Snooker

[The Hare]

Events on Day 2 of qualifying

Shock of the day and the event so far. One of last weeks stars, Mitchell Mann conquered Mark Allen to continue his great form. After I said a few weeks ack about his clinchers disease I could take credit for his new motivation!! I think though the car breakdown on the way to Essex last week and being docked a frame has cured his nerves, at least temporarily. Home advantage in Sheffield yesterday but a great result for him all the same.

Young 14 year old Pole, Michal Szubarczyk had another excellent win against Ishpreet Singh Chadha and secures a second trip to China, first next week.

Huang Jiahao knocked out Mark Davis and Sam Craigie beat Joe O'Connor 6-1 in an impressive display.

Last 2 sessions of qualifying today.

They announced the prize money for the event and despite it being the joint 2nd most important event in ranking tournaments the prize monry has now fallen well behind. By joint 2nd I mean it is best of 11 frames from kick off, only the Worlds and UK can compete on that front.

Yet prize money wise it goes Worlds, Saudi, UK, and now Xi'an slightly ahed of it. Plus those ranking events later on based on ranking positions that are on a similar level. Another oddity of Hearn's prize money system.

 

[The Hare]

No great shocks on the final day of qualifying, Only non favourite to win was Louis Heathcote 6-2 over Jamie Jones. As we mentioned in earlier posts, Heathcote is transformed this season under the coaching of Anthony Hamilton. I remember an interview he did last season and his focus was on drinking some pints rather than his next game. Certainly showing his true potential now.

Event of the day was Gary Wilson clinching his match with a maximum break, his 6th in history and now moving him to an elite band who have made 6 or more. Even super century man, Robertson is 1 short of the list. Probably means he is the 2nd greatest under acheiver in snooker, after Thepchaiyah?

 

[The Hare]

Next event starts on Tuesday. The Xi'an Grand Prix, home of the Terracotta Army. Defending Champion is Kyren Wilson.

So for some reason starting on Tuesday, now it is holiday week in China so perhaps that is the reason for the odd start day but the final on Monday it seems.

There have been qualifiers in UK so the usual held over games but because of wildcards this is extra complicated as there was 1 game in an extra qualifying round also held over so the matches here are starting with that and those in green still to qualify for that round. Marco Fu as mentioned earlier has withdrawn and now Scott Donaldson has also withdrawn, something he has done before when qualifying for China, so hopefully he is well.

 

[Delboy99]

Next event starts on Tuesday. The Xi'an Grand Prix, home of the Terracotta Army. Defending Champion is Kyren Wilson.

So for some reason starting on Tuesday, now it is holiday week in China so perhaps that is the reason for the odd start day but the final on Monday it seems.

There have been qualifiers in UK so the usual held over games but because of wildcards this is extra complicated as there was 1 game in an extra qualifying round also held over so the matches here are starting with that and those in green still to qualify for that round. Marco Fu as mentioned earlier has withdrawn and now Scott Donaldson has also withdrawn, something he has done before when qualifying for China, so hopefully he is well.

View attachment 160677

....... good heavens, Ronnie is in! Still plenty of time though to withdraw although I guess the money could be an attraction here.!

 

[Delboy99]

Next event starts on Tuesday. The Xi'an Grand Prix, home of the Terracotta Army. Defending Champion is Kyren Wilson.

So for some reason starting on Tuesday, now it is holiday week in China so perhaps that is the reason for the odd start day but the final on Monday it seems.

There have been qualifiers in UK so the usual held over games but because of wildcards this is extra complicated as there was 1 game in an extra qualifying round also held over so the matches here are starting with that and those in green still to qualify for that round. Marco Fu as mentioned earlier has withdrawn and now Scott Donaldson has also withdrawn, something he has done before when qualifying for China, so hopefully he is well.

View attachment 160677

...... where is Jack Lisowski? Did he not manage to qualify for this or is his absence due to the fact he did not enter.

 

[The Hare]

...... where is Jack Lisowski? Did he not manage to qualify for this or is his absence due to the fact he did not enter.

