Tomorrow’s final in Yushan will be contested by Judd Trump and Ding Junjui. Here are WST reports on what happened today in the semi-finals.

Afternoon session: TRUMP ON TRACK FOR FIFTH TITLE

Judd Trump ended the run of Jackson Page with a 6-2 victory at the semi-final stage of the Huading Nylon World Open in China, moving within one win of a fifth ranking title this season.

World number two Trump will face Neil Robertson or Ding Junhui in the final in Yushan on Sunday, with first to ten frames taking the £170,000 top prize.

If Bristol’s Trump comes out on top, it will be the third time within five years that he has won five (or more) ranking titles in a single campaign, having landed a record six in 2019/20 and five the following season.

The only other players to achieve that feat are Stephen Hendry (five in 1990/91), Ding Junhui (five in 2013/14), Mark Selby (five in 2016/17) and Ronnie O’Sullivan (five in 2017/18).

Trump, who won this event the last time it was staged in 2019, will be playing in the 44th ranking event final of his career and seventh of the season. Victory would give the 34-year-old a 28th career ranking title, moving him level with Steve Davis on the all-time list, behind only O’Sullivan, Hendry and John Higgins.

Welshman Page, who knocked out the likes of John Higgins and Mark Selby, enjoyed the best week of his career so far having never previously been beyond the last 16 of a ranking event. But the 22-year-old was no match for Trump in the second half of today’s encounter. His hopes of qualifying for next month’s Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship are also over, though Page banks a career-high pay day of £32,500.

Trump opened with a break of 122, his sixth century of the week. The next two frames were shared, then Page made a 72 to level at 2-2. After the interval, Page had chances in every frame, but was not able to capitalise, and Trump took four in a row with a top run of 67. 

“It was a scrappy game, neither of us played well, we both missed a lot of balls,” admitted Trump. “It was Jackson’s first semi-final and he didn’t really settle, my experience probably made the difference. I haven’t played that well this week, I have scraped my way through with sheer determination. But that has been the case at other tournaments I have won this season. Hopefully things click in the final. It has been an incredible season.

“This has been a fantastic tournament, it’s nice to be back here after five years. Coming to Yushan has brought back good memories for me and it’s great to have the chance to win it again.”  

Page’s chances were hampered before the match even started as he cut his finger while taking his cue out of its case. “The buckle of the case ripped the skin on my finger,” he said. “I was praying for it not to bleed, but then it started bleeding. I tried putting a plaster on, but then I couldn’t feel the cue so I had to take it off. It’s not an ideal start in your first semi-final.” 

Not much to add here. It wasn’t a great match and probably the worse Jackson has played all week. It was clear for all to see that the finger injury bothered him at the start of the match and he never really settled.

Evening session: DING’S EPIC WIN SENDS ROBERTSON OUT OF TOP 16

Ding Junhui beat Neil Robertson 6-5 in an almighty battle in the semi-finals of the Huading Nylon World Open, a result which means that Robertson will not be among the top 16 seeds at the Crucible this year.

Australia’s Robertson, who lost form earlier this season but had looked back to his best this week, led 5-4 and had chances in each of the last two frames, but couldn’t take them and instead home favourite Ding goes though to Sunday’s final to face Judd Trump. Crucible king in 2010 and one of the best players of the last two decades, Robertson could have rescued his top 16 status by winning the title this week, but now he will have to go through the qualifying rounds of the Cazoo World Championship for the first time since 2006.

That will not concern Ding as he looks ahead to a huge occasion against Trump in Yushan, with first to ten frames to take the trophy and £170,000 top prize. The world number nine is seeking his first ranking title since the 2019 UK Championship.

Ding himself has had poor spells of form in recent years, but this season has shown a higher level of consistency, and notably reached the final of the MrQ UK Championship, beating Trump 6-4 in the semi-finals before losing to Ronnie O’Sullivan. Victory tomorrow would prove that the 36-year-old is once again a contender for the biggest titles. And he can take confidence from this season’s defeat of Trump in York, as well as the fact that he won their last final, at the 2014 German Masters. Ding will be playing in his 23rd ranking final and looking for his 15th title.

Robertson may reflect that he has looked much sharper this week, having previously failed to reach a ranking event semi-final since the 2022 English Open. He still has next weekend’s World Mixed Doubles to play in, before heading to the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, needing two wins to reach the Crucible. Today’s result also ends his hopes of playing in the Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship – John Higgins hangs on to the 12th and last slot for that event in Manchester.

