The round of 16 concluded yesterday in York and here are the reports by WST:

Afternoon session

TRUMP BATTLES PAST HIGGINS IN DECIDER

Judd Trump emerged victorious after a fiercely contested battle with John Higgins, winning 6-5 to make the quarter-finals of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship. 

The win for world number one Trump sees him continue to dominate four-time Crucible king Higgins in the recent part of their storied snooker rivalry, which includes two Crucible finals. The Ace in the Pack has now won 12 of their last 13 meetings and leads the head to head standings 19-14, after Scotland’s Higgins had the upper hand in their initial clashes as professionals. 

Trump progresses to the last eight, leaving him three victories away from a first UK Championship win since his maiden title in the event back in 2011. Next up is a meeting with former International Champion Zhang Anda.

Despite 29-time ranking event winner Trump’s dominant run, which has seen him top the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, he’s now gone five years without a Triple Crown title. The Englishman last picked up silverware in a Triple Crown event back in 2019, when he defeated Higgins in the World Championship final. 

Defeat for three-time UK Champion Higgins is a continuation of his underwhelming recent record in the tournament, where he hasn’t made it beyond the last 16 since 2019 and the quarter-finals since winning the event in 2010. 

The opening frames were played out at an attritional pace, as both players struggled to hit their stride. With Trump leading 2-1, a break of 39 from Higgins saw him steal on the black and restore parity heading into the mid-session at 2-2. 

The pace of the contest changed completely after the interval and both players went toe to toe in the break building department. It was Trump who made 110 to regain the lead after play got underway, but runs of 58 and 106 gave Higgins the following two frames to lead 4-3. 

Runs of 69 and 75 helped Trump to regain the advantage and move one from victory at 5-4, before a steely 66 from Higgins forced a decider.

The Glaswegian had the first opportunity in the final frame, but when leading 34-0 play descended to a potential stalemate with the white lodged in the pack. Eventually, forcing the issue, Higgins left Trump a red to the middle. He ruthlessly deposited it and made 106 to secure victory. 

Trump said: “I just tried to speed up a bit after the interval and I thought the game was good after that. The balls were going safe and you are just trying to figure your opponent out. It turned out to be a good game in the end. It was a great century in the last frame. I was trying to buy time hoping for a chance. He probably had to rush and left a tricky red to the middle.

“Every game we play recently is close. Over the last five years I can’t even remember how many deciders we have had. Every single game seems to go down to a decider. Fortunately for me I’ve managed to get the better of him in recent times and today was the same. I held myself together and made a good break to get over the line.

“I think I’m probably eighth favourite, I’m being serious as well. I’ve not played well. I’m still looking forward to playing. Every time you are in the quarters of a tournament like this you are that much closer to winning it. I need to put some work in and find my game.”

On the other table, Zhang completed an epic fightback to beat Stuart Bingham 6-5 from 5-1 down to earn a last eight encounter with Trump. 

The early stages saw 2015 World Champion Bingham dominate as he moved 3-1 ahead. He then embarked on a 147 attempt, which ended on 105 after missing the 14th black. 

It appeared Bingham had quickly recovered from the disappointment of that miss, when he took the sixth to move 5-1 ahead. However, a brilliant fightback from Zhang saw him take five on the bounce, including breaks of 81, 70 and 108 to clinch a 6-5 victory. 

Zhang said: “It was a very tough game. Stuart is a difficult opponent. I didn’t do anything wrong to be 5-1 down. In the second session I didn’t have too much pressure. I didn’t think too far ahead and tried to win.“

The Higgins v Trump match was really strange. Before the MSI both struggled so much it was ridiculous. They played slowly because none of them was able to put anything together and the table quickly became quite “untidy”. You may have thought that the two of them had been replaced by “lookalikes” very average club players… I found it puzzling, unsettling and absurdly hilarious. After the MSI the hapless lookalikes had disappeared and the real players had reappeared. Phew!

Evening session

CRUCIBLE KING WILSON POWERS PAST WAKELIN

Kyren Wilson admitted to suffering from performance related anxiety this week in York, but still scored a 6-2 win over Chris Wakelin to seal his place in the quarter-finals of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship.

