The match schedule for the top 16 players at the 2025 Halo World Championship is now available, with snooker’s greatest tournament to run from April 19th to May 5th at the Crucible in Sheffield.
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Defending champion Kyren Wilson will take to the stage on the opening morning at 10am on Saturday April 19th, and he’ll complete his first round tie on the same evening from 7pm. The other seeds in action on the opening day will be Xiao Guodong, Neil Robertson, Mark Williams and Barry Hawkins.
John Higgins, the man in form having won two ranking titles in as many months, will play on the morning and evening of Monday April 21st. Ronnie O’Sullivan begins his bid for a record eighth Crucible crown at 2.30pm on Tuesday April 22nd and concludes the following afternoon. World number one Judd Trump plays in the evening sessions on the same two days.
The top 16 seeds will be drawn at random against the 16 players who come through the qualifying rounds, currently being contested at the English Institute of Sport. The draw will take place around 8.45am on Thursday April 17th and you can listen on BBC Radio Five Live or watch on the BBC Sport website. Four-time Crucible king Mark Selby will be in the studio to react to the draw.
The seeds are ordered in the draw as follows:
Kyren Wilson (1) v qualifier Jak Jones (16) v qualifier Neil Robertson (9) v qualifier Mark Allen (8) v qualifier ——- Ronnie O’Sullivan (5) v qualifier Zhang Anda (12) v qualifier Si Jiahui (13) v qualifier Mark Selby (4) v qualifier ——- John Higgins (3) v qualifier Xiao Guodong (14) v qualifier Barry Hawkins (11) v qualifier Mark Williams (6) v qualifier ——- Luca Brecel (7) v qualifier Ding Junhui (10) v qualifier Shaun Murphy (15) v qualifier Judd Trump (2) v qualifier
So, Ronnie is scheduled to play his first match on Tuesday 22 May and Wednesday 23 May, both times in the afternoon session. Of course, whether he will play or not remains to be seen. Should he play, and win, the next seed he could face is Zhang Anda.
Yesterday was an eventful day at the EIS in Sheffield. As usual when they reach this stage, the World Snooker Championship qualifying rounds delivered drama and heartbreaks.
Hamilton Avoids Historic Collapse With Best Ever Break
Anthony Hamilton halted a sensational fightback from Steven Hallworth, who had trailed 9-0, crafting a momentum defying clearance to win 10-8 at Halo World Championship Qualifying.
Former German Masters winner Hamilton needed to win today’s game to stand a chance of remaining on tour. He looked set to be coasting home when he moved one frame from the whitewash. In the end he required a break which he described as his best ever, in the circumstances, to edge over the line.
Nottingham cueman Hamilton has struggled with his eyesight in recent years, after a lens replacement procedure went wrong. Following the game this evening, he revealed that his vision deteriorated as the match went on.
That was partly down to the fact he couldn’t put opponent away, when he first saw the winning line. Things turned dramatically and Hallworth showed remarkable resolve to claim eight frames in a row and make it 9-8.
No player has ever won a best of 19 match from 9-0 down and with Hamilton in disarray, Hallworth appeared to be on course for history when he led 63-0 in the 18th frame. The match looked set for a final frame, when Hamilton summoned a nerveless clearance of 69 to win on the black and seal avoid a decider.
“That’s as hard as trying to get over the line in a ranking final. It’s a story that would follow you round for the rest of your life. If you lose from 9-0, you’re on quizzes and stuff. You don’t want that,” said 53-year-old Hamilton.
“He was gone in the first session, I was gone there. It was a proper match of two halves. And when I say gone, I mean gone. It’s not like golf where you can have a little walk around. You are gone. You’ve been playing all these years and can’t make eight. So that was definitely the best break I’ve ever made.
“He was bossing everything. You see that scoreboard ticking and you are all over the gaff! I said to my mate at 8-0 I’m not over the line here, my eyes are not good enough to think this is a done deal. I knew I could lose the match.”
Jamie Jones held off a valiant fightback from Belgium’s Julien Leclercq to prevail 10-7.
