John Higgins scored a comfortable 6-2 win over Oliver Lines at the International Championship in Nanjing and afterwards admitted he’s in a far better place than his last trip to China.
The legendary Scot conceded he was struggling for motivation at the Wuhan Open earlier in the season. He said this was prompted by a bucket list holiday to the set of the set of American soap opera Dallas for his 50th birthday during the summer.
However, since then, a run to the semi-finals of the British Open and the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open have reignited the 33-time ranking event winner’s enthusiasm.
Higgins made breaks of 86, 66 and 56 during today’s victory and now faces Iranian number one Hossein Vafaei.
Higgins said: “Ollie has had some great results this year. He beat Judd in Saudi and beat Mark Allen in Xi’an. They are two of the best players, so I’m sure I didn’t hold a lot of fear for him. But he didn’t play well at all today. He really struggled and I just picked up the pieces.
“As you get older it affects you a bit more. It is the same old grind. You are going to have difficult moments getting motivated. That is understandable. When you are actually out there you are trying so hard to win. My game is at a decent level, which is good.”
During his post match press duties, Higgins also commented on the recent difficulties of his beloved Celtic Football Club and revealed that interim manager Martin O’Neill is a massive Anthony McGill fan.
“We are a basket case just now but it is amazing seeing Martin O’Neill. He was the manager when I was younger and going to games more often. I had some great moments following his team,” said the four-time Crucible king.
“I’ve met him a couple of times and he is an absolute gentleman. He loves Anthony McGill! He always asks how young Anthony is. I think he’d been at the World Championship and Anthony was playing. It just so happened Anthony was walking out his dressing room and it was a surreal moment when Martin O’Neill was walking towards him. Anthony introduced his dad, who was a big Celtic fan, to him. Ever since then he took a massive shine to him. That is easily done as he’s a good boy.”
Shaun Murphy overcame a remarkable display from 14-year-old amateur Wang Xinzhong to prevail 6-5 and earn a clash with Elliot Slessor.
2005 World Champion Murphy described Wang, who is the brother of tour professional Wang Xinbo, as the future of snooker after the match.
A high quality match saw Wang compile two centuries on his way to leading 5-4. However, recently crowned British Open champion Murphy made breaks of 72 and 89 in the last two frames to emerge victorious.
Murphy said: “I’ve never seen anything like that. I was good at 14. Ronnie was good at 14, as were many others. I think that young man may well be the best 14-year-old I’ve ever seen. He has everything. I kept waiting for him to crack but he played like someone who has 20 titles and doesn’t have a care in the world. I think I’ve just seen the future of snooker. Unbelievable.
“I turned professional at 15 so I knew you couldn’t take any liberties with anybody. Especially someone who has beaten the Women’s World Champion and Robbie Williams. I missed two or three balls of any consequence in the whole match. I somehow found myself 5-4 down against someone playing snooker from the gods.”
World number two Kyren Wilson earned his progression with a 6-2 defeat of David Lilley. The Warrior top scored with 95 and plays Stephen Maguire next up.
Despite the time difference, he revealed he was still getting plenty of support from home from his wife, who is on the mend after struggling with her health and undergoing successful surgery.
“The first game in any tournament the first game is a potential banana skin. Obviously flying over to China the jet lag and time difference can play a big part. Surprisingly I felt quite fresh considering. David Lilley is a seasoned professional so that was a good 6-2 win there,” said 33-year-old Wilson.
“My brother Taylor (also manager) is living the dream and having a week off. It can be quite lonely when you are on your own. I have many friends in China now who take care of me and look after me. In terms of once we are here the hospitality side of things is fantastic. It is hard to walk out of the front door and say goodbye to family. Sophie actually Facetimed me just before I went on with a cup of tea. It is 1am back home but she got up to watch. That was quite nice.”
World number one Judd Trump sealed his progression with a 6-3 win over former Masters and UK Champion Matthew Stevens. His next opponent is Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham.
Ronnie O’Sullivan rallied from losing the first two frames for the second day in a row, this time claiming six on the trot to beat Sanderson Lam 6-2. He now faces a fascinating clash with last week’s Northern Ireland Open champion Jack Lisowski, who won 6-4 against Louis Heathcote.
Ding Junhui followed up a whitewash win in round one with a 6-1 defeat of Michael Holt, while World Champion Zhao Xintong beat Fan Zhengyi 6-3.
Here are the scores for Ronnie’s match:
After a slow start, Ronnie played quite well. He wasn’t at his best, but did enough and never looked in danger. The worrying thing though was that he looked concerned about his tip for most of the match and we know how obsessed he can become about such things. Hopefully he will have solved the “problem” – whatever that is – before tomorrow’s match. He will face Jack Lisowski who will certainly present a tougher challenge that Ronnie previous two opponents, no disrespect to them.