Despite facing some mental demons, Wilson is now three wins away from securing a second Triple Crown title. He claimed his first earlier this year when he became World Champion for the first time in his career, beating Jak Jones 18-14 in the Crucible final. 

There’s been no hangover this term from that momentous achievement. He’s backed that up with tournament wins at the Xi’an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open. On both occasions Wilson prevailed in finals against world number one Judd Trump. 

The Warrior’s best run in York thus far came in 2021, when he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan on the way to the semi-finals, where he lost out to Luca Brecel. He now faces English compatriot Michael Holt for a return to the last four. 

It’s a disappointing defeat for Wakelin, but he can take solace for qualifying for a Triple Crown tournament as a member of the world’s top 16 for the first time. The Rugby cueman burst into snooker’s elite tier earlier this month with a run to the International Championship final. 

Wilson crafted breaks of 85 and 108 on his way to establishing a 2-1 lead. It had looked like the fourth was going the way of Wakelin, before a missed final black off the spot allowed Wilson to steal and lead 3-1. 

After the following two frames were traded, leaving Wilson leading 4-2, the Kettering cueman then made 63 to come from 52-0 down and win the seventh. He then added the eighth to get over the line and book his place in the quarter-finals. 

“I’ve felt really anxious this week. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it is that these big Triple Crown events have that much more feel to them. I’m quite aware that this is my time in the game and I want to make the most of it,” said 32-year-old Wilson told Eurosport.

“When I go out there it is fine. My cue action does the work and all of my preparation throughout the years does the work. I enjoy it. I played on Monday and I’ve been twiddling my thumbs for a few days. It is the what if’s. It is horrible and I hate it.

“I thought it was a lot better than round one and if you improve gradually round by round then that is a recipe for success.”

On the other table, Holt earned his place in a first UK Championship quarter-final since 1999, with a thrilling 6-5 defeat of Crucible finalist Jak Jones.

The Hitman was beaten in the last eight 25 years ago when he bowed out 9-6 against John Higgins. Recent years have been tougher for Holt. After falling off the tour in 2022, Holt returned this season thanks to his performances on the Q Tour. 

Having trailed 5-2, Holt was extremely demonstrative showing his frustration with himself. However, at that point a switch clicked. Breaks of 86, 68 and 86 helped him to four on the bounce and a massive win.

Defeat will taste especially bitter for Jones, as it ends his hopes of qualifying for January’s Johnstone’s Paint Masters. 

Holt said: “I said to myself before today, don’t flop it. I’ve been in these positions before. To be honest I was lucky to win. I’ve had enough chances to win 18 frames. I’m lucky to win, but I take those chances when I’m practising. I just kept punching and kept swinging. Luckily I got over the line.“

Kyren Wilson is truly an exemplary World Champion and Ronnie revealed how much he appreciates him:

Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals text message to ‘best in the world’ Kyren Wilson

Phil Haigh

‘I did send him a text saying “this is your time, go and get as many majors as you can because there’ll be a time when it don’t happen for you”. 

‘But he’s got to make the most of it now because he’s got the game in his hands, really.’

Wilson admitted that he hasn’t been feeling great at the UK Championship so far, despite the two impressive wins, with the pressure of the big event perhaps bothering him.

‘I’ll be honest I don’t feel myself this week, I don’t know why. I’ve felt really anxious this week,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what it is. The big Triple Crown events have a little bit more feel to them.

‘I’m quite aware that this is my time in the game and I want to make the most of it.

‘I think probably most snooker players have it. It’s just about managing it. We can be playing amazing in practice, come here and it goes tits up. That’s the beauty of the game, you don’t know until frame one how it’s going to go.

‘I don’t know if it’s about being world champion. I’ve just got such high hopes and I just want to win.’

O’Sullivan recognised the feeling Wilson described and praised the world champ’s ability to hide it in the heat of battle.

‘I feel exactly the same as him,’ said the Rocket. ‘But when you’re out there watching him he don’t look like it. Some people are feeling it and they look like it. 