Welshman Jones is well acquainted with success here, having negotiated the Crucible qualifying gauntlet six times. Last year he defeated Neil Robertson in the final round to earn his place at the Theatre of Dreams.
He came into this evening’s session holding a hefty 7-2 advantage. However, Leclercq came firing back by claiming the first four frames tonight to make it 7-6. Jones regained control of proceedings and got over the line to seal victory. He now faces Xu Si.
“I was all over him in the first session,” said 37-year-old Jones. “Tonight was just mental. I was making 40s and 50s, not getting over the line and before you know it, I’ve lost three black ball games and it is 7-6. You have to be kind to yourself out there and stay strong.
“You can be 9-0 down out there, but you loosen up then. When you have that lead you only need to lose a couple of frames and you start doubting yourself. It is hard. It is a mental game more than anything.”
Ashley Carty overcame legendary ten-time ranking event winner Jimmy White 10-5 to reach round three. He now plays China’s Pang Junxu. White will need either another invitational tour card or a trip to Q School to remain on the circuit, after suffering relegation.
Jamie Clarke was relegated from the circuit after a 10-8 loss to Allan Taylor, while Louis Heathcote will need results to go his way to stay on tour following a 10-9 defeat against Iulian Boiko.
It was a “mental” day indeed, in many ways. It was a day were mental fortitude was of essence in many matches and a day of crazy fightbacks. It brought joy and huge relief to some, heartbreak and bitter disappointment to others.
I know that a few people really dislike Anthony Hamilton. I never understood why. Yes, he’s a bit peculiar but he’s a very interesting character, he’s clever, he’s humble and has a wicked sense of humor. He’s also a very, very good player, well respected by the professionals of his generation, including by Ronnie who “rates” him very high.
Julien Leclercq had left himself far too much to do but showed a lot of heart. This season has not been great for him and he will need to get results next season to stay on tour. But the fightback today is an encouraging sign even if it was to no avail eventually.
I didn’t expect Iulian Boiko’s win but I’m very happy with it. That he’s been able to win that type of match, a “hard graft” type of match as opposed to a scoring fest, is a sure sign that he’s maturing as a player. They only had four breaks over 50 between them, the highest break of the match was 69.
I will always support players from mainland Europe, not because I “hate” the Brits – I absolutely do NOT hate any person for their nationality as hard nationalism makes absolutely no sense to me1 – but I support them because I want to see “World Snooker” truly earn the “World” in what they call themselves and they have some work to do on that for sure!
Jamie Clark’s relegation will sadden many fans, me included. He’s a lovely guy and a better player than his results show. He’s one who, I think, would benefit from the support of a “mental coach”.
I was born a Belgian, with Spanish/Jewish ancestry on my father’s side, French ancestry on my mother’s side.I grew up in Brussels, a cosmopolitan city where the “local dialect”, Brusseleer, is a mixture of Flemish, French, Hebrew and Ladino. I’m married to a Greek. I speak French, Nederlands, English and Greek (almost) fluently, German to a very basic level but I do understand it reasonably well, and I also understand Ladino. I’m a citizen of Europe in its diversity, and a citizen of the world. ↩︎
Joe Perry confirmed that he will end his 33-year run as a professional snooker player at the conclusion of the Halo World Championship, but extended his career by a few days at least after beating Dylan Emery 10-6 at Crucible qualifying.
The Gentleman turned professional back in 1992, the same year as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and John Higgins. Although he’s not quite performed to the level of those all-time greats, Perry has enjoyed a tremendous career on the World Snooker Tour.
Perry secured a maiden ranking title at the 2015 Players Championship Grand Final in Thailand and won a first title on British soil at the Welsh Open in 2022. The Englishman made the semi-finals at the Crucible in 2008.
He came into this afternoon with Welsh opponent Emery holding a 5-4 advantage, but it was Perry who used his experience to grasp control of the tie.
