Matches are now best of 25, played over three sessions. Three last 16 matches finished over the last two days and all the detailed results are available on snooker.otg. One of these finished yesterday, with a session to spare.
I didn’t report on it yesterday as life came in the way of snooker in the form of medical appointments, that, to my huge relief, brought good news. So, here goes …
Shaun Murphy produced the best performance of this year’s Halo World Championship so far as he fired four centuries in a 13-3 thrashing of Xiao Guodong to become the first man into the quarter-finals.
Two-time ranking event winner Xiao, ranked ninth in the world, was expected to provide a tough test for the 2005 Crucible king, but in fact the tie turned into a procession as Murphy took an early 5-0 lead and went on to reach 13 frames without the need for a concluding session this evening. Instead, Murphy will have the chance to go home and rest for a few days before his last-eight clash with Ding Junhui or defending champion Zhao Xintong gets underway on Tuesday. World number eight Murphy is into the quarter-finals for the tenth time in all and only the second time since 2015.
In his opening match against Fan Zhengyi, 43-year-old Murphy was only a few balls from defeat but in the deciding frame he made what he described as his best ever break, a 50 clearance to win 10-9. Carrying that confidence into this fixture with Xiao, Murphy showed the form which won him the Masters last season and the British Open earlier this term.
He led 6-2 after the first session with top breaks of 79, 103, 63, 64 and 61. China’s Xiao was first among the balls in the opening frame today but made just 17 before running out of position and his opponent took it with runs of 43 and 21. In frame ten, Xiao was on 21 when he missed a routine pink to a top corner and again that proved costly as Murphy’s 93 made it 8-2.
Once again in the 11th, Xiao had a chance to gain some momentum, but on a run of 15 with the balls well placed he missed the pink to a centre pocket and soon found himself further behind as Murphy capitalised with 66. Two-time Wuhan Open champion Xiao finally got a frame on the board with a run of 74 in the 12th, but Murphy responded with a 103 for 10-3.
In frame 14, Xiao was on 55 when he undercut a tricky red to centre, and Murphy cleared superbly with 69. The Englishman finished in style with 115 and 103 in the last two frames, taking his tally of centuries for the season to a career high of 59.
“It’s the dream, to play like that, especially here where it matters most,” said Murphy, who is playing at the Crucible for the 24th time. “All the event are big, but this one is massive. Xiao is a very classy player and I knew I would have to be on it from the start. In the back of my mind today I knew I could win it in this session and that helps because I can have more time at home. In my snooker room I can choose whether I want to practise for an hour or ten hours a day and I’ll also be watching Ding and Zhao battle it out.
“I was handed a lifeline when I beat Fan and I don’t want to waste it. I know that my opportunities here won’t come forever and when they do arrive I have to snatch them. I am very proud of my Crucible record and hopefully I’ll be coming here for a few years to come.“
Xiao said: “I’m sorry that I couldn’t take it to a third session. Shaun is a very good player. I am sad that I missed a lot of balls. It’s ok, I’ll be back next season.”
On the other table, Mark Williams and Barry Hawkins ended all square at 4-4 following an engrossing opening session of their second round encounter.
Williams was runner-up 12 months ago against Zhao Xintong, while Hawkins came into this year’s event having lost in the opening round for the previous three seasons.
Both players enjoyed comfortable 10-4 progressions in the opening round this year, Williams beating Polish debutant Antoni Kowalski and Hawkins overcoming former two-time finalist Matthew Stevens.
Hawkins started this morning’s session in fine fashion, crafting 127 to take the first. Williams restored parity, before Hawkins claimed a 37-minute third to regain the lead at 2-1.
Three-time World Champion Williams hit back with 127 to make things level at the mid-session interval. Hawkins regained the lead when play got back underway, but two on the bounce from his opponent saw him trail for the first time at 4-3.
The last frame went the way of Hawkins, thanks to a break of 73. They return to play the second of three sessions this evening at 7pm. The first to 13 frames will progress to the quarter-finals.
Mark Allen scored his first win over Kyren Wilson in four years, prevailing 13-9 to make the quarter-finals of the Halo World Championship in Sheffield.
Victory keeps the Pistol in the hunt for achieving his lifetime ambition of becoming World Champion. The former Masters and UK Championship winner just needs a Crucible triumph to complete the Triple Crown set. World number 12 Allen made the semi-finals here at the Theatre of Dreams in 2009 and 2023, but is still waiting for a maiden final appearance.
Northern Irishman Allen rallied with six in a row to beat Zhang Anda 10-6 in the opening round, which he had trailed 5-2. This time Allen assumed the role of front runner as Wilson battled to reel him in.
Allen had held a 5-0 advantage during the opening session. However, world number two Wilson hit back with six on the bounce to move 6-5 in front during the second session. Eventually Allen regained the initiative and ended 9-7 in front coming into this morning’s finale.
When play got underway, they traded the first two frames with 78 breaks to leave Allen 10-8 ahead. A break of 61 in the 19th helped 40-year-old Allen further ahead, before 2024 World Champion Wilson took the last before the interval to trail 11-9.