‘He’s got something he naturally carries with him, very stoic. It’s a great thing to have in your locker, when you don’t show it.’

I really like Kyren. There is no big ego, no sensationalism about him. Just an ordinary good family man blessed with a far from ordinary talent for snooker and a great temperament. When I hear him in interviews today he comes across as the same guy he was when I first met him at the SWSA some 15 years ago, just a more mature version of him. Success hasn’t changed him much as a person.

Yesterday was the last day of the first round – the round of 32 – at the 2024 UK Championship in York.

Here are the reports by WST on what happened at the table:

Afternoon session

TRUMP BOUNCES BACK TO BEAT ROBERTSON

World number one Judd Trump rallied from behind to beat Neil Robertson 6-3 and set up a second round showdown with John Higgins at the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship. 

The meeting between 29-time ranking tournament winner Trump and 24-time ranking event champion Robertson was slated by many as the tie of the first round.

The blockbuster clash turned out to be a cagey encounter, with both players wary of the immense break building power of the other. Victory for Trump serves as revenge for a recent loss at the Champion of Champions, where Australia’s three-time UK Champion Robertson prevailed 6-4. 

Trump is aiming to end a 13-year run without a title in this tournament. He captured his first Triple Crown event win here in York back in 2011, when he defeated Mark Allen to lift the famous trophy. Since then he has fallen at the last hurdle in the 2014 and 2020 finals to Ronnie O’Sullivan and Robertson respectively.

The Englishman has enjoyed an incredible run to the top of the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings this year. His relentless levels of consistency saw him make at least the quarter-finals of every event he’s entered until this month’s International Championship. He’s picked up titles at the Shanghai Masters and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters so far this season. 

Defeat for Robertson leaves him perilously placed in 16th position on the provisional seedings. The top 16 at the end of this event will earn a place at the Johnstone’s Paint Masters in January. His closest current rival is this year’s Crucible runner-up Jak Jones. He trails by just £150 and will overtake Robertson if he beats Michael Holt in the last 16. 

Leading 2-1 after a fragmented first three frames, Robertson hammered home a run of 107 to take the fourth and lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval. 

Trump regrouped after the break and went on a blitz which saw him turn the tie on its head. Runs of 73, 126 and 67 helped Trump to string together a burst of five consecutive frames to come from behind and emerge victorious. 

“It was a difficult game at the start, but I managed to turn it around and play some good stuff at the end. I played my best stuff in the last four frames and that was really pleasing,” said 2019 World Champion Trump.

“These draws are extremely tough nowadays. A lot of the big names get through with the draw like it is and the qualifiers. Neil has a bit of a false ranking and he is going to get tough players in the first round. I’ve been a bit unfortunate in the past few years. In this event and the World Championship, I seem to get the 17th and 18th seed all the time. When you beat someone like that it gives you a lot of confidence. 

“I’ve not quite hit the heights recently, but it has taken some special performances to stop me. I just need to get that bit of luck or inspiration from somewhere. When that all comes together I’m very tough to beat. That can happen at any moment and as long as I’m in the tournament that can still happen.

“You are playing all-time greats nearly every round. It is always difficult but I have a good record against John recently. I hope I can go out there and play like I did towards the end of that game against Neil.”

On the other table, four-time World Champion Higgins produced a vintage display to whitewash last season’s Rookie of the Year He Guoqiang 6-0. 

The illustrious Scot hasn’t found the UK Championship to be a happy hunting ground in recent years, but he’s hoping to rectify that this week. Despite having won the event three times, he hasn’t been beyond the quarter-finals since picking up the title back in 2010. On that occasion he scored a sensational victory, coming from 9-5 down to beat Mark Williams 10-9 in the final. 

Higgins is seeking to end a title drought which extends back to the 2021 Players Championship. In the intervening period he’s been to five ranking finals, without picking up silverware. Most recently, Higgins reached this season’s British Open final, where he lost out 10-5 to Mark Selby. 

The Glaswegian made light work of He this afternoon, firing home runs of 110, 92, 72 and 64 on his way to wrapping up victory in just one hour and fifty minutes. 