Breaks of 57, 129 and 59 helped him to take six of seven frames and surge to a 10-6 win. He will now face Yuan Sijun for a place in Judgement Day.
“I’ve officially retired. As soon as my participation in this event is over, my time as a professional snooker player is up,” said 50-year-old Perry.
“I was less nervous today than I’ve been in the last few years coming here. Now I’m just trying to enjoy it. That isn’t easy when you play like I have done recently. The pressure is different as I know when my opponent gets to nine it could be my last ever frame. I’ve taken a long time to come to the decision. It isn’t a rash one.
“I’m trying as hard as ever out there. If I can play my last match at the Crucible, that would be wonderful. If it ends up being here, then that is what it is. It is going to be tough. The players are so good these days and the standard is tough. When I’m around I have a chance.
“My debut at the Crucible was very memorable, to win 10-9 on the black against a legend like Steve Davis. Getting to the one table setup in 2008 was good. I also beat Mark Selby when he was defending champion. The orange powder protest is one that springs to mind, but that was a bad memory. I’ve seen a lot at the Crucible and I’ve enjoyed my time.”
Marco Fu kept alive his hopes of a first Crucible appearance since 2018 alive with a 10-3 defeat of Ben Mertens.
Fu had to overcome a minor emergency this evening, just as the play was about to commence his tip came off. After getting it replaced, he lost the first two frames of the evening, but got over the line to seal victory. He now goes on to face Elliot Slessor
On the tip incident, Fu said: “It reminded me of playing Mark Selby in the semi-finals at the Crucible in 2016. My tip came off at 8-8. This was a similar feeling, but having an 8-1 lead helped me and gave me time to warm up the tip. I think the damage was done this morning. I played very well.”
“It would be nice to get to the Crucible but I still have to win two very tough games. I’m looking forward to the challenge and if I do qualify then it would be like a dream. I’ve got to take one match at a time.”
Zhao Xintong survived a tough challenge from Long Zehuang to prevail 10-8 and will now play a third straight Chinese compatriot in Lyu Haotian.
India’s Ishpreet Singh Chadha boosted his tour survival hopes with a 10-2 win over Mateusz Baranowski and Ross Muir did the same by beating fellow Scot Liam Graham 10-5. Shoot Out finalist Graham will need other results to go his way in order to survive.
Joe Perry will probably not be remembered as one of the “all time greats” but he’s a very fine player and is highly respected by his peers. I hope that he will at least play a bit on the seniors tour. Joe’s contribution to snooker however is broader than what his tally of successes shows. He is someone who has always supported the young and upcoming players. Neil Robertson in particular would probably not be the top player he is if it wasn’t for Joe Perry who took him under his wing when the very young Neil came to the UK, armed with a cue, talent and ambition, but quite lonely and, at times, lost in an alien country where he knew no one. And Neil knows it … I will always remember the final of the 2014 Wuxi Classic: Neil and Joe were playing each other, the match went to a decider. Joe had not yet won a ranking event at the time, this would have been his first. Neil was at the table, on his winning break in the final, and he was crying because it broke his heart to deny his friend but he had a job to do and he did it. And Joe, despite the bitter disappointment, found it in himself to be happy for his friend. That’s Joe.
Marco Fu made the seventh 16-red clearance in professional snooker history during his Halo World Championship qualifying match against Ben Mertens on Thursday.
Fu’s rare break came in the fourth frame as a foul from Mertens left him with a free ball. Hong Kong ace Fu took the brown as an extra red, then potted the green, and went on take all 15 reds with colours then cleared the table for a total of 139.
The highest break in snooker history was compiled by Jamie Burnett during the UK Championship qualifiers in 2004 when a free ball at the sart of the frame helped him make a 148. The seven 16-red clearances are:
148 – Jamie Burnett (2004 UK Championship) 141 – Ricky Walden (2008 UK Championship) 141 – Mark Selby (2018 China Open) 140 – Liam Highfield (2020 Scottish Open) 139 – Ryan Day (2023 Tour Championship) 139 – Marco Fu (2025 World Championship) 135 – Steve James (1990 World Championship)
Fu’s break put him 4-0 up in the second round qualifying match and he went on to lead Mertens 8-1 at the end of the first session.
