Ronnie O’Sullivan gets the defence of his Victorian Plumbing UK Championship title underway on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday November 23rd at the York Barbican.
O’Sullivan won the title for a record-extending eighth time last year, beating Ding Junhui 10-7 in the final. His quest to make it nine crowns gets underway at 1pm on the first day. The matches for the top 16 seeds have been scheduled, and they will be drawn at random against the 16 players who come through the qualifying rounds.
Shaun Murphy also plays on the opening afternoon, with Ding and new top-16 member Xiao Guodong in action on the Saturday evening. Mark Allen, the 2022 champion, plays his opening match at 1pm on Sunday November 24th. World Champion Kyren Wilson enters the fray on the afternoon of Monday November 25th, while world number one Judd Trump gets underway the following day at 1pm.
The qualifying event, featuring 128 players, runs from November 16th to 21st at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester….
Click here for the qualifying match schedule and draw
Players starting in the first qualifying round need to win four matches to make it to York, while those seeded higher need only three or two wins. Three-time UK Champion Neil Robertson, having dropped out of the world’s top 16, plays his first match on the evening of Tuesday November 19th. Star names in the same round include Crucible finalist Jak Jones, former UK Champion Stephen Maguire, former Crucible king Stuart Bingham, Jack Lisowski, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Barry Hawkins.
Ronnie would face Xiao Guodong in the second round (last 64) should they both win their opening match … 🙄
The world ranking event runs from Wednesday December 4th to Saturday December 7th at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, and as always there is a unique format with all matches lasting a maximum of ten minutes. There’s a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes and just ten seconds for the last five, cranking up the pressure on the players as the time tickets down! The tournament always produces a sizzling atmosphere.
World number three Allen won the title for the first time last year and now aims to become the first player to win the Shoot Out twice. Robertson is in the field for the first time since the inaugural event in 2011, in a strong line-up which includes the likes of four-time World Champion Selby, former Crucible king Murphy, Gary Wilson, Si Jiahui, Stuart Bingham, Ali Carter, Jimmy White, Leicester’s local favourites Tom Ford, Joe O’Connor, Ben Woollaston and Louis Heathcote….and many more.
The first round draw for all 128 players is out now and intriguing matches include:
Wednesday December 4th Mark Allen v Ross Muir Gary Wilson v Reanne Evans Anthony McGill v Sophie Nix Thepchaiya Un-Nooh v Jimmy White Jordan Brown v Si Jiahui
Thursday December 5th Mark Selby v Baipat Siripaporn Stan Moody v Riley Powell Barry Hawkins v Shaun Murphy He Guoqiang v Stuart Bingham Iulian Boiko v Jack Lisowski Ali Carter v Chris Wakelin Neil Robertson v Simon Blackwell
The last 64 takes place on Friday December 6th, with 32 players to head into the final day on Saturday December 7th and the champion to be crowned that night. The event, which features a random draw for each round, is televised by Eurosport, discovery+ and many other broadcasters worldwide.
Xiao Guodong enjoyed a timely fluke in the deciding frame as he beat Mark Selby 6-5 to reach the semi-finals of the Grosvenor Casinos Champion of Champions.
Enjoying the best season of his career, highlighted by the capture of his first ranking title at last month’s Wuhan Open, Xiao had another memorable day as he beat two of snooker’s all time greats. A 4-3 success against Ronnie O’Sullivan, from 3-0 behind, was followed by a 6-5 victory over Selby as Xiao earned a meeting defending champion Mark Allen in the semi-finals on Friday at 7pm.
China’s 35-year-old Xiao is playing the best snooker of his life and will be determined to double his tally of trophies. A fierce battle with Selby came down to the last few balls and he came out on top, helped by a huge slice of luck.
Selby cruised into a 3-0 lead with breaks of 89, 63 and 120 before Xiao pulled one back with a 118. A run of 64 put Selby 4-1 ahead but he failed to score a point in the next three frames as Xiao rattled in breaks of 80 and 59 in closing to 4-4. Frame nine went Selby’s way as he regained the lead. The tenth came down to a safety battle on the colours, and Xiao knocked in excellent pots on green, brown and blue to level at 5-5.
Selby had first chance in the decider and made 39 before missing a red to centre, then Xiao replied with 58 and played safe. An exchange on the yellow ended when Xiao’s attempted safety came off three cushions and rolled into a baulk corner, and he took advantage with a thumping green before adding brown, blue and pink.
“I didn’t think I could win,” Xiao told ITV. “In the last frame I was a lucky boy and I feel sorry for Mark. There was pressure because the game was close, but I enjoyed it, I was relaxed. Winning in Wuhan has helped me a lot.