Higgins said: “I loved it out there. Coming down the stairs was absolutely fantastic. It is back to being like what the UK Championship was when I first turned professional. I’m delighted. 

“It was touch and go if I was going to be a seed here. A couple of months ago I was wondering if I was going to be a qualifier. The juices are always flowing. I always come to a tournament with some optimism. It might be blind optimism, but I’m doing the same again and I’ll see where it can take me.“

Evening session

BRILLIANT BINGHAM RALLIES TO STUN WILLIAMS

Stuart Bingham staged a magnificent fightback to edge out Mark Williams 6-5 and make the second round of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship in York. 

The Englishman looked to be heading for the exit when Welshman Williams moved 5-2 ahead. However, after an opening seven frames where both players struggled to produce their best, 2015 Crucible king Bingham summoned a brilliant blitz to pip three-time World Champion Williams at the post. 

Both players arrived in York under contrasting circumstances. Bingham had to negotiate qualifying to earn his place in the final stages, while world number six Williams arrived riding the crest of a wave after winning the Champion of Champions for the first time in his career. 

Victory earns Bingham a last 16 tie against Zhang Anda as he continues his quest to complete the Triple Crown with a maiden UK Championship win. Defeat for two-time UK Champion Williams means he will have to wait for a first UK title since 2002. 

Both players were missing balls in the early part of the match, but it was Williams who gained the strongest foothold. The 26-time ranking event winner top scored with 72 on his way to the verge of victory at 5-2. 

Bingham embarked on a 147 attempt in the eighth, stringing together a run of 57 before missing the eighth black. Eventually he left Williams requiring snookers. He got two and a free ball, which allowed the 49-year-old back into the frame. Williams had a chance to tie and force a respot. However, a swerved long range pot on the green was enough to keep Bingham alive at 5-3. 

The Basildon cueman continued to push and turned up the heat on Williams with runs of 79 and 82 to force an unlikely final frame decider. It was Bingham with the momentum and breaks of 32 and 36 saw him boss the final frame and secure a magnificent fightback win. 

Bingham said: “He struggled as much as I did early on. I was gifting him a few frames, but I knew my game was in there somewhere. I just tried to be patient. It felt embarrassing some of the misses. I’m more shocked than anyone that I’m victorious. 

“Finally something clicked. From 5-2 I didn’t really put a foot wrong. I had a bit of luck here and there. I played a safety shot and it went in. I made a 70 odd off that. Even that was a bit embarrassing. It was just one of those matches. 

“I could see him struggling and I thought I needed to get my head together. I know I’ve been playing well. It was nice to win a match from 5-2 down against someone like Mark.“

None of the players I watched yesterday played really well actually and maybe the conditions are not helping as this article by Phil Haigh suggests:

Judd Trump and Neil Robertson slam ‘unplayable’ UK Championship conditions

Phil Haigh

Both Judd Trump and Neil Robertson were left frustrated and disappointed with playing conditions at the UK Championship after their first round clash.

Trump win five frames on the spin to claim the match 6-3, turning his form around from early struggles to a much more impressive finish.

The two former world champions were struggling for their best for much of the contest, though, and both felt the table was extremely difficult.

Asked if the conditions were the worst he has faced, Trump said: ‘I’ve played in some bad ones, but that’s close. 

‘It’s disappointing because it always seems to be the big events over here. The World Championship is the same. I’ve always struggled here because the tables are so heavy.

‘The cushions out there, you can’t ever get them to play that bad on a practice table! So I don’t know what it is. Hopefully they can change them. I think all the players have been struggling.’

Trump, who faces John Higgins next in the last 16, added on Eurosport: ‘I did my best both sessions, as well as I could play in the conditions.

‘We both found it tough. It’s difficult when you can’t perform to your best out there in a big event. We both struggled with the conditions. I just tried to not give up and hopefully it would turn around and that’s kind of what happened after the interval.

‘The cushions were just very bouncy, very heavy. It was hard to stop the white. It’s tough because it gets you down. You want to go out there and play your best, but it’s difficult when the conditions don’t allow that. It’s nice to say that after winning. It’s tough for both players.’