Breaks of 68 and 118 helped Robertson to an early 3-1 lead, before Ding fought back to lead 4-3 with top runs of 75 and 51. In frame eight, Robertson made a 55 clearance for 4-4, then he regained the lead with a 128, his eighth century of the tournament. 

In the ninth, he was among the balls on 36 when he missed an awkward red to a top corner, bridging over another ball, and Ding responded with 68 for 5-5. First chance in the decider came Robertson’s way, and he made 53 but was unlucky not to land on a red when nudging the cluster as he potted the pink. Ding clawed his way back to 56-44, and when his opponent made a safety error on the last red, he took the chance to clear before thumping the cushion with his fist in celebration. 

“I can’t feel my legs, there was so much pressure on me,” said Ding, who beat Kyren Wilson in the final of this event in 2017. “When I got the chance in the last frame, I thought I was going to win, but there was pressure on every shot. When I potted the pink I tried to enjoy the moment. 

“From the first match this week I have tried to stay calm and concentrate. I have played a few great matches, then today I didn’t play that well, but winning is always good. Judd is always consistent and he is confident of winning any tournament.“

Robertson wrote on X: “Tough one to take, especially battling on various fronts out there. Found the focus again at 3-4 down and played three brilliant frames but wasn’t meant to be, just a centimetre out here or there on match ball and couldn’t get through. Well done to Ding it was a great atmosphere. My game is in fantastic shape and I look forward to the rest of the season. Thanks everyone for all the support.”   

This was obviously a match where both players were under huge pressure, albeit for different reasons. Ding playing in China has always to cope with huge expectations. Neil Robertson was trying to avoid having to qualify for the Crucible. To make in even harder for both, the crowd was quite “lively”, noisy … phones were going off, cans of fizzy drinks were opened … all sorts. They were not hostile towards Neil though and applauded his good shots but it wasn’t ideal especially with what was at stakes. I have rarely seen Ding showing strong emotions after a win, but today he did… he punched the table with his fist really hard. It’s obvious that this victory meant a lot to him. I have no doubts that he will give it all, and more, tomorrow.

In other news… WST shared this lovely little video on social media… players, including Ronnie, visiting the World Billiards Museum

These are the two reports by WST on today’a action in Yushan

TRUMP AND PAGE SET FOR SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN

Judd Trump and Jackson Page scored quarter-final victories at the Huading Nylon World Open to set up a last four meeting in Yushan.

World number two and defending champion Trump earned his passage with a 5-2 defeat of Kyren Wilson.

Trump won the World Open the last time it was held in Yushan back in 2019, beating Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the final.

The 34-year-old is hunting a fifth ranking title in what has already been a remarkable season. He won back-to-back events at the English Open, Wuhan Open and Northern Ireland Open last year and added the German Masters to his title tally last month.

With the scores locked at 2-2 this afternoon, Trump crucially claimed the fifth on the black to set up a charge for the line. Breaks of 59 and 63 helped him to take the following two frames and run out a 5-2 victor.

“There seems to be players I have a good record against recently. Kyren is one of them. It always helps when you know what you have to do. You have to turn up and be solid against him. It makes my job easy knowing I have to go out and play well.”

Judd Trump

27-time Ranking Event Winner

Trump added: “I feel quite refreshed. Saudi was a disappointing performance, I didn’t play well out there. I scraped through my first game and felt a little bit rusty, although I was still practising but hadn’t played in that many tournaments over the last month and a half. It is nice to get a run here and I feel a lot more excited to play snooker than the last three or four seasons.

“I think Jackson has played brilliantly well. He’s scored heavily. From what I’ve seen, him and Ding have been the players of the tournament. He was on the next table to me there and seemed to be flying round the table. When you are young and playing well in this kind of scenario there is no better feeling. I’m the grumpy old man now trying to stop him.”

Welsh 22-year-old Page secured his progression with a 5-2 defeat of Elliot Slessor.

Page has produced sublime snooker so far this week, beating the likes of John Higgins and Mark Selby along the way. He came out to Yushan with his tour survival under threat, but has now extinguished any of those fears.

The world number 52 fired in breaks of 90, 140, 78, 76 and 87 during this afternoon’s tie. Page averaged just 16.9 seconds a shot as he blitzed to victory.

