It was an eventful day in Xi’An , with some really unexpected results coming our way. Indeed, as we enter the round of 32, only 8 of the top 16 players are still in the draw.
Robert Milkins boosted his tour survival hopes with a stunning 5-2 win over World Champion Zhao Xintong at the Xi’an Grand Prix.
Milkins first turned professional in 1995, but he now finds himself ranked 56th in the world. He’s currently projected to end the season in 74th position on the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings and faces potential relegation.
A miserable current campaign had seen Milkins only manage to register three match wins heading into today. However, four frames on the bounce, from 2-1 down, saw him overcome China’s first ever Crucible king. He now faces close friend Jimmy Robertson.
2023 Welsh Open winner Milkins said: “It does feel good. I was expecting Zhao to play better, but he struggled. You just have to take it. I’ve lost a lot of deciders this season and it has put me in a bad position. I’ve really been struggling and everything is like a pint of blood at the moment.
“I’ve been playing well when practising. I’ve been waiting for something to happen, but I haven’t taken it into any matches at all this year. It has been a bit of a shambles. A couple of deciders the other way and it could be different.
“Tournaments are very tough to win nowadays. I was lucky to win a couple and I’ll never forget that. I could do with winning one now. I don’t want to be going into the World Championship knowing I have to win matches to stay on tour.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted he is hitting the ball the best he has in 13 years, after a 5-1 demolition of Yao Pengchang.
The Rocket hammered home two 147 breaks during a remarkable semi-final win over Chris Wakelin at the recent Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, exhibiting his brilliant best on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
Breaks of 63, 128, 53 and 54 helped him to victory today and earned a last 32 clash with Stephen Maguire.
O’Sullivan said: “I feel like I’m cueing as well as I have done since 2012. I played well between 2016 and 2019, but the last few years were pretty awful. I know I had some good wins but I was struggling with ball striking. At the moment I’m hitting the ball so pure and so clean. Sometimes when I’m practising I hit the ball so well I feel bored.”
Teenager Stan Moody continued his tremendous start to the season with a 5-3 win over two-time world finalist Ali Carter at the Xi’an Grand Prix, but played down headlines dubbing him the “Luke Littler of snooker”.
World number 49 Moody went on a stunning run to the quarters of the Wuhan Open earlier in the campaign and followed that up by making the same stage at the British Open. That has sparked a frenzy of media interest in the talented Englishman.
Next up this week for Moody is 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham. After today’s game he was keen to talk down the Littler links and admitted the recent surge in 147s has left him craving one of his own.
“I’ve seen a few of the headlines. I’ve got a long way to go to be a Luke Littler of snooker yet, but I’m on my way,” said 19-year-old Moody. “I want to be top 32 by the end of the season and go deeper in tournaments. I’m doing alright.
“I want one. I’ve only ever had one 147 which is a bit mad, but if I get a chance I’ll go for it. I only made my first one about five months ago, in a practice match, which is a bit mad.”
.World number one Judd Trump did make a maximum yesterday, but he tumbled out 5-4 at the hands of Matthew Stevens today, while Mark Selby suffered a shock 5-4 exit against Mark Davis
Strangely not mentioned in the above report is the 5-4 victory by Oliver Lines over Mark Allen.
Here, two more videos shared on Youtube and some pictures shared on social media. The first of the two videos presents the same frame as the one in the above WST report, but in full.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 