The report that WST shared about day 3 at the EIS is essentially focused on Ken Doherty. As much as I like Ken and I do – this is further evidence how much snooker stays stuck in nostalgia, and fails to promote its future as well as it really should.
New Cue Powers Doherty To Qualifying Win
Ken Doherty has switched away from the cue which he used to become Crucible king in 1997, but admits he’s fallen in love with his new one after he thrashed Haydon Pinhey 10-3 at Halo World Championship Qualifying.
The 55-year-old is bidding for a first Crucible appearance since 2014 this week, having lost three times in the final round of qualifying since then. Victory today moves him within three games of a return, next up he faces David Lilley.
The afternoon session saw Doherty blitz clear with breaks of 63 and 98 on his way to moving 9-0 ahead. The evening session saw Pinhey pull three back, but it was to no avail as Doherty made 59 to get over the line in the 13th.
“I’ve been thinking about changing cue for a while. I just thought, what have I got to lose? I just felt I was losing the power in my old one. I got this one made, there is a lot more power and I’m happy with it. I’ve only had it three or four weeks, but you get a bit excited, it is like a new toy. I’ll see how it progresses,” said six-time ranking event winner Doherty.
“It is like a new romance, after you’ve been with someone for a long time and all of a sudden you find a new romance. I’m not sure how long it will last and there might be a break up! We will see how it goes. At the moment the cue and I are still in love.
“To qualify would be amazing. I think if I did it that would be the final farewell. The Crucible and I have had a long romance together, I love going there and I love the World Championship. I love playing in the World Seniors there and it is a wonderful venue.”
Recently crowned European Amateur Champion and Q Tour Playoff winner Liam Highfield stormed to a 10-3 win over Women’s World Champion Bai Yulu to secure his progression.
Highfield will return to the World Snooker Tour next season after his exploits on the amateur circuit. He will be a formidable force going from his performance today, which saw him knock in breaks of 88, 68, 79, 83, 61, 53, 51 and 61. He will now face He Guoqiang in the second round.
Liam Pullen was relegated from the circuit after a 10-5 loss to WSF Champion Gao Yang, while Ian Burns defeated former Women’s World Champion Mink Nutcharut 10-4.
Liam Highfield played really well indeed. Bai Yulu managed to stay with him in the first session but was outplayed in the second one. The match between Ian Burns and Mink was closer than the scores suggests.
My feeling was that Mink doesn’t really have the self-belief and confidence she would need to win on the main tour. She was just 5-4 down after the first session but appeared to struggle under pressure in the second session. She was not able to “close” the frames out when she was ahead. Also, obviously, her petite stature means that she has to use various implements much more often than most of her male opponents. The match between Duane Jones and Florian Nüessle was one of those that make you think “shame there has to be a looser”. Both played well, and scored well under the circumstances and it went to a decider.
In other news … this piece – shared by Kalacs in commentary – featuring Jimmy and Ronnie is nice to watch.
But then again the 85 final was “celebrated”. I’m sick and tired of it. Sick and tired of the nostalgia cult. It wasn’t even a good match overall. It had a dramatic finish, yes, but we have had much better Crucible finals, and indeed semi-finals, at the Crucible in recent years. That said, I was glad to see Ronnie looking well in that footage. That doesn’t mean that he will play at the Crucible, of course, nor does it mean that he is stable mentally. In the past, he has been going through brutal mood swings, which are always difficult to cope with. I have seen that happening, close up, and it’s not pretty.
In this piece, Jason Francis gave the last update on the topic:
When asked directly if O’Sullivan would play at the Crucible, Francis said: “He seems to have a cue that he’s happy with. He is hitting balls. But he’s said nothing different to me than he’s said to everyone else.”
The manager emphasised that O’Sullivan “will decide, last minute, whether he wants to go.”