No mention in the above report about Ronnie’s post-match. From what I could gather from Weibo, he praised China, a beautiful country … and … ate an impressive number of bananas during the interview.
The following short videos were shared by TNT and WST respectively on YouTube
Ronnie O’Sullivan rallied from behind to beat relegation threatened Allan Taylor 6-5 at the International Championship in Nanjing.
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The Rocket maintains a 100% win rate over Taylor, who he made a 147 against at the 2018 English Open. He now leads the head-to-head 3-0.
However, this record appeared to be under threat when 40-year-old Taylor played some excellent snooker to lead 3-1 at the interval. He looked set to be moving further in front when he passed the snookers required mark in frame five, but after going in off he handed O’Sullivan a chance to counter. He cleared with 48 to steal on the black and make it 3-2.
Taylor refused to wilt though and moved 4-2 ahead, before a sensational blitz from seven-time Crucible king O’Sullivan. Breaks of 100, 119 and 129 moved him to the verge of victory at 5-4. Taylor showed his steel to force a decider, but yet another century break of 128 from O’Sullivan earned him a second round clash with Sanderson Lam.
The 41-time ranking event winner is still hunting a first ever International Championship crown. A fine showing for Taylor, but he needs to start accumulating wins with a projected season ending ranking of 76.
“I’m enjoying playing. It never feels like a grind when you are cueing well. I always think that if I am cueing good, then results don’t really matter. I’m enjoying playing more than I have done for maybe over a decade now,” said 49-year-old O’Sullivan.
“I would have been disappointed if I lost today. Not because Allan didn’t deserve to win, just more that I’m enjoying playing. I think when I play alright the crowd appreciate the shots and the break building. When I click into gear that raises the temperature in there a little bit.”
Bai Yulu made the highest ever break composed by a female player in professional snooker, but still bowed out 6-5 against 14-year-old amateur Wang Xinzhong. Bai made a stunning 145 in frame seven, but it was Chinese compatriot Wang who progressed.
World Champion Zhao Xintong top scored with 135 in a 6-1 demolition of Oliver Brown, while Thepchaiya Un-Nooh averaged just 15.9 seconds a shot in his 6-0 whitewash win over Xu Jiarui.
TNT shared some videos on YouTube:
I’m very happy that Ronnie won, although I quite like Allan Taylor as well. He’s a very funny guy, in the good meaning of the word funny, he has a great sense of humour and his impersonations of fellow players are highly amusing, very well observed and never nasty. He’s a born entertainer and I can’t imagine anyone not liking him.
Should Ronnie win tomorrow, his next opponent could be Jack Lisowski. If it happens we should see some fireworks … but it’s a shame that they are on course to meet at such an early stage of the competition.
Bai Yulu made a 145, the highest break ever by a woman in any competition, but she still lost the match.
Wang Xinzhong, Bai’s conqueror in round 1, is only 14 years old and he went on to beat Robbie Williams by 6-1 in round 2. He will now face Shaun Murphy…
Incredible venue for the Zhao Xintong and Ronnie O’Sullivan exhibition at the Wynn Hotel, Macau today.
Xintong won 4-2 which included two magnificent centuries.
The hospitality and welcome from the hotel was amazing
Congratulations Zhao!
I’m certain that it was played in good spirit. Ronnie always liked Zhao a lot from the very moment Zhao became a professional. He is of the opinion that Zhao plays the game the way it should be played, fearless, attacking and entertaining.
This being an exhibition, I won’t read too much into the result. The important thing is that Ronnie is in China and ready to play…
Big thanks also to Ben, who shared information about that exhibition as well in the comments section. Much appreciated.
Both players arrived in Nanjing today, with Victoria and went straight to the practice table
Field Confirmed For Sportsbet.io Champion Of Champions
The field is now set for the 2025 Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions, with sixteen of the world’s top players confirmed to compete for one of snooker’s most prestigious prizes. The tournament will light up the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from November 10–16, featuring an all-star line-up of champions from the past year.
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A firm favourite on the snooker calendar, the Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions brings together winners from the past year’s major events, showcasing a blend of global superstars, established champions, and breakthrough talents.
Confirmed Players
• Mark Williams – Defending Champion, Xi’an Grand Prix • Zhao Xintong – World Championship • Judd Trump – UK Championship • Shaun Murphy – The Masters, British Open • Neil Robertson – Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, World Grand Prix • Mark Allen – Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, English Open • Kyren Wilson – Players Championship, German Masters, Shanghai Masters • John Higgins – Tour Championship, World Open • Xiao Guodong – Wuhan Open • Mark Selby – Welsh Open, Championship League Snooker Invitational • Lei Peifan – Scottish Open • Stephen Maguire – Championship League Snooker Ranking • Bai Yulu – Women’s World Championship • Tom Ford – Shoot Out • Jack Lisowski – Northern Ireland Open • Alfie Burden – World Seniors Championship
The final two spots were filled by Jack Lisowski, who captured his first-ever ranking title at the 2025 Northern Ireland Open, and Alfie Burden, who earned his invitation as the 2025 World Seniors Champion. Their inclusion completes a world-class field representing the very best of both established and emerging snooker excellence.