“To play snooker you have to be happy. In Wuhan my family was there, my wife and friends. Before that, I was playing for 20 years and practising hard but sometimes when I lost I was sad. I have changed my mindset now and I’m enjoying it.“
Earlier in the day, Xiao got the better of O’Sullivan, a four-time winner of this title. Breaks of 65, 95 and 125 put O’Sullivan 3-0 ahead before Xiao, who had not scored a point in the first three frames, stormed back with 130, 88 and 85 for 3-3 before edging the decider. Selby saw off Shaun Murphy 4-2 with runs of 96, 132, 76 and 72.
Both matches were quite similar. In both cases the favourite ran to a 3-0 lead, and was playing well, scoring heavily. In both cases, Xiao came back at them with a vengeance. All credits to him.
Ronnie came back to the table in frame 6, despite being too far behind to have any hope of redeeming that frame. This clearly shows that he certainly didn’t give up on that match.
If the press is to be believed, Xiao apologised to both his opponents after the matches. No need for that. Yes, he had a bit of the run of the balls but that’s part of the sport. On your day they run for you, on another day they run against you…
The above report doesn’t mention the reaction of either Ronnie or Mark, but I found some quotes by Ronnie in the press. All things considered he was quite positive about it all.
O’Sullivan, meanwhile, was defiant after his surprise loss as he downplayed the possibility of calling time on his glittering career.
“I have been on a roll for 30 years,” he said. “It will end when I decide it ends. I’ve very rarely had an average season since turning pro.
“I might have had a couple of years with things going on off the table which meant I couldn’t really focus on snooker and went missing. I definitely had six years where I was partying a bit much.
“I might have won a few tournaments in that period, but when I’ve had my mind and focus right I usually do all right. I’ll keep playing and keep enjoying it. That’s the most important thing for me.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan stunned by ‘world class’ Xiao Guodong at Champion of Champions
Phil Haigh
Ronnie O’Sullivan has fallen at the first hurdle in Bolton (Picture: Taka Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport)
Ronnie O’Sullivan is out of the Champion of Champions after a stunning comeback from Xiao Guodong saw the underdog bounce back from losing the first three frames to win 4-3.
The Rocket looked in fabulous form as he won the opening three frames in short order, with Xiao not scoring a single point as O’Sullivan scored 318.
However, the recent Wuhan Open champion was not fazed by the early brilliance of the seven-time world champ and found his own form in some style.
O’Sullivan had made breaks of 95 and 125 to go 3-0 up, before Xiao responded with efforts of 130, 88 and 85 to take the match to a decider, with the Rocket not scoring a point in those three.
The decider, as it so often is, was an edgier affair and became the only frame for both players to score points.
Both men had chances but Xiao got ahead early and even though he missed a good opportunity to get over the line he eventually battled through some nerves to do so.
While it got nervy at the end, Stephen Hendry on commentary described Xiao’s trio of breaks to force a decider as ‘world class’ and said: ‘I knew he was good, but I didn’t know he was this good.’
Xiao Guodong has been in excellent form of late (Picture: Taka Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport)
It is a big surprise from O’Sullivan being 3-0 ahead, but Xiao has been in the better form of the two players of late having won in Wuhan and followed it with a run to the semi-finals of the International Championship.
O’Sullivan has skipped a number of events so far this campaign and has not been beyond a semi-final yet this season.
However, form and fluency was not a problem for him against Xiao, it was just the brilliance of the Chinese star.
The world number 16 now goes on to play the winner of Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy in the group final later on Thursday.
Here are the scores of the match:
Credits to Xiao, he played really well. Still Ronnie losing from 3-0 up is worrying … but maybe, at nearly 49 it’s not really surprising. Nobody goes on forever… that said, actually, Ronnie didn’t play badly at all, it was Xiao who played exceptionally well from 3-0 down.
Here is the decider shared by Matchroom on Youtube
And Ronnie’s century in frame 3, his 46th in the (history of) tournament
There were more rumours on social media in recent days regarding an alleged “split tour”. As so often, the reality is different, there is no intention by Jason Francis, or anyone else, to create a split tour. What there IS though is a series of high profile exhibition tournaments. Jason himself confirmed this to me: eight of the top players have agreed to play in these events.
Ronnie O’Sullivan the headline act in ‘exciting’ new snooker project
Phil Haigh
Ronnie O’Sullivan is the headline act for a planned new series of snooker events (Picture: Getty Images)
Eight players have agreed to play in a series of new snooker events, with Ronnie O’Sullivan leading a heavyweight line-up of world champions.