Robertson told a post-match press conference: ‘To be honest with you the table was pretty much as unplayable as it gets for professional conditions. Being such a tough sport anyway it can make either player look stupid. It was as tough as I’ve ever played.

‘It’s not the table-fitters fault or anything like that, the arena felt fine, I don’t understand. It’s really frustrating because that’s about as hard conditions as I’ve played on as a professional.’

The Australian added: ‘Probably the only two people who can be critical of our play is myself and Judd. Unless you’re out there and you know how hard the conditions are playing today…that was tough.

‘We were laughing about it really. He’s almost missed a red off the break-off, that tells you hard things were out there. 

‘It was just tough, a tough game. I thought he has to take a lot of credit for how he came back, the last few frames he potted some great balls and kept breaks going really well. There’s nothing negative to come out of it, it was just a really tough game for both of us.’

A WST spokesperson said: ‘We always strive to provide the best possible conditions and welcome feedback from players.

‘The recent weather has seen a large volume of rainfall and high humidity around the country. This can negatively influence the conditions.’

Trump did manage to make breaks of 73, 126 and 67 in the final four frames of the match as he eventually got a handle on the table.

His blockbuster last 16 clash with Higgins, a repeat of two World Championship finals, will be on Thursday in York.

Whatever WST says, fact is that Neal Foulds in commentary yesterday repeatedly came up with sentences like this “He could attempt this ball along the top cushion, and normally it should not be too difficult … but not this week, not the way this cushions play … “. I’m not sure if those comments were triggered solely by what he observed or if he had got feedback from the players, but clearly, he was not impressed with the way those cushions reacted. I know by personal experience that the weather in York can be very cold and humid at this time of the year and obviously that can’t be helped. Still it’s a shame, for the players (obviously) and for those who watch as well.

This is Zhang 147, shared by ES on their Youtube channel:

As well as Zhang and Ronnie’s reactions to it:

The third day at 2024 UK Championship again showed how good the players ranked outside the top 16 are nowadays. After three days, twelve matches, six of the seeded top 16 are out. Half of them then…

Here are the reports by WST:

Afternoon session

CRUCIBLE KING WILSON WHITEWASHES MAGUIRE

World Champion Kyren Wilson eased to a 6-0 win over Stephen Maguire to book his place in the last 16 of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship in York. 

The Warrior is hunting a second Triple Crown title, after achieving a lifetime’s ambition back in May with victory at the Crucible. Wilson overcame Jak Jones 18-14 in a fiercely contested title match at the Theatre of Dreams, to win a maiden World Championship title. He’s backed that up this season with victories at the inaugural Xi’an Grand Prix and the Northern Ireland Open, beating world number one Judd Trump in each final.

Wilson has enjoyed strong showings here in York, without quite managing to lift the famous trophy. His best run came back in 2021, when he defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan en route to the semi-finals. The Englishman then lost an epic contest against Luca Brecel. Next up for Wilson this week is a second round meeting with Chris Wakelin. 

Having negotiated the qualifying gauntlet, beating Elliot Slessor in a 6-5 thriller on Judgement Day, Scotland’s Maguire bows out at the first hurdle in York. Today’s disappointing defeat comes in the 20th anniversary year of the finest moment of his career, when he won the 2004 UK Championship. 

Both players struggled in what proved to be a fragmented afternoon of snooker. However, it was Wilson who fared the better in converting chances to frames. After controlling the opener, the Englishman battled hard to take the second in 37-minutes and lead 2-0. A run of 45 moved Wilson three ahead, before he added the fourth to lead 4-0 at the mid-session. 

When play resumed, Wilson moved up a gear and fired in runs of 71 and 86 to seal his comprehensive victory.

“It was surprsing. I went into the match expecting a tough battle. He is a real battler and for whatever reason it wasn’t happening,” said 32-year-old Wilson. “He is such a good player, it really shocked me and I’m sure he will be back as he’s too good not to.