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The 2025 Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions will be broadcast live on ITV in the UK, Rigour in China, and Viaplay across Scandinavia, Iceland, and the Netherlands, with additional international broadcast partners to be announced soon.
No Ronnie and it’s only right. He hasn’t won an event since the last edition. There have been speculations by some about a possible invitation but that would have been unfair to Alfie Burden. The World Seniors Snooker Champion has regularly been invited in the past1, and there is no good reason for not inviting him this year only to give a spot to someone who isn’t a champion and who has declined to play in the event on several occasions when he actually was a champion and was living in England2 .
Especially when that Seniors Champion was Jimmy White of course… bums on seats and all … ↩︎
i.e definitely closer to the venue than Dubai where he currently lives ↩︎
There have been quite a few withdrawals from the 2025 International Championship, as reported by WST:
Withdrawals From International Championship
Mark Williams, Ali Carter, Sam Craigie, Ken Doherty and David Gilbert have pulled out of next week’s International Championship in China.
Williams has withdrawn due to illness and his opponent Anthony McGill receives a bye to the last 32.
Doherty has withdrawn due to illness and his opponent Neil Robertson receives a bye to the last 32.
Craigie has withdrawn for medical reasons and his opponent Jimmy Robertson receives a bye to the last 32.
Carter has withdrawn for personal reasons and his opponent Aaron Hill receives a bye to the last 32.
Gilbert has withdrawn for personal reasons and his opponent, either Thepchaiya Un-Nooh or Xu Jiarui, will receive a bye to the last 32.
That’s a lot of withdrawals… but of course, this time of the year, colds and flu are not uncommon and traveling when already unwell usually only makes it worse.
At last !!! This was long overdue and I doubt that there is anybody, and I mean anybody1, who isn’t genuinely happy for him! I’m absolutely delighted for Jack who is a lovely person and has gone through so much. We shouldn’t forget that at the age of 17 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma a form of blood cancer. He beat that beast, and even when he was ill he continued to play snooker. Earlier this year, in March, he lost his father. They were very close. Obviously, snooker didn’t feel all that important after that loss. But Jack is a fighter and here we are …
Jack Lisowski beat Judd Trump 9-8 in a dramatic finish at the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open to win his first ranking title, 15 years after turning professional.
There were touching scenes at the end of an enthralling contest in Belfast as Lisowski and Trump, close friends since their junior days, embraced after the final balls had been potted. Lisowski dedicated this career-defining triumph to his father, who passed away in March this year.
“I have thought about this moment since I was six or seven years old, it’s surreal,” said Lisowski. “Judd has been my best friend since I was 14 and he was there with me in a restaurant in Hong Kong eight months ago when I got the message about my dad. He has been the best friend I could ask for, the closest thing I could have to a brother. When my dad died I said to my friend that he would never see me win a title. But my friend said I could still do it for my mum. This is for him and for my mum.“
In a thrilling contest there was never more than one frame between the two players and fittingly it went to a decider, which included an edge-of-the-seat sequence of four shots when both players missed reds twice. After Trump’s second error, 34-year-old Lisowski took his opportunity and having lost his first six ranking event finals, three of those against Trump, it was pure relief for the Gloucestershire cueman as he lifted the Alex Higgins Trophy in front of a crowd of 1,500 at the Waterfront Hall.
For many years considered the best player not to land a ranking title, Lisowski has finally lifted that burden and with his vast natural talent could go on to win many more. The £100,000 top prize lifts him from 29th to 24th in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, to ninth in the Sportsbet.io One-Year list and up to second behind Mark Allen in the BetVictor Home Nations Series.
Coming into this week there were few signs that Lisowski was on the brink of something special as he had not previously reached a quarter-final this season. But playing with a new cue and a new tip, working with coach Chris Henry for only six weeks and with his Brazilian girlfriend Bela watching him live for the first time, all elements came together in a perfect storm for the popular left-hander. He knocked out the likes of Mark Selby and Kyren Wilson to reach the final then finally got the better of world number one Trump having lost their eight previous meetings.
Tied 4-4 after the first session, Trump dominated the first frame tonight to edge ahead, then in the next he was among the balls first but ran out of position on 37. He later missed a chance at the last red to a top corner, and Lisowski punished him by clearing for 5-5. Trump’s run of 85 restored his lead before Lisowski’s 84 made it 6-6 at the interval.