Four two-day events have been arranged for next year, labelled the Snooker 900 Grand Slam, which hope to feature the Rocket, current world champ Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Luca Brecel, Shaun Murphy and Reanne Evans
The players are believed to have agreed to the new venture, but the independent promoters are in talks with World Snooker Tour as professional players need permission to appear in non-sanctioned TV events. By the terms of the renegotiated players’ contract, if non-sanctioned events are taking place when WST tournaments are not being played then there is no issue, but any clashes cause a problem. Players have been given permission to play in two of the four events, but as two clash with WST tournaments then there remains a stumbling block and discussions continue.
It is understood that Channel 4 is the potential broadcaster for the series, which is planned to run into June and July, in what would be a major move into the sport for the station. The first of the events – the brainchild of promoter Jason Francis – is planned for 12-13 April in London and Murphy hopes to be lining up for it.
Asked about rumours of the new events on his onefourseven podcast, the 2005 world champion said: ‘It is true. I’m delighted to be asked, but I don’t know very much about it. I know that Jason was planning to put on four two-day events. I had no idea until I saw the list on social media myself who else was asked to play in it.
‘Just happy to play and looking forward to these opportunities. As luck would have it, two of those dates do clash with potential events in the 25/26 calendar, so I think only two of them so far have been granted permission.
‘Excited about it. I think competition is good. I think players being allowed to play and ply their trade…I personally think that as a professional snooker player, as a self-employed tradesperson I should be able to play snooker wherever and whenever I want. That’s my own personal view.
‘So I see this as a real positive step that these events are going to be put on and players are going to be able to ply their trade, put balls in pockets, put smiles on faces and entertain people who are wanting to watch us.’
The dates of 12-13 April 2025 would by during World Championship qualifying, and just the week before the main event begins at the Crucible.
Details on venues of the events and further details are to be confirmed.
World Snooker Tour and Channel 4 both declined to comment.
From what I heard, four events are currently scheduled. Two would happen at a times when no WST events are currently planned but the two others could clash with WST events albeit none where the top players involved would be supposed to participate. As Shaun said – not for the first time – players are self-employed and should be free to play in whatever they see fit, even more so when themselves are not involved in the “clashing” WST events.
Neil Robertson won his group by beating Judd Trump yesterday night in Bolton. This is not what most expected but it was totally deserved. Actually, yesterday’s group final was a tremendous match. It wasn’t a case of Judd being poor, it was a case of Neil being at his very best.
Neil Robertson scored a tense 6-4 win over world number one Judd Trump to book a semi-final showdown with Mark Williams at the Grosvenor Casinos Champion of Champions in Bolton.
Victory for the Australian serves as a boost, after falling to 18th in the world last week and narrowly missing out on an automatic spot at the upcoming Victorian Plumbing UK Championship, meaning he will now have to go to the qualifiers.
Today’s win is his first over Trump since the 2020 UK Championship final, where he prevailed in an epic encounter 10-9. The pair also met in the 2019 Champion of Champions final, when Robertson again triumphed 10-9.
Robertson earned his place in today’s group final with a 4-3 win over Ali Carter, while Trump demolished newly crowned International Champion Ding Junhui 4-0.
Breaks of 90, 84 and 59 helped Robertson to take three of the first four and lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval this evening.
When play resumed Trump hit back and claimed two on the bounce to restore parity at 3-3. Robertson reclaimed the lead with a break of 61, before an epic eighth frame.
It came down to the pink, where both players trapped each other in perilous snookers behind the black. Eventually Robertson’s snooker forced Trump into two fouls, before he left the pink over the middle for the Melbourne cueman to move 5-3 ahead.
Trump refused to wilt and a break of 57 helped him move within a frame, but Robertson cleared from brown to black in the tenth, including a stunning long range blue, to score a huge victory and a place in the semis.
Robertson said: “It was an incredible game. Judd showed all of the qualities he’s had throughout his whole career. His safety play and discipline was incredible. I matched it with him and stayed with him.
“That blue is definitely one of the highlight shots of my career, in terms of the pressure and everything that was at stake on it.
“I just tried to leave myself a shot at the blue. There aren’t many players that would take that on.”
The final group takes place on Friday, with Ronnie O’Sullivan facing Xiao Guodong and Mark Selby going up against Shaun Murphy.
Today is the last day of the group stage. Ronnie will play Xiao Guodong in the first match of the afternoon. To be honest, I’m not particularly confident that he will win this match, never mind the next one should he get past the first hurdle. He hasn’t played really well all season although he was a bit better in the International Championship.
As one would expect, there were people on social media yesterday spreading rumours about him withdrawing. Those were dispelled by ITV on twitter … they shared a short video showing him practicing at the venue.