Francis added: “The only thing I’ve said is that, if you’re going to go, then you have to go and give it everything.
“If you don’t feel right, and if it’s mental health or anxiety, bear in mind I’ve been party to see this.”
O’Sullivan hasn’t competed since a dramatic incident during the Championship League in January.
During that event, he snapped his cue and stormed off, raising concerns among fans about his future in the sport.
The snooker star has subsequently withdrawn from multiple tournaments, including a highly anticipated Masters clash with John Higgins.
These absences have left supporters worried about whether the Rocket would return to competitive action.
Francis’s update provides the first positive indication that O’Sullivan is at least practising again.
Finding a cue he’s comfortable with represents a significant step forward after the January incident.
Francis highlighted that mental health issues affect many players in the sport, not just O’Sullivan.
“I read that Jamie Jones walked up to a venue and the anxiety got so bad he walked away,” he revealed.
“For Ronnie O’Sullivan, the money he can earn at the World Championship, you can argue, won’t change his life.“
O’Sullivan himself, meanwhile, has addressed his recent absences from competition in a statement to fans.
“I realise plenty of people who bought tickets to some recent snooker events will have been frustrated when I withdrew,” he said.
“I just wanted to say sorry to those of you who’ve been disappointed with me having to pull out of those tournaments.”
O’Sullivan then explained his withdrawals were health-related.
“I’ve been trying to prioritise my health and wellbeing, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play,” he added.
“It’s never an easy decision and I hate letting people down.“
O’Sullivan concluded with a positive message: “I’m doing what I can to get back to my best.”
Ex-snooker champion Dott charged with child sex offences
Chris McLaughlin
BBC Scotland sports news correspondent
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been charged with child sex offences.
The 47-year-old Scot, who won the world title in 2006, faces historical charges relating to two children who were understood to be around 10 years old at the time.
Prosecutors claim the first attack happened in the Glasgow area between 1993 and 1996.
The second charge relates to an alleged attack between 2006 and 2010
Other sources were more explicit about what Dotty allegedly did. I don’t see the need to share those details here. The whole stuff baffles me and I’m in shock. It’s not just that I struggle to associate this with Graeme who I met on countless occasions on tour and at exhibitions, and who always came across as a family man, a loving husband and father, it’s also that this, if true, the first offence happened more than 30 years ago. How come that it suddenly gets to light now? And right before the World Championship as well …
The 2025 World Snooker Championship qualifiers are underway in Sheffield and that should be the main focus. However it’s not how it works in the media world and they have started their “Crucible” build-up already. Every year it seems “Talk Sport” does a piece about Ronnie and this year is no exception.
‘I’m the guv’nor’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan names snooker star who had the ‘aura’ of Usain Bolt
Lee Davey
Ronnie O’Sullivan boasts a presence like no other snooker player in the eyes of many.
The box office star remains the main attraction in the sport, 33 years after his professional debut.
Whether he’s entertaining the masses with his outrageous skill set or reciting his many incredible life stories, O’Sullivan’s enigmatic style keeps fans wanting more.
But whilst the Rocket sits on a pedestal many struggle to reach, the seven-time world champion credits another former great as the king of the table.
“Ray Reardon had an aura about him, he walked into a room and he was like this is my table I’m the guv’nor,” O’Sullivan told The Snooker Breakdown on Discovery+.
“In the same way Usain Bolt does with when he walked out onto the track, this is me, you’re just here to make up numbers.“
Ahead of the upcoming World Snooker Championship, which starts on April 19, O’Sullivan took top spot in a poll asking viewers who the greatest snooker player of all time was.
The Rocket came out as a comfortable winner, taking a whopping 71.5 per cent of the vote with Stephen Hendry in second place with 15.5 per cent.
But O’Sullivan credited another legend of the game as the greatest as he was a huge inspiration to him as he was breaking into the professional ranks.
“Jimmy (White) was the first player I was inspired by, the most exciting player there was,” O’Sullivan said. “Then when you start to take the sport more seriously, you start to appreciate other players.