When Jackson Page first appeared on the main tour, many were impressed by his talent and expected him to take the game by storm. It hasn’t happened and it’s quite normal. It’s a huge step for a teenager to go from amateur to professional and having to cope with huge “external” expectations doesn’t help. But now it seems that he’s getting there. Tomorrow will be a big test.

THUNDER DROPS THE HAWK

Australia’s Neil Robertson defeated Barry Hawkins 5-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Huading Nylon World Open in Yushan, setting up a last four meeting with Chinese superstar Ding Junhui.

Victory for Robertson puts him through to the semi-finals of a ranking event for the first time since the 2022 English Open. The intermittent period has seen the 2010 Crucible king dip down the rankings, as he struggled with his form.

If Robertson goes on to win the event he will force his way into the upcoming Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship, where only the top 12 players of the season qualify. He will also cling on to his place in the top 16 of the rankings and avoid a trip to World Championship qualifying.

This week’s event has seen a relentless standard of break building power and Robertson kept that up in this evening’s encounter. Runs of 127, 87 and 87 helped him into an early 3-0 lead, before Hawkins pegged him back in the last before the mid-session.

When play resumed, a break of 115 put Robertson a frame from victory at 4-1. Although Londoner Hawkins pulled another back, it was the Melbourne cueman who fired in 79 to take the seventh and win 5-2.

“My game is absolutely back to where it should be now and that is really exciting heading into the back end of the season. It is a blockbuster match tomorrow. If you can’t enjoy playing Ding in a semi-final in China then there’s something wrong.”

Neil Robertson

2010 World Champion

Robertson added: “I’m just focussed on this week. You can see my game is in great shape. I know what happens if I win the event, but good things always come whenever you win tournaments. I’ve never been one to put myself under pressure to win events to qualify for things. I wouldn’t have achieved what I have in the game if I did.”

Ding earned his progression with a superb 5-0 win over Iranian number one Hossein Vafaei.

Hundreds of fans gathered on the streets of Yushan gathered to watch their hero in action with the match being projected onto a big screen. They weren’t disappointed, with Ding firing in breaks of 73, 74, 135 and 102 on his way to the whitewash victory.

Ding will be hoping to rectify a poor recent record against Robertson tomorrow, having lost their last four meetings.

It’s good to see Neil Robertson getting back to his own brilliant self . It is well known that he had to face some serious private challenges over the years and, to his own admission, he became very “home sick” last season. We shouldn’t forget that these players are human beings. They go through difficult times, overwhelming emotions and struggles, just like everyone else and being away from family and exposed to the public eye doesn’t make it easier.

I can’t comment on the matches as I didn’t watch any of it. Instead, I have been following/watching the EBSA events with tour cards for the grabs. The “men” event is at the quarter-finals stage and is actually open to both genders. It should be renamed really… even if very few women actually enter it. I’ll cover those events after they conclude.

This is WST report on Day 4 in Yushan

WORLD OPEN LAST 16: VAFAEI DOWNS THE ROCKET

Hossein Vafaei was victorious in the latest instalment of his rivalry with Ronnie O’Sullivan, prevailing 5-4 in the last 16 of the Huading Nylon World Open in Yushan.

Victory keeps his hopes of qualifying for the Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship alive. Only the top 12 players of the season earn a place in the prestigious event. Vafaei must make the semi-finals to edge above John Higgins into 12^th spot.

…

Regardless of today’s defeat, O’Sullivan will head into the Tour Championship as world number one. It will mean he has been on top of the world rankings for two years when the event gets underway on April 1^st, his longest ever unbroken spell at the summit.

Vafaei and O’Sullivan have had a chequered history in meetings with each other. That started when O’Sullivan blasted open the pack when breaking off during 2022 German Masters qualifying, a match which Vafaei won 5-0.

The Iranian took offence and reciprocated the act in a meeting at the World Championship last year, but that backfired and O’Sullivan crushed him 13-2. Afterwards they warmly embraced as they left the arena.

There was never more than a frame between them in this afternoon’s tightly contested encounter. With Vafaei leading 4-3 and one from victory, O’Sullivan fired in a sublime 125 to force the final frame.

Vafaei had the first opportunity in the decider, but inexplicably missed a straightforward red to the top pocket on 33. O’Sullivan countered with a break of 62, but fell out of position ahead of the final red.

