Three out of four matches yesterday were pretty one-sided, which is a bit surprising because this tournament is for the best performers in the season (so far) and you would expect most of them to play well.
The only close match, and the last to finish, was the one opposing Zhao Xintong and Elliot Slessor. That one went the distance. Zhao found himself 5-2 down, benefitted from a huge fluke on the blue in frame 8, won that frame and went on to win the match. Knowing Elliott … that surely didn’t go down well with him š .
2005 World Champion Shaun Murphy said he is working harder than ever before, following a 6-1 demolition of Zhang Anda to make the quarter-finals of the Sportsbet.io Players Championship in Telford.
The Magician began working with Peter Ebdon 18 months ago and he says that has initiated an enhanced work rate outside of the match arena. Over that period Murphy won the Masters for a second time last season and picked up the British Open title earlier this term.
Murphy made the final of the German Masters earlier this month, where he was runner-up to Judd Trump, and showed signs of that form again this afternoon. Following a tight first frame which went his way, Murphy embarked on a dramatic 147 attempt in the second. After potting 15 reds, an incredible table length cut on the 15th black found the heart of the pocket. Unfortunately he was snookered on the yellow and his run ended on 120.
Further runs of 88 and 81 helped Murphy to four of the next five frames and sealed his victory. That sets up a last eight meeting with either World Champion Zhao Xintong or Elliot Slessor.
“It has been a journey since Peter joined the team 18 months ago. One of the first things he said was that I needed to up my work rate. That I needed to work hard enough so I deserve it. I’ve always been a hard practiser, but I perhaps had started to enjoy my life a little bit too much. I’ve gone back to basics in the last 18 months. There are a lot of hours spent grafting that people don’t see and it is nice that it is coming out” said 43-year-old Murphy
“The old saying practice makes perfect isn’t true. It is practice makes permanent. If you are practising the wrong thing it means nothing. It is about quality and doing it more than anyone else. I’m determined that whilst I might not win every week, nobody will work harder than me. I will get the best out of the rest of my career and that involves living in my snooker room.”Ā
On the other table, world number one Judd Trump booked his quarter-final berth with a 6-0 whitewash win against Zhou Yuelong.
Trump recently ended a title drought which saw him go all of 2025 without silverware. His victory over Murphy in the final of the German Masters meant there was an early tournament triumph in 2026.
It was an emphatic display this afternoon from the Ace in the Pack. Breaks of 61, 69, 63, 117 and 75 saw him storm over the finishing line. Next up he will play either Mark Williams or Barry Hawkins.
World Champion Zhao Xintong rallied from 5-2 down to beat Elliot Slessor 6-5 and make the quarter-finals of the Sportsbet.io Players Championship in Telford.
Zhao is riding the crest of a wave currently, having prevailed in the first ever ranking event to feature four Chinese semi-finalists at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong. The 28-year-old beat Zhang Anda in the final to capture his first ranking crown since becoming the Crucible king last year.
In winning last season’s World Championship, Zhao’s closest clash came in the qualifying stages against Slessor. Eventually he triumphed 10-8 in what was the pair’s only previous meeting to date.
This evening’s encounter saw Slessor dominate the early proceedings. Contributions of 119, 79, 50 and 64 helped the Newcastle cueman into his 5-2 advantage.
A fluked blue in frame eight proved to be pivotal. Zhao made 117 and turned the momentum of the tie. He went on to craft contributions of 62 and 59 in the following two frames to force a deciding frame at 5-5.
Both players spurned opportunities, but a break of 65 in the end took Zhao over the line and set up a last eight meeting with 2005 World Champion Shaun Murphy.
“Tonight I didn’t play very well. I’m happy I managed to win. I only arrived back in the UK yesterday so I was a little bit jet lagged. I just have to try and get better in the next round,” said four-time ranking event winner Zhao.
“I know he is a very good player and it was always going to be a tough game. He played so well in the first frames and his long potting was so good. I didn’t have many chances. When he was one frame away he missed some balls and I tried to come back.Ā
“I’m very happy I won in Hong Kong. It was my first ranking title in China so it was very important for me. I have no pressure now so I just want to enjoy every match.Ā
“Shaun is a very strong player and I know it will be a tough game. To beat Shaun I know you have to play really well.“
On the other table, Mark Williams set up a mouth-watering showdown with Judd Trump after defeating Barry Hawkins 6-2.
Welshman Williams and Englishman Trump’s previous two ranking event meetings have been epic contests. Trump prevailed in the 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters final, winning 10-9 on the final black. However, Williams got his revenge at last season’s World Championship, coming through their semi-final encounter 17-14.
Today’s match saw Williams craft breaks of 64 and 101 en route to a 5-2 advantage. The decisive frame came down to the final black, which Williams deposited brilliantly to the yellow pocket to get over the line.
Murphy working with Ebdon is a strange combo given how different their “style of play” are, but it seems to work for now. As long as Ebdon doesn’t turn Shaun into someone putting all balls on cushions and dragging matches for hours … ok. I don’t think the risk is too high here given Shaun’s personality.
Of the “class of 92”, Willo is the eldest but the one who seems to play the best snooker consistently for now. I guess that his “carefee” attitude is a big factor. High stress levels usually don’t bring good performances.
3 thoughts on “The 2026 Players Championship – Day 2”
It was a big fluke, but came shortly after some bad luck splitting the pack and pocketing a red. However, I would agree that Zhao was very lucky to win that match. But Slessor had enough chances, even if they weren’t easy. Sometimes it goes that way, and sometimes it just requires some great shots to win a match at this level.
Slessor posted quite a distasteful message on X after his defeat. I get being annoyed and disappointed, but I do believe there has to be some class in how you express those emotions, and calling “this game” a pile of sh*t is not classy at all.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
It was a big fluke, but came shortly after some bad luck splitting the pack and pocketing a red. However, I would agree that Zhao was very lucky to win that match. But Slessor had enough chances, even if they weren’t easy. Sometimes it goes that way, and sometimes it just requires some great shots to win a match at this level.
Slessor posted quite a distasteful message on X after his defeat. I get being annoyed and disappointed, but I do believe there has to be some class in how you express those emotions, and calling “this game” a pile of sh*t is not classy at all.
Unfortunately this doesn’t surprise me at all coming from Slessor. I have known him since his junior days, he’s always been a bad loser.