“Myself and Judd want to do what guys like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and John Higgins have done over their long and illustrious careers. Hopefully we can try to compete with them and be the next names that everybody wants to tune in and watch. 

“I’ve dreamed of being a World Champion since I was six years old and I’ve made a very conscious effort to not only enjoy it but use it as a catapult to kickstart my career even more. It has given me that extra bit of confidence.”

On the other table, world number 15 Wakelin earned his place in the next round with a hard fought 6-4 win over former Indian Open champion Matthew Selt. 

Wakelin has enjoyed a landmark season so far, having broken into the elite top 16 in the world for the first time. He’s gunning to earn a Johnstone’s Paint Masters debut if he can remain there at the end of this week. 

The Rugby cueman top scored with 75 in a match he was relieved to emerge victorious from a testing match. 

Wakelin said: “It was a tough one. I was never in front and stole the ninth frame to go 5-4 in front. I feel for Matt, I don’t think he had much left towards the end. I knew if I could just hold myself together I could get over the line. He is very strong in the matchplay department so I really just wanted to shake his hand and get out of there. 

“When the game is over, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved getting in the top 16. I don’t think that defines me on the table though. It is all about what you do. The defending champion lost this week and a lot of the other top 16 players have. You can sit on that ranking all you like, but you still have to go out there and do the business.“

Stephen Maguire was his typical brutally honest self after the match, delivering a scathing verdict on his performance: rubbish. He was that indeed, but Kyren Wilson still had to stay focussed and win that match, which he hid. Kyren has, so far, been an exemplary World Champion. He’s representing his sport impeccably. He’s giving it his best in every match. He’s speaking well too. He’s humble in victory and honest in defeat.

Chris Wakelin is a player I’m appreciating more with every match he plays. Not so much his game itself, but his attitude. He’s come a long way from the dispirited player he was some years ago and one who looked unhealthy, physically and mentally.

Evening session

RESURGENT HITMAN ELIMINATES WILSON

Michael Holt reached the last 16 of the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship for the first time in 25 years, scoring an emphatic 6-1 win over Welsh Open champion Gary Wilson in York. 

The Hitman’s professional career came under threat in 2022, when he fell off the circuit. During two years away from the World Snooker Tour he set about a career coaching amateur players. However, Holt’s performances on last season’s Q Tour ensured the 46-year-old regained his professional status. 

This week’s run is a landmark for the Nottingham cueman, who last made it to this stage of the UK Championship back in 1999 as a 22-year-old. After beating the likes of Tony Drago and Alan McManus, he was eventually defeated 9-6 by John Higgins in the quarter-finals. Victory this evening for Holt earns him a last 16 meeting with this year’s Crucible runner-up Jak Jones. 

Defeat for Wallsend’s Wilson marks a continuation of his struggles in the UK Championship. He’s only made the last 16 on one occasion in his entire career, back in 2019.

The opener this evening went the way of Holt, who compiled a break of 38 to steal on the black. A run of 72 from Wilson restored parity at 1-1, before Holt won the third and fourth frames, again on the black, to snatch a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval. 

A run of 69 then moved Holt further ahead at 4-1. The sixth frame ventured into a stalemate situation when the reds gathered around the pink, which was over the top left corner. Holt was reluctant to accept a re-rack, leading 44-9, but eventually agreed to restart the frame. He steadied himself and fired in 95 to move 5-1 ahead and one from victory. A 50-minute seventh came down to the wire, but it was Holt who claimed it on the pink to ensure his progression. 

Holt said: “It is brilliant, obviously. I rode my luck towards the end of that match but I’ll take it and I’m in the next round. I always knew I could win, I never doubted that, but you are playing the best players in the world. You never know how games are going to pan out. You have to keep yourself in a good state of mind. 6-1 did flatter me, but I’m in the next round and I’m buzzing about it.

“My game is there, it really is. It has always been there. I just have to try and let it out. If I do that then I always have a chance. There were a few good bits in there. I have to be stronger than that in my next match, because I can’t be that lucky again. 

