huge crowds, although it was not always visible on TV because of the price of “front rows” tickets. When I went to Shanghai, there were a lot of fans higher up in the arena. One I guy I met there – an IT engineer – told me that 2 tickets for one session at the QFs – for him and his wife – has cost him half of his monthly salary. Maybe the price policy has changed now, because that didn’t look good on TV.
World number 43 Jordan Brown scored a superb 6-3 win over four-time World Champion John Higgins to make the quarter-finals of the International Championship in Tianjin.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
It’s worth noting that, in snooker “following the money” also (unfortunately) to a large extent means “following the ranking points”. Setting aside exhibitions, the “ranking events” that pay the most also have the most impact on the rankings, which are an important consideration for players aside from money. As long as WST insists on preserving its inane ranking system that ties money with ranking points, then players are given a very clear incentive to prioritize the events that pay the most, because those events also have the most ranking points as stake.
This might end up making the players look “greedy”, when in fact, WST has forced them into chasing after the mighty ranking point.
Ronnie really is following through on his “promise” to prioritize Chinese events over UK events this season. This is his 6th trip to China since June, and 3 of the 4 events he has entered this season so far have been in China.
I do believe that he genuinely enjoys being there, and it’s also obviously true that there is more money available to him in China than in the UK…
Obviously this is a more proper tournament than a home nation, but a few years ago he didn’t play all these events, only Shanghai. What happened?
LOL Santino. Well, if he is motivated to do well, I’m happy. Good job today, though I was afraid he’d be too exasperated with those snookers in frame 1, but normal service resumed afterwards. Let’s hope Ronnie can do better than the perennial QF.
I don’t want to be mean but at this point I’m fairly sure that Ronnie is on the Chinese Communist Party’s payroll
Deserves a prize for the most preposterous comment ever posted here 🤣
I am obviously joking but I am also seeing a lot of his UK fans on social media being frustrated that he cares about China and China only. I do think he has been going over the too with the China-mania for a while now, it is just all a bit odd
Yes, but Santino is right. It’s just not so simple as a check drawn from Chinese Communist Party coffers stuffed into O’Sullivan’s pocket. But, everyone doing international events in China is doing so in coordination with, if not at the direction of, the Chinese Communist Party. And, in turn, O’Sullivan is lending his fame and prestige to that renowned organisation.
O’Sullivan assured us, repeatedly, that “it’s all strictly business”. That means, O’Sullivan is going where the money is, be it China or other places flush in cash. This has consequences as, insofar O’Sullivan has any opinion at all on the treatment of the Uighurs (for instance), he will wisely decide on uttering it in public, as doing so might have a negative impact on future business.
No, O’Sullivan does not really care about China. He does care about the check, or cheque, in his case. Also, about the celebrity treatment that goes with it. It’s probably not too wild a guess that the Chinese Communist Party is pleased with that, and finds it well worth the investment.
Ronnie hasn’t expressed any opinion on China’s politics. To my knowledge, none of the players ever have and I’m not surprised. China has invested a lot of money in snooker. They are probably WST most important partner. Now think about what happened with Mark Allen and Hector Nunns recently for voicing opinions deemed “detrimental” to WST snooker endeavours. Do you think that criticising WST most important partner – the one that injects huge money into the game – would not be seen as “detrimental”? I wonder really how much freedom the players have when it comes to such matters. And yes, Ronnie is about business. Mark Williams is as well, in a different area. Both are nearing the end of their career. As I wrote previously, they are self employed. They are used to a certain lifestyle and will want to keep it when their snooker careers are over. They will probably live another 30 years after they hang their cues and will get no “retirement” wages. Can you blame them for thinking “business”?
thanks Grump. as I said the last time, I don’t necessarily think that it’s Ronnie’s job to care about the Uighurs or to be politically “moral”. I do however care about his UK fans who I think justifiably feel they are being ignored. I also don’t like his obvious dishonesty in the China fanboying. there’s nothing wrong with liking money but don’t pretend like it’s not your reason
I don’t blame him for going for the money, as a matter of fact I absolutely agree, however I do feel for his many fans in the UK and other places (Germany for instance where he hasn’t bothered to go in years)
I have not mentioned the WST, or the CPBSA, as neither organization had a hand in, or is in any way responsible for, the treatment of the Uighurs. And neither do I criticize thinking business. All I am saying is, the course O’Sullivan is taking, along with snooker as a whole, does have consequences. In short, when lying down with swine, one can’t rise the next morning and complain about the smell. Or complain in case others complain about it. We’ll see what happens in case O’Sullivan, before long, heads to Saudi Arabia to “do business” in order to safeguard his retirement against dire poverty. I guess, that’ll make for some … interesting line drawing.