“There was obviously Steve Davis, he was unbelievable the way he played the game. But then Hendry came along and for me he raised the bar as far as it could possibly go.
“He (Davis) wasn’t so good under pressure, he would get tight. He didn’t enjoy the pressure. But then he didn’t really need to win matches under pressure because he was so much better than everyone else. Whereas Hendry was unbelievable under pressure.”
“For me, Hendry had that mettle and determination, and then Ronnie’s come along and taken a bit from all of these players and with his natural talent became the ultimate winning machine,” said White.
White, who sat alongside O’Sullivan during the show, responded in similar fashion with a ringing endorsement of the Rocket.
“Ronnie O’Sullivan for me, plays snooker in the most serious times of matches as though he’s just practising. Hendry was a bit like that, he was in his own bubble, I’d play him, he’d have none of the crowd, but was always full focused,” the Whirlwind added.
Asked how he feels about being widely recognised as the greatest player of all time, O’Sullivan said: “I’m not that sort of person who gets wrapped up in that. I just like to play the game. Like Jimmy, I have a lot of fans’ support.
“So maybe if I hadn’t won as many titles as I have, I maybe could have still got the vote because they just want to support Ronnie.
“If you asked only snooker purists who the greatest is, then the poll may have been a lot closer. People tend to vote with their heart.”
But his modest take was immediately shot down by White, who was quick to remind him of the impact he has had on the sport.
“The public with Ronnie O’Sullivan… people love winners,” White added.
“Every once in a while you get people who do it with such style, like (Seve) Ballesteros, these special types of sportsmen.
“Ronnie takes fans on a roller coaster with him and because he also has the flair and the style and being a winning machine, people live it with him, they live every shot with him.”
O’Sullivan is gearing up for his first major event of 2025 after pulling out of five tournaments this year due to ‘fatigue.’
The Rocket is hoping to knock reigning champion Kyren Wilson off his perch and claim his eighth title but admits that getting to the quarter-final stage is the first major hurdle to overcome on the way to lifting the crown.
Credit: PA … but actually this is one I took 😇
“You’ve been training your whole life, it’s like boxers training to get hit in the head, it’s no different to when you were a kid,” he said.
“I don’t think you necessarily need to train especially for it. You’re just going up in levels and standards.
“I was always thinking the World Championship gets going about the quarter-finals. I’ve always felt that the first two rounds are the turning point.
“If you can get to the quarter-finals without playing your best I thought this could be on. The Crucible is a great leveller.
“You’ve got players like Peter Ebdon, Graham Dott who you wouldn’t necessarily think could win a tournament that big, but they’ve got such good temperaments they can manage their emotions well.
“And the Crucible can be about how best you can manage your emotions rather than who’s the best player.
“There are some great players who don’t do as well there as other tournaments because they can’t hold it together because of the duration.
“My first experience I didn’t enjoy it one bit, played Alan McManus lost 10-7, I think my highest break was 40 odd.
“The first time I really enjoyed it was in 2001 when I won it for the first time.”
The Breakdown will air on Wednesday 9th April at 11pm on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+
I won’t be able to watch it. Despite what WST seems to believe, nothing of this is available in Greece, unless, maybe. if you have satellite TV and “plates” are not allowed in “traditional villages” like mine anyway…
Meanwhile Ronnie currently is in Saudi Arabia, as he had planned to be and he made a 147… as reported by Jason Francis on Twitter/X
As always Kalacs is on the ball … check their contributions in the comment section for pictures and videos.
It’s only day 2 at the EIS and, already, the 2025 World Championship qualifiers delivered high quality snooker and huge drama. It definitely is, for me, the most interesting event of the year and deeply I regret that I’m no more in a position to attend it. Anyway…
Zhao Xintong blitzed to a stunning 10-3 win over Ka Wai Cheung, earning his place in the second round of Halo World Championship Qualifying in Sheffield.
After his return from suspension, Zhao took to the amateur Q Tour this season to earn a place back on the professional circuit. He negotiated that with flying colours, winning four of the seven events to seal a two year tour card starting next season.