“To be in this arena is fantastic. I absolutely love it out there. It is an amazing tournament. I felt great and comfortable out there. Sometimes when you miss a few it can get a bit tough.“

On the other table, Jones came through a nerve shredding encounter with Luca Brecel to seal his progression 6-5. 

World number 17 Jones was the highest seed to come through the qualifying rounds. He defeated Ian Burns and Fan Zhengyi to seal his place in the final stages and is now seeking a return to the top 16 in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings and qualification for the Masters. The cut off comes at the end of this week. 

Defeat leaves Brecel in a perilous position. With his prize money for winning the 2023 World Championship coming off at the end of the season, he is currently projected to be in danger of losing his spot in the top 64 in the world. 

Despite Brecel leading 5-3, the match came down to a dramatic final frame, where the Belgian had the first opportunity. He broke down on 42 and a clutch contribution of 66 from Jones helped him over the line for a massive victory.

Jones said: “You always want to do well in the big tournaments and this is the second biggest in the tour. The arena is amazing. I felt good towards the end there. 

“Michael Holt is playing really well. To beat Gary Wilson 6-1 you must be doing something right. That is going to be a really tough game.“

That bit about Michael Holt making it to the last 16 for the first time in 22 years … that was a shock to the system for me! Where have all those years gone? How has this happened?¹ Michael Holt is someone who has underachieved IMO. Often in the past, his temperament has let him down. He was getting angry at himself and seemingly losing his focus as a result. Or maybe it was his self-belief that deserted him? Anyway he looks much more “grounded” nowadays and it’s for the best.

The Jones v Brecel match wasn’t the highest quality but Jak won’t care. As for Luca, he’s paying the price for a full year and a bit of celebrating and enjoying himself. If he thought he could come back from that just as strong as he was, he’s now finding out that he can’t … Nobody can, no matter how talented they are. He’s probably been the most absent World Champion snooker ever had, certainly the most absent I can remember. Luca is outrageously talented, his game is highly entertaining and spectacular, but … TBH more often than not, I don’t enjoy watching him . I find him, as a player, quite infuriating.

1. And then I remember that I will turn 70 in less than three weeks. Seriously? How has this happened???
   ↩︎

The first day at the 2024 UK Championship was marked by the early departure of the defending champion, Ronnie. He was beaten by Barry Hawkins (6-4) in the opening match of the tournament. The report on that match is available here.

Other than that …

In the same afternoon Shaun Murphy had to battle hard to overcome Zhao Xintong (WST report)

On the other table, Shaun Murphy progressed with a thrilling 6-5 win over returning former champion Zhao Xintong.

Murphy is aiming for a second UK crown, having first captured the title back in 2008. The Magician has shown strong form so far this season, without capturing silverware. He was runner-up at the Shanghai Masters and made the semi-finals at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. He has recently started working with Peter Ebdon, in a bid to add a killer edge to his game.

Zhao claimed the title here in 2021 with an incredible victory, which culminated in a win over Luca Brecel in the final. His appearance in York this week comes off the back of an enforced 20 months away from the sport. His performances on the Q Tour this season saw him earn a place in qualifying as an amateur. Zhao came through four matches to secure progression to the final stages. 

A tightly contested opening frame this afternoon went the way of Murphy on the black. He then crafted runs of 98 and 76 to move 3-0 ahead. Zhao then rallied and took three on the bounce to restore parity at 3-3. 

From that moment there was never more than a frame between the pair, with blows being traded right the way down to a decider. Murphy controlled the final frame and secured victory. He now plays either Ding Junhui or Robert Milkins. 

Murphy said: “This is a guy who won here a few years ago, not a typical amateur. He was in the top 16 at the time of his suspension. He really put me under it. I should have been 4-0 up at the interval, but losing that frame gave him a foothold. From then it was anyone’s game. 