Yes it will … because China has a genuine interest in snooker. Millions play it, it’s taught in schools whilst Saudi Arabia has none or next to none. China’s involvement in snooker is not sports-washing, it’s genuine, CBSA activities and the quality of the recent Chinese rookies are testimony of that. Saudi Arabia is only interested in snooker – and in a number of other sports – for sports-washing.
China – the head honchos of the CCP – have no interest in snooker at all, other than as an opportunity for sports-washing. All they want is to keep down the people they govern, and to keep their power, and everything they do serves this interest. This sports-washing enterprise is helped along by the WST (developing the Chinese leg of snooker), by O’Sullivan (the snooker standard bearer) proudly and loudly proclaiming he’ll prioritize China, and by many a Chinese developing a genuine interest in snooker, which accounts for the many talents they they bring forth. It also allows, I guess, many in the West to distinguish between China and Saudi Arabia, when, in reality, it’s a distinction without a difference. We’re talking about two entirely self-serving, brutally oppressive, autocratic regimes. They have no interest other than their self-preservation. That wouldn’t change one whit in case Saudi Arabia developed, at breakneck speed, a genuine, sprawling snooker scene. It’d still be the same ugly regime interested in making life for themselves easier because they find – snooker, golf, cycling, Formula 1, etc. – scores of enthusiasts abroad willing to overlook the ugliness.
But the people have Grump, a genuine, true love and interest for the sport. It’s part of why the players love to play there: they feel welcome and valued and that’s not just Ronnie, most players like it. Snooker in Chine is mainly what CBSA does of it. They have loads of events, including many specifically to develop young talents. Let’s be serious. Snooker is nowhere as big – money wise and exposure wise – as a sport as football, basketball or formula one, never mind the Olympic games. To work, Sports-washing needs reaching as big an audience as you possibly can. Snooker isn’t in that league, it has a faithful fan base in UK and mainland Europe but it’s still a niche sport in many ways.
hey Grump I have to put an end to the virtue signalling now. this is not a political blog. what you are saying about China and Saudi Arabia not being different is utter undergraduate essay level nonsense. my original comment was about Ronnie being unfaithful to his home fans, not some sort of political finger-wagging
Of course, it’s nice to reach as big an audience as possible. It’s also horribly expensive, and it isn’t easy. Without a football scene to speak of, it’s close to impossible to have a a sizable impact, in analogy to what the House of Saud may discover shortly, in case they try to get a foothold in snooker (as your comment on that issue demonstrates). Anyway, it’s at least as important to reach your target audience, and maybe (not privy to the top honchos’ deliberations) it’s just the UK they have in their sights – quite possibly to undermine any future sanctions targeting China.
Also, not to forget, a huge part of the top honchos’ audience are the Chinese (with their genuine interest in snooker) themselves, under the ancient “panem et circenses” rule.
Anyway, preposterous as Santino’s comment has been, there was big enough a kernel of truth in it to spark a nice discussion. So, we’ve had a laugh, and got to ponder some interesting thoughts during the subsequent discussion. Thanks Santino!
Well, at one point Ronnie did express political views, so it would not be over the top to expect him to voice an opinion about repressive regimes. Or, staying with snooker only, I felt bad about that Chinese player who complained he received a very bad treatment compared to the British players. But I do understand that this is a tournament that pays a lot better than others and I have to admit that it is a more proper tournament too (best of 11 from the start instead of those laughable best of 7s). Everyone plays there, so it would be silly for a professional to ignore it. However, it is a fact that for years he hardly ever played in China and this suddenly found enthusiasm, while putting down other events, is slightly odd.
yeah exactly, more than odd. I think we’ve seen this movie before. nothing wrong with it just a bit obvious
For years he was terrified of flying… he still doesn’t like it but has found ways to manage it. Once in China, he always loved the food, the fact that players were made to feel welcome and the huge crowds, although it was not always visible on TV because of the price of “front rows” tickets. When I went to Shanghai, there were a lot of fans higher up in the arena. One I guy I met there – an IT engineer – told me that 2 tickets for one session at the QFs – for him and his wife – has cost him half of his monthly salary. Maybe the price policy has changed now, because that didn’t look good on TV.