When play resumed, Allen controlled the 21st frame and then pinched the 22nd on the pink to make the quarters for the fifth time in his career. He will face either Mark Williams or Barry Hawkins in the last eight.
“I am happy to win. Any win here is a good one and especially over someone of Kyren’s class. He is world number two for a reason. The match had a bit of everything. I started well to go 5-0, but it was a little flattering,” said world number 12 Allen.
“I’ve got lots of confidence to take into the next round. I finished that match really well. I’d love to score a little bit better. It isn’t a lot of fun grinding matches out, but the biggest positive I can take is that I’m in the quarter-finals of the World Championship without getting out of second gear. There’s lots more to come.
“I don’t feel great in my game but I’m probably too hard on myself. If I started listening to other people like pundits and other players I think I would feel a bit better. I’m not close to my best yet but I think that is exciting as well.
“This is the World Championship. You don’t expect it to be easy. The strength in depth is better than it has ever been. There are no easy matches and I don’t want there to be. You want to play the best and really challenge yourself.”
Wilson said: “Any loss here is disappointing. I came here to try and win the tournament. Thankfully my name is on that beautiful trophy so I have ticked that box. Any time you go out is disappointing though. It was frustrating but I gave it my all.“
On the other table, Scottish Open champion Chris Wakelin rallied from 4-1 down to end locked level at 4-4 with Australia’s Neil Robertson after the first session of their second round meeting.
This is a repeat of a clash between the pair in the first round of last year’s World Championship. On that occasion it was Wakelin, playing as a qualifier, who sprung a shock on 2010 Crucible winner Robertson.
After falling 4-1 down this morning, Englishman Wakelin took the last three of the session with a top score of 77 to end all square. They return for their second of three sessions tomorrow afternoon at 2:30pm.
Barry Hawkins rounded off a superb 13-9 victory over Mark Williams to make the quarter-finals of the Halo World Championship for the first time in eight years.
The Hawk enjoyed a tremendous record at the Theatre of Dreams between 2013 and 2018. Hawkins won more matches in snooker’s biggest event than anyone else during that period. He was runner-up to Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2013 and reached a further four semi-finals and one quarter-final.
However, Englishman Hawkins has only won three matches in the final stages since 2019 and he’s exited after the first round in the last three years. An emphatic opening 10-4 win over Matthew Stevens this week brought the 47-year-old’s losing streak to an end. Now he will face Mark Allen for a return to the single table set up, as he continues his bid for a maiden world title.
Hawkins’ return to form in Sheffield comes having captured his fifth ranking event title earlier this year. He beat Jack Lisowski 9-5 in the Welsh Open final to capture the Ray Reardon Trophy for the first time.
Three-time World Champion Williams was unable to hit the heights of 12 months ago, which saw him make a fifth world final aged 50. The now 51-year-old lost out on that occasion to Zhao Xintong, who became Asia’s first Crucible king.
When play got underway this evening, all four players entering the Crucible arena were afforded an epic reception. There was a standing ovation with all three of the Class of 92 in action, with O’Sullivan facing John Higgins on the other table.
Hawkins held a healthy 10-6 advantage as play got underway, but Williams immediately cut into that and reduced the gap to three. It didn’t take long for the relentless Hawkins to hit back and a run of 85 in frame 18 made it 11-7. The following two frames were traded and they headed in for the interval with Hawkins one away at 12-8.
When play resumed, Williams floated in a fearless long range red and crafted 70 to reduce his arrears. The Welshman had an opportunity to pull within two frames in the 22nd, but a missed cut back red meant he could only muster 25. Hawkins pounced and got over the line to make his seventh Crucible quarter-final.
“To come here, play like that and beat him at the Crucible is a special result for me,” said an elated Hawkins.
“I’ve beaten him the last couple of times we’ve played now. I think in the past I had too much respect for him. I used to crumble against those sorts of players. I think in the last four or five years I’ve had more belief in myself and that has made the difference in the last few days.
“It was an amazing reception. I could see on the screen before I walked out that there was already a standing ovation. They weren’t standing for me, they were standing for the Class of 92. When I walked out, what a feeling, it is the best place to play when it is like that.“
Williams said: “The second session was probably where I lost it. The first session was good and so was the last session. I think Barry was really good all the way through and he was by far the better player.
“I think that was the best reception I’ve ever had at the Crucible. They were on their feet before even Barry went out. It was unbelievable.”
On the other table, O’Sullivan produced a superb display to open up a 6-2 lead over his old rival Higgins.
It was the 73rd meeting between the illustrious pair, with Higgins having previously won 33 and O’Sullivan 39.
The Rocket looked the more comfortable this evening and made breaks of 86, 82, 137, 95 and 76 during the session.
They resume tomorrow evening from 7pm.
These were shared by TNT and World Snooker on YouTube:
It’s a good start from Ronnie, but it’s a long match and John Higgins is more than capable to come back at him.
As I explained at the start of this post, I was busy elsewhere yesterday, so can’t comment on the action.