In frame 13, Lisowski had the balls at his mercy on a break of 29 but missed the black to a top corner, and Trump capitalised with a run of 41 to regain the lead. In the 14th, Lisowski was up 36-0 when he converted an excellent pot on a red to centre and added 51 to square the tie again. Trump led 30-0 in the 15th when he made a safety error and Lisowski made 60 before over-cutting frame-ball black, but he got another chance and potted the last red to go ahead for the first time since 1-0.
Trump controlled frame 16 with two runs of 38 to set up the decider. Lisowski had the first clear chance and made 27 before a missed red, but Trump could not capitalise as his brace of misses sandwiched another from his opponent. Keeping nerves at bay, Lisowski managed a break of 46 which he will remember for the rest of his life.
Lisowski added: “I want to thank the fans for supporting me, they carried me through the final. Hopefully this is a new start for me.“
Trump said: “There was a lot of tension, it was a different scenario to our previous finals with a lot on the line. I am so pleased for Jack, I am probably a lot happier than I would have been if I had won. I gave it my absolute all, I missed a few shots but Jack fully deserved to win. It’s nice for him to shut everyone up because he is always being called out, but no one can say that again. The first title is so special, given what he has been through in his whole life. He has an amazing family around him and I am glad to be a friend.”
Big shout to Judd Trump as well! He played to win, he always does, champions like him hate to lose, but yesterday there was no bitterness at all in defeat, just genuine happiness for his close friend.
Actually that may not be true … there is always some guy who lost a bet somewhere who will curse him and Judd and, maybe, even suggest that it was fixed 😡 ↩︎
Ronnie O’Sullivan handed nightmare draw in quest to hit £1m golden jackpot in Riyadh with Zhao Xintong and Judd Trump chasing snooker’s richest prize
By Desmond Kane
Published 25/10/2025
The winner of the third Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia could earn a whopping £1m for three days work if they claim the title and produce the sport’s first 167 break. The richest prize in the sport is available with the champion earning £250,000 and a further $1m (£751,000) on the line for the first player to sink a Golden Ball after making a 147 maximum break.
Ronnie O’Sullivan will have to do it the hard way if he is to claim a second title in three seasons at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia next month.
The seven-time world champion won the inaugural staging of the event last year, but has been handed a potential minefield when the invitational event is staged between November 19-21 at Boulevard City, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
O’Sullivan will open his campaign on the first day of the competition against Masters champion Shaun Murphy or local player Ziyad Al–Qabbani, with the winner of that contest facing world champion Zhao Xintong the following night in the quarter-finals.
It does not get easier for the snooker GOAT, with world No. 1 Judd Trump or new Xi’an Grand Prix winner Mark Williams next up in the semi-finals on the final day.
The event, made up of the top nine players in the world and the Crucible winner Zhao, has become famous for offering a $1m prize (£751,000) if any player can produce the first 167 in snooker history – a traditional 147 followed by potting a ‘golden ball’ worth 20 points after sinking the final black.
The golden ball has been perched in the middle of the baulk cushion for the first two editions of the event, but there has been speculation it might be moved to a more favourable location this year.
The golden ball is traditionally removed from the table by the referee when a 147 is no longer possible in a frame.
“The first one is going to be special,” said O’Sullivan, who is based in Dubai and has a snooker academy in Riyadh.
“You can’t take anything away from someone who does it down the line, but that first one is always going to be remembered.
“It will be some history and create some serious headlines.
“Big prize. $1m. No one’s ever won a prize like that in snooker ever before.“
Four-time world champion John Higgins was on course for the 167 in the maiden staging of the event, but ran out of position on 120 in trying to land on the yellow off a tricky black before missing the yellow.
“Our dream is to see the gold ball potted at the end of a maximum break to complete the world’s first ever 167!” said Naif Al-Jaweini, the general manager of Riyadh Season Snooker.
“I am sure every player in the field shares this dream as this achievement would help bring our sport to a new level on a global scale.”
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On paper at least, the top half of the draw looks slightly more favourable in the chase for the lucrative £250,000 first prize.
Defending champion Mark Allen is in line to take on Higgins or Ding Junhui – who opens against home hope Ayman Alamri on Wednesday, November 19 – in the last eight as world No. 2 Kyren Wilson meets Neil Robertson, who returns to the country after his £500,000 victory at the Saudi Arabia Masters in August.
All matches are the best of seven frames with the best-of-nine frame final due to take place on Friday, November 21 at 19:00 UK time.
O’Sullivan defeated Luca Brecel 5-2 in the first final in March 2024, with Allen running out a 5-1 winner over Brecel before Christmas last year.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 