As one of the highest profile players competing in Crucible qualifying, there was huge expectation on 28-year-old Zhao’s shoulders before this encounter. He delivered with a devastating first session to go 8-1 up. This afternoon he crossed the line in style with a tournament high 141. Next up he faces Chinese compatriot Long Zehuang.
“I think overall I played quite well in this match. It’s been a while since I last competed here, so I really want to rediscover my best game. I wouldn’t say it was my peak performance yet, but I’m pretty happy with how it went and I know there’s still room to improve,” said 2021 UK Champion Zhao.
“To be honest, Q Tour wasn’t easy at all. Even though I got through, it was tough. The pressure was high and the field was strong. Some of the best amateurs from around the world were there. Some of the matches were really close. It might have looked easy from the outside, but it wasn’t. I just happened to play well at the right moments.”
Recent Q Tour Playoff winner Stephen Hallworth scored a fine 10-2 win over Bulcsu Revesz to book a second round meeting with Anthony Hamilton.
Hallworth has become more acquainted with the commentary box than the table over the last few years, having dropped off the circuit in 2022.
After today’s emphatic victory he had admitted broadcasting has helped his game and says he wishes to continue commentating alongside playing.
Hallworth said: “Particularly because I’ve been playing on the amateur circuit this year, having the commentary has kept me in touch with a lot of my friends and the top players. I’ve been able to watch the top players and see how the operate. It’s kept my mind as a professional. I felt I was well equipped to come through Q Tour and it has worked.
“We aren’t here to lie down. I wasn’t in this event a few weeks ago and winning the Q Tour Playoff has earned my spot. It is one game down and three to go. I’ve had one experience of playing in Judgement Day and I lost out to Gary Wilson. He played brilliantly. I’d love to put my name in the mix again.”
Jimmy White emerged victorious after a late night thriller with Anton Kazakov, prevailing 10-9. He eventually crossed the line with the clock reading 1:23am. Next up for the Whirlwind is a second round meeting with Ashley Carty.
Shoot Out runner-up Liam Graham won a marathon battle with Fergal Quinn 10-9 to keep his tour survival chances alive.
With Graham leading 9-8, the gruelling encounter got pulled off this afternoon. The 18th frame got underway this evening and went the way of Quinn on a respotted black to force a decider. However, it was Graham who prevailed. He now faces fellow Scot Ross Muir.
Alexander Ursenbacher won a crucial game for his tour survival, beating Paul Deaville 10-6, while Liam Davies beat Ahmed Elsayed 10-2.
Where should I start? Yes, Zhao was sensational and very, very good to watch. If he keeps it up and qualifies for the Crucible nobody will want to draw him. Nobody!
Here is Zhao scoring a 141 … currently the tournament HB:
That’s some way to finish the day job!
There wasn’t much drama in that match though … but huge drama came in the evening when Jimmy White beat Anton Kazakov in a decider. Here is what happened at nearly 1:30 in the night1.
You have to admire Jimmy. He will turn 63 in about three weeks time and he still has that burning passion for his sport. He still can play at a decent standard and he still takes pride in presenting himself in the best way he can, always smartly dressed with a rather charming old-fashion elegance.
The decider isn’t the only “drama” that this match presented … there was some “three miss rule” disaster as well early in the match:
Other results that caught my attention were
The two Belgian youngsters, Julien Leclercq and Ben Mertens won their matches.
Iulian Boiko destroyed Andrew Pagett. He won his match by 10-2, scoring 7 breaks over 50 in the process. He made two centuries, including a 128 to finish the job.
Oli Lines was probably the comeback king of the day. He beat Mohamed Shehab by 10-8, from 0-5 and 3-8 down!
Michal Szubarczyk lost by 10-8 to Dean Young but he should still be proud of himself. He’s only very young, this was a completely new experience for him. He lost the first four frames. He won eight of the remaining fourteen. It wasn’t enough but it certainly was a very commendable effort.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 