It came down to the colours, with Vafaei needing them all to steal a famous victory by a single point. He did just that, depositing the black along the top cushion to clinch his place in the last eight. Next up he faces either Ding Junhui or Shaun Murphy.

“I feel great, but to be honest with you I’m still shocked how I missed that red. I went down so quick that my eyes couldn’t see anywhere. That was unforgivable. All of a sudden the game changed and I thought I was going to lose,” said 29-year-old Vafaei.

“I’m very happy to get the victory. He is my hero. Just playing against Ronnie O’Sullivan is a dream come true, but what about winning?

“I’m not going to talk about past results, all that matters is the moment right now. The past is past and right now I’m so happy.”

VAFAEI REACTS TO THRILLING WIN

Kyren Wilson came through a high quality clash with Ben Woollaston 5-4. The Warrior dug deep in the final frame to summon a superb break of 119.

That sets up a quarter-final showdown with world number two Judd Trump. The Ace in the Pack booked his progression with a 5-3 win over former World Seniors Champion David Lilley.

Barry Hawkins sealed his last eight slot with a 5-1 defeat of Stephen Maguire. The Hawk fired in runs of 129, 67, 71 and 54 on his way to victory and now awaits Neil Robertson or Chris Wakelin.

There is also a more complete report shared by Eurosport

‘HE’S MY HERO’ – HOSSEIN VAFAEI STUNS RONNIE O’SULLIVAN AT WORLD OPEN AFTER FINAL-FRAME DRAMA, JUDD TRUMP PROGRESSES

BY ALASDAIR MACKENZIE

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s bid for World Open glory is over after the world No. 1 fell to a dramatic defeat to Hossein Vafaei in the last 16. A tight contest required a deciding frame, where a costly miss from O’Sullivan and a composed finish from Vafaei saw the Iranian pinch the frame on the final ball. Meanwhile, top seed Judd Trump defeated David Lilley to reach the quarter-finals.

Hossein Vafaei admitted he thought he “was going to lose” before stunning his “hero” Ronnie O’Sullivan with a 5-4 victory at the World Open that was decided by the black in the final frame. 

The Iranian never fell behind in a famous victory that saw him march into the quarter-finals in Yushan, where he will face Ding Junhui or Shaun Murphy. 

“I’m very happy to get the victory. He [O’Sullivan] is my hero,” said Vafaei.

“Just playing against Ronnie O’Sullivan is a dream come true, but what about winning?“

World No. 1 O’Sullivan looked like he might have done enough to scrap his way over the line despite a mixed performance after a bad miss from Vafaei on a red in the decider left the door open. 

He potted the final red, but a surprising miss on the black, followed by an excellent long yellow from Vafaei, swung the momentum back in the Iranian’s favour, and the world No. 21 secured only his second win over the seven-time world champion in six meetings. 

“I feel great, but to be honest with you I’m still shocked how I missed that red,” Vafaei added. 

“I went down so quick that my eyes couldn’t see anywhere. That was unforgivable. All of a sudden the game changed and I thought I was going to lose.“

O’Sullivan’s bid for a third ranking title of the season is therefore over and he will now likely turn his attention to the Tour Championship in Manchester next month, the penultimate ranking event of the season before the World Championship. 

Vafaei and O’Sullivan have a something of a chequered history after some break-off shot controversy in 2022, but the Iranian has put it behind him.

“I’m not going to talk about past results, all that matters is the moment right now. The past is past and right now I’m so happy,” Vafaei said. 

Vafaei started the stronger, pouncing on an error from The Rocket to put together an 86 clearance in the opening frame that proved to be the highest break of a stop-start contest. 

A poor shot from the Iranian gave O’Sullivan a starter in an ugly second frame and he took the opportunity to level, but Vafaei soon reclaimed the lead with a run of 73. 

O’Sullivan was struggling to put together any meaningful breaks in a scrappy performance, but he found some momentum with a 51 clearance that was enough to draw him level once more.

However, the theme of the match continued as Vafaei regained the lead with a 79 break, only to be pegged back again, with a superb starter from O’Sullivan earning him applause from his opponent as it went to 3-3 to set up a best-of-three finale. 

Vafaei pounced on an opening to go in front for the fourth time and move to within one frame of the quarter-finals. 

But just as crisis was calling, O’Sullivan responded. The Rocket made his best break of the match by a distance with a majestic 125 century to level things up and take the contest to a decider.