Mark Williams certainly wasn’t the favourite to emerge the winner yesterday in Bolton but he did, apparently much to his own amazement. Here is the report by WST:
Williams Pips Wilson In Thriller
Mark Williams defeated World Champion Kyren Wilson for the first time in his career, prevailing 6-5 in a classic clash to reach the semi-finals of the Grosvenor Casinos Champion of Champions.
The pair had previously met on seven occasions, with Wilson coming out on top each time heading into this evening’s showdown.
Remarkably today also represents Williams’ first match wins in the Champion of Champions. This is his fourth appearance in the event. He defeated Bai Yulu 4-1 in his first match this afternoon, while Wilson beat Luca Brecel by the same scoreline.
The opener this evening went the way of Wilson with a break of 83. He had the first opportunity in frame two but missed a red to middle, which Williams ruthlessly punished with 109 to restore parity at 1-1.
Wilson reclaimed the lead by taking the third, before a contribution of 72 from Williams ensured they were all-square heading in for the mid-session at 2-2.
The Welshman took the lead for the first time in the match when play resumed, but Wilson immediately reeled him back to 3-3 with a run of 105. They continued to go blow for blow and three-time World Champion Williams then crafted a stunning 140 to go 4-3 ahead.
Williams moved one from victory after capitalising on an unexpected miss from Wilson to lead 5-3. The Crucible king showed his steel though and fired in a 123 break to stay in contention and then made 58 to claim the tenth on the pink and force a decider.
Williams had the first chance in the final frame, but spurned a red. However, Wilson then missed a cut back black when he got his opportunity. Williams stepped in and made a match winning 43 to book his place in Saturday’s semi-final.
“I’ve been hitting it quite well when I’ve been having a knock with my coach Lee Walker. I can’t really be hitting it much better when I’m practising. It doesn’t come out so much on the match table, but a bit of it came out there,” said 49-year-old Williams.
“I played well there and beat him 6-5. He’s one of the best players. I lost 10-9 on the black to Judd Trump in Saudi. I’m pushing these top players close. I don’t know how I am, but lets see how long it can continue.”
The action continues tomorrow with a mouth watering group featuring Judd Trump, Ding Junhui, Ali Carter and Neil Robertson.
I didn’t see the final. A violent thunderstorm, heavy rain and the inevitable power cut under such circumstances are to blame. This was really frustrating because I certainly hadn’t enjoyed the afternoon session. I really like Kyren and him winning wasn’t the reason for my unhappiness. The reason was Luca. He is blessed with so much talent and he’s wasting it. Of course, it’s his life, his choices and none of my business … still!
Mark Allen, the highest seed in Group1 and the defending champion emerged the winner yesterday, the first day of the 2024 Champion of Champions. But it wasn’t as straightforward as some would have expected.
Mark Allen made a winning start to the defence of his Grosvenor Casinos Champion of Champions title, coming from 3-0 down to beat Jak Jones 6-4 in the Group One final in Bolton.
World number three Allen won this title for the second time last year, thrashing Judd Trump 10-3 in the final, and this time hopes to become the only player other than Ronnie O’Sullivan to lift the trophy for a third occasion.
The Northern Irishman looked in danger of defeat to Crucible runner-up Jones, who took the first three frames with a top break of 137. The key moment came in frame four when Allen potted nine reds with blacks before over-cutting a red to centre on 72, and Jones had the chance to clear the table for a 4-0 lead, but missed a straight-forward pot on the final red on 38. That allowed Allen to gain a foothold in the tie at 3-1, and he took four frames in a row after the interval with breaks of 64, 104, 66 and 82.
Jones pulled one back with a 104, his fourth century of the day, but Allen won frame ten to earn his place in the semi-finals.
“At 3-0 down I was frustrated,” said 38-year-old Allen. “I tried to increase my tempo. That’s why I went for a 147 in the fourth frame, I felt I needed something like that to get me back into the game. I played some good stuff after that, although I won a couple of frames which I could have lost. I love this event, it has always been one of my favourites on the calendar and I want to defend the title.”
Earlier in the group semi-finals, Allen saw off Igor Figueiredo 4-2 with top breaks of 102 and 107, while Jones enjoyed a 4-2 success against Gary Wilson, firing runs of 106 and 132.
The action continues on Tuesday and Group Three promises an intense clash of World Champions, as reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson takes on 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel in the opening match, then Tour Championship winner Mark Williams squares off against Women’s World Champion Bai Yulu.
Igor Figueiredo, the Seniors World Champion gave a really good account of himself but couldn’t rival Mark Allen’s scoring power.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 