“I think I’ve gone a bit soft in the last few years. You forget that this is war. It is player vs player. There are no team mates or excuses. I have gone a little bit gentle. To have someone like Peter in my corner, he is someone who has been there and done it. He has felt those feelings and got through them.“

There was again some marked hostility against Zhao on social media during the match, and, yes, there IS an element of racism in those reactions. There are people out there who would gladly see Stephen Lee back, but not Zhao … Zhao didn’t fix any match, unlike Lee, never mind doing it at the Crucible. He didn’t sell his cue with no intend to deliver it, he didn’t break the conditions of his suspension. Zhao’s sins were that he didn’t grass on his mates and did bet on snooker. Regarding the first of those “sins” I already said what I think of it … given the strong – almost fraternal – bond that exists between the young Chinese players who grew up together, WST shouldn’t expect/ask such “betrayal” from them. I’m sure that if he was British a lot of “fans” would be much more understanding and forgiving. Jamie Jones was also done for not reporting an approach he became aware of, and actually got sympathy for it. I agree with WST that players should report approaches , when they are the ones being approached. When it’s about “grassing” on other players … I’m very uneasy with the whole concept.

In the evening, there were wins for Ding Junhui and David Gilbert (WST report)

DING OVERHAULS MILKINS IN THRILLER

Ding Junhui took the final three frames to edge out Robert Milkins 6-5 in a pulsating clash at the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship.

The Chinese superstar arrives in York, a place where he has enjoyed great success, full of confidence. Ding delighted his home fans in Nanjing at the recent International Championship to capture the trophy and win a 15^th career ranking crown.

Ding is a three-time UK Champion, having last won the event in 2019. However, that tally could be higher considering he was a losing finalist in each of the last two years. He lost out to Mark Allen in the 2022 title match and Ronnie O’Sullivan 12 months ago.

Defeat will come as a bitter pill to swallow for Milkins, who bows out in a decider for the second year running. The Englishman was beaten 6-5 by O’Sullivan last year.

It was Milkins who took the opener this evening, crafting a fine run of 82 to lead 1-0. Breaks of 51 and 52 then saw Ding hit the front, before Milkins stole the fourth on the black to draw level at 2-2.

The next two frames were traded when play resumed. Milkins then fired in a sublime 130 to move 4-3 ahead. He was then one from victory after prevailing in a 45-minute eighth to lead 5-3.

From there Ding managed to find top gear. He composed contributions of 57, 135 and 63 in successive frames to take three on the bounce and come through a 6-5 victor. Next up for Ding is a mouth-watering last 16 meeting with Shaun Murphy.

“Winning is all that matters. Whether you are struggling or playing very good, you just have to win,” said 37-year-old Ding.

“I have confidence to compete in matches. Even when I’m just making 30 or 40 breaks and playing some good safety shots, I feel good. It is different to how I have felt at other times.

“I always like playing here at the Barbican Centre. I think I have had the most success in my career in this venue.”

On the other table, David Gilbert scored a 6-4 win over in-form Xiao Guodong to clinch his place in the last 16.

The Tamworth cueman made his second World Championship semi-final at the conclusion of last season with a magnificent Crucible run. However, he is currently finding his feet with a new cue after a recent change.

Wuhan Open champion Xiao came into today’s game full of optimism after a burst of form which has seen him earn a place in the top 16 for the first time. Today’s defeat means Xiao will immediately fall out of that elite tier and he will miss out on qualification for the Johnstone’s Paint Masters as a result.

Gilbert fired in breaks of 54, 53, 72, 98, 53 and 63 on his way to this evening’s victory. He will now face Barry Hawkins, who defeated defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan earlier today.

Gilbert said: “It wasn’t great. It was patchy, but I felt good in areas. I can’t be too hard on myself because I’ve got this new cue. It is a brilliant cue, but I’m struggling with certain shots. They look awful to you guys, but I’ll get used to it and stick with it. I’m pleased with the win.”

I didn’t watch much of the evening session. I was a bit aggrieved by the outcome of the afternoon session and also quite tired. What I saw from Ding though was quite impressive. Ding clearly loves this event. As for Gilbert… having to qualify didn’t harm his game, quite the opposite. He scored very heavily. Just as well he’s “struggling” to adapt to his new cue … 😂

And regarding Ronnie … Vic Snooker Academy shared this picture of him discussing cues with Si Jiahui and Zhao Xintong yesterday evening. He doesn’t look too down 🙂