Vafaei got off to a strong start by taking a 33-0 lead, before a terrible miss on a simple red to the right corner let O’Sullivan back in to steer himself into a 62-33 lead.

But O’Sullivan couldn’t clear the table and the frame was still there for the taking as a nervy snooker exchange began.

A great pot on the final red from Ronnie put him 26 ahead with 27 left on the table, but he somehow missed on the black to hand Vafaei a lifeline. 

The Iranian got back in with a long pot on the yellow, leaving him needing to clear the colours to claim the slenderest of frames by a single point – and this time he made no mistake. 

TRUMP MARCHES ON

Top seed Judd Trump moved through with a 5-3 win over David Lilley to continue his bid for a fifth title of the season. 

The Ace in the Pack produced a majestic 135 break to take a 2-0 lead early on, but a determined Lilley fought back with a 124 of his own to level at 2-2. 

Trump rallied, winning two frames in a row to put one foot in the next round, and although Lilley pulled one back, the world No. 2 kept his composure to close things out with a 67 break. 

Barry Hawkins also progressed in convincing fashion, defeating Stephen Maguire 5-1 to set up a last-eight meeting with Neil Robertson or Chris Wakelin. 

Kyren Wilson reached the last eight with a 5-4 win over Ben Woollaston, producing a 119 break in the final frame to seal a tight contest and set up a clash with Trump.

Here are the scores of that match

And some images shared by WST and on Weibo

Ronnie had a golden chance to win the match actually. Having won the battle on the last red in the decider, he only needed the black to seal the win. It was on the top cushion, but not tight on the cushion and there was some distance between the white and the black as well as between the black and the pocket but, still, Ronnie probably only needed to roll it in. Instead he appeared to play it with some power and it stayed out. Hossein did well to clear from there, it wasn’t easy under the circumstances. Why did Ronnie play that black that way, I don’t know. Neal Foulds in commentary was not the wiser. Maybe it was just tension release, maybe he tried to get position to play the yellow, in an attempt to make sure that Hossein wouldn’t play for snooker? Only he will know…

Anyway … it is disappointing but it is what it is. No amount of speculation will change the outcome.

There are no quotes by Ronnie in the above article, but he WAS interviewed and it was reported on Weibo. Here is a translation for what it’s worth:

He said after the game: Vafaei obviously played better today and deserved this victory. Today, my performance was much worse than that of my opponent. My long stand was unable to put pressure on my opponent, and the game was not as close as the score.

After the game, I will go to the World Billiards Museum to do some activities, then go to the gym to exercise, and will stay for an extra day or two.

This is one of the best tournaments in the world and very important. I saw a lot of passionate fans and a really nice stadium. The event was very good and well organized. This and the Saudi event are the best events in the world.

I’m not tired, and I can’t use this as an excuse to lose. But in terms of performance, I can only give myself 3-4 points, but in terms of spirit, I can give myself full marks. I feel that I have been playing the game very hard, but it is still very difficult and I did not show my best condition.

I will do some things in the offseason to help improve my condition, including some exhibition games to increase my competitiveness and improve my performance under pressure. I may come to China or some other places to play some exhibition games later.

Ronnie was very gracious at the end of the match and both were smiling. He had no complaints and, maybe, having a break before the Tour Championship will do him good.

Here is the end of the match, shared by ES on YouTube

https://player.vimeo.com/video/926176546?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479

Here is WST report on day 3 in Yushan

WORLD OPEN DAY THREE ROUNDUP: MAGUIRE THRASHES BRECEL

Former UK Champion Stephen Maguire blitzed to an impressive 5-1 defeat of World Champion Luca Brecel to make the last 16 of the Huading Nylon World Open in Yushan.

World number 31 Maguire is hunting a first piece of silverware in four years. The Glaswegian’s last tournament win came during the behind closed doors Tour Championship back in 2020.

Since then, Maguire has struggled to consistently produce his dazzling finest. Last season his best performance was a solitary trip to the last 16 at the Northern Ireland Open. However, this term Maguire has shown signs of a return to form with two quarter-final appearances.

This morning’s result is Maguire’s first win over Belgium’s Brecel since the 2013 UK Championship. He achieved that by making breaks of 84, 51 and 50 during the comfortable victory.

Next up he faces Barry Hawkins in the last 16 tomorrow. Hawkins scored a 5-2 win over Robbie Williams, crafting a rare 146 break in the concluding frame.

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan scored a 5-2 defeat of China’s Lyu Haotian to secure his last 16 slot.

Having enjoyed a superb season, which has seen him rack up five titles already, the Rocket is gunning for his first victory in this event since its inception in 2016.

The scores were locked at 2-2 during this evening’s encounter. However, O’Sullivan sealed victory with three on the bounce, including runs of 102 and 96.

Next up is a fascinating last 16 tie with Hossein Vafaei. The Iranian booked his progression with a 5-2 win over Robert Milkins.

O’Sullivan and Vafaei had a grudge showdown during last season’s World Championship, with both players taking pot shots at each other in the media ahead of the tie. However, O’Sullivan had the last laugh after he cruised to a 13-2 win.

Shaun Murphy and Ding Junhui set up a blockbuster last 16 meeting. Murphy came through 5-3 against Joe Perry, while Ding beat Cao Yupeng 5-1. Ding hasn’t defeated Murphy since 2013.

Former Shoot Out champion Chris Wakelin produced a spectacular display to beat in-form Ali Carter 5-1. He produced a barrage of big breaks, composing runs of 103, 143, 66, 131 and 53.

Wakelin’s next opponent will be 2010 World Champion Neil Robertson, who came through 5-2 against Yuan Sijun. Meanwhile world number two Judd Trump beat Fan Zhengyi 5-3 to earn a last 16 tie against David Lilley.

Apparently Ronnie played better than he did yesterday. Here are the scores of his last 32 match:

And some images shared by WST and on Weibo

As I haven’t seen the match (yet) I can’t comment for now …

WST also shared this – and similar – image(s) on Weibo. It seems that you can watch the snooker in the parks in Yushan…

And some videos shared by ES on their YouTube channel

Here is WST “round-up” of the action in Yushan today:

WORLD OPEN DAY TWO ROUNDUP: LIFT OFF FOR THE ROCKET

World number one Ronnie O’Sullivan came through a topsy turvy encounter with Michael White 5-3 to progress at the Huading Nylon World Open in Yushan.

The Rocket has enjoyed a tremendous season thus far, having captured invitational titles at the Shanghai Masters, the Masters and the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker. O’Sullivan has also already lifted the 40^th and 41^st pieces of ranking silverware in his career at the UK Championship and World Grand Prix.

This incredible run of form has ensured that O’Sullivan will remain on top of the world rankings heading into next month’s Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship, regardless of the outcome this week. It will mean he has been world number one for two years when the event gets underway on April 1^st, his longest ever unbroken spell at the summit.

Welshman White’s woes against O’Sullivan continued today and he has now lost all six of their meetings on the World Snooker Tour.

The match got underway with a break of 62 giving O’Sullivan the opener. Both players spurned opportunities in a scrappy second, which eventually went the way of White to make it 1-1. Back-to-back century runs of 129 and 106 then saw O’Sullivan head into the mid-session 3-1 ahead.

When play resumed, White took two on the bounce to set up a grandstand finish at 3-3. O’Sullivan made 87 in the seventh to move one from victory at 4-3. White had chances to force a decider, but it was O’Sullivan who eventually took the frame on the black to run out a 5-3 victor. He now faces Lyu Haotian, who beat Aaron Hill 5-4.

Afterwards O’Sullivan stated that he was thrilled to be back in Yushan after five years away. He also admitted he is starting to set his sights on next month’s World Championship, where he will be gunning for a record breaking eighth Crucible crown.

“I’d love to try to win the Crucible. It is a hard tournament and 17 days is a long time. A lot can happen there. I’d love to win that another time to make it eight. There are so many good players around, so you have to get a little bit of luck and play some good snooker at the right times. I will be going there and trying my best.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan

Seven-time World Champion

O’Sullivan added: “The setup with the table out there is really good. The crowd are really close, so it creates a good atmosphere. Yushan has changed a lot in five years. I didn’t recognise the place. Last time we came here it was just this venue, now you have other buildings and beautiful new roads. It has changed so much.”

World number 52 Jackson Page scored a surprise 5-3 defeat of John Higgins to enhance his tour survival prospects.

Page went on a fine run to the last 16 of the World Championship in 2022, but with those points dropping off at the end of the season, his position in the rankings is set to drop. Victory over Higgins today acts as a significant boost to his chances of remaining in the top 64.

It had looked as if Page was set for a comfortable win when he led 4-1, having crafted breaks of 102, 76 and 75.

Scotland’s 31-time ranking event winner Higgins battled to remain in contention by taking the sixth after requiring a snooker. He the clawed back to 4-3, but it was Page who claimed the eighth to secure victory and a last 32 tie against Wu Yize.

World Champion Luca Brecel secured his progression with a 5-2 defeat of Oliver Brown, setting up a mouth watering last 32 meeting with Stephen Maguire.

Judd Trump continued his hunt for a fifth ranking title of the campaign by beating Sanderson Lam 5-2. He now faces Fan Zhengyi.

PAGE REFLECTS ON BIG WIN

Here are the scores for Ronnie’s match:

It looks like a relatively easy win but, in fact, there were a lot of errors from both players and Ronnie became very frustrated at times. He was still quite positive in his post-match.

Ronnie’s post match:

And, shared by Eurosport on their YouTube channel:

Also some images shared by various sources, notably WST, on their site and on on Weibo

The 2024 World Open got underway yesterday in Yushan and here is WST report on that first day of competition:

WORLD OPEN DAY ONE ROUNDUP: BULLET FIRES PAST PHETMALAIKUL

World Champion Luca Brecel proclaimed that his hunger was back after scoring an emphatic 5-1 win over Manasawin Phetmalaikul at the Huading Nylon World Open in Yushan.

The Belgian Bullet shot to the top of the snooker stratosphere last May with a stunning victory at the World Championship, an event he admitted he did minimal work for on the practice table.

Since then Brecel’s form has been erratic, other than making two finals at the invitational Shanghai Masters and Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker. He lost both of those title matches to Ronnie O’Sullivan.

With the defence of this world title coming quickly round the corner next month, he is now determined to put the hours in and hit top form.

Today’s match saw Brecel, who must win the event to qualify for the Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship, fire in breaks of 131, 100 and 94 on his way to victory.  Afterwards he proclaimed that he is back to full confidence. Next up he faces Oliver Brown.

“If anything, I feel even better than last year at the World Championship. I don’t know where it has come from. Obviously I have been working hard on my game, mentally and on the table, but I didn’t expect it to happen that fast. I feel really confident and good about my game.”

Luca Brecel

World Champion

Brecel added: “I am practising more, doing the right stuff and mentally I’ve been more conscious on the table, more focussed with more concentration. I feel really good and that every time I go to the table I fancy a good performance. I am in a good place.

“I am just more hungry than ever before in my career. I’ve always had struggles with motivation and getting up for games. That hasn’t been a problem in the last few weeks. I don’t want to make the same mistakes as the past. I’ve learned a lot this year.”  

INSPIRED BRECEL REGAINS CONFIDENCE

Judd Trump got his quest for a fifth ranking title of the season underway with a 5-2 defeat of Malaysia’s Rory Thor.

Trump and O’Sullivan have been the two standout players on the tour this season and both will be among the favourites to capture the title this week, with O’Sullivan taking to the baize tomorrow.

The Ace in the Pack top scored with 130 in today’s tie and will now face fellow Englishman Sanderson Lam.

Home hero Ding Junhui secured his progression with a 5-3 win over Zak Surety, who made his maiden career 147 despite defeat.

Ding himself crafted breaks of 54, 122, 94 and 77 during the encounter. He now faces Chinese compatriot Lyu Hongyu.

Welshman Daniel Wells pulled off a shock 5-3 win over world number three Mark Allen, while 2005 World Champion Shaun Murphy battled past Xu Si 5-3.

Here is Zak’s 147 shared by ES on on their YouTube channel

Mark Allen’s defeat was, of course, the surprise of the day. However probably just as surprising was the double win by 16 years old wildcard Wang Xinbo who sent Matt Selt packing.

With the EBSA event also underway, I must confess that I didn’t see much more than Ding’s and Judd’s matches. Judd didn’t particularly impress me and Thor didn’t play as well as he can and didn’t have much luck either. But, of course, for Judd it was a first match and a possible banana skin, for Thor it was unfamiliar territory to be on the main table.

As a side note… ahead of the tournament, Ronnie was inducted into the Billiards Museum Hall of fame. He wasn’t the only one. From what I understood from social media posts, there were eight or nine billiards players of various disciplines honoured, amongst them Allison Fisher and Pankaj Advani.