Not his finest moment. Opponent has only won 1 other match on tour so far

 

[Delboy99]

Not his finest moment. Opponent has only won 1 other match on tour so far

View attachment 160726

....... yuk, not so good then. Seems to be going from bad to worse. Getting no where fast.

 

[The Hare]

A maximum for Judd Trump against Ng On Yee puts him on 9 in total, level with Stuart Bingham, see post #4182 above.

Now been 229 maximums, 12 this season! Plus of course the highest break in professional snooker by Jamie Burnett of 148.

 

[The Hare]

A couple of updates, Zhou jinhao plays his 2nd game of the day and I had an error on the original list, Stuart Bingham incorrect on that. Both play soon.

Further update for rest of 2nd round later on. Jamie Jones was another withdrawal later.

 

[Delboy99]

Ronnie O'Sullivan issues new retirement statement as huge career decision made.​

Ronnie O'Sullivan is a seven-time world champion and one of the biggest draws in snooker, but the 49-year-old is aware he is approaching the end of his career.​

Snooker icon Ronnie O'Sullivan has confessed he's becoming increasingly careful about how much snooker he plays and where, recognising his time competing at the highest level may be drawing to a close. In practical terms, this means The Rocket is putting exhibition snooker to one side, instead shifting all his attention towards the tournament circuit.
O'Sullivan, who celebrates his 50th birthday in December, boasts seven world championship titles and most recently claimed victory at The Crucible in 2022. He has pulled out of several tournaments in the 2025/26 season but found time for a run to the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in August, where he suffered a narrow defeat to Neil Robertson. Exhibition matches can provide substantial financial rewards for the world's elite players, but O'Sullivan's endorsement deals make them less of a necessity for him specifically.
This means that, despite uncertainty over how much longer he can remain at the pinnacle of the sport, O'Sullivan is able to be more selective.

"I decided I couldn't do the exhibition circuit and play. That was just making it so much harder," the star told Sportsboom.
"I decided to take out all my commitments, including exhibitions, even though there are good fun and I enjoyed doing them, it was just too much to do that and play tournaments as well."
"I know I'm probably towards the end of my career. I'll probably get two more years, if I get three, four or five then that would be a miracle. I don't have long left so I thought I'd give it all I can," he added.

"I've got a couple of sponsors which is great and that helps. It takes the pressure off the finances, so I don't have to do the exhibitions."

O'Sullivan has had issues with jet lag due to a hectic schedule, but his relocation to Dubai has made it easier for him to participate in Asian tournaments while he's less active back in the UK. He's currently about to begin his campaign at the Xi'an Grand Prix in China, where he reached the semi-finals last year.


"As long as my sponsors are on board and supporting me, then I can keep playing," the 49-year-old stated. "I just want to focus on playing, get ready for tournaments and see if I can find that love for the game which I've had pretty much my whole career."
The decision to move away from the UK was recent, although O'Sullivan had been contemplating it for some time. In fact, he revealed his plans after losing to eventual champion Zhao Xintong in the World Snooker Championship semi-finals in May.
"I think I'm going to be moving out of the UK this year. A new life somewhere else," he declared at the time. "I'm moving away soon so I'll just see how it goes. There's a lot of more important things in life to worry about than a game of snooker. For me, it's a big part of my life but I've got to try and figure out what my future looks like, whether it's playing or not.
"I'll be moving away to the Middle East but we'll see how it goes. I might be back in six months, who knows?"There are going to be a few changes in my life so we'll see how that goes. ".

 

[The Hare]

Good to see Ronnie is happy and chasing the cash in Middle East and Asia and avoiding paying tax for the low value events in the UK. There is another article somewhere saying he won't be playing at the Crucible. His sponsors allow him to pick and choose!

 

[Outlander]

Good to see Ronnie is happy and chasing the cash in Middle East and Asia and avoiding paying tax for the low value events in the UK. There is another article somewhere saying he won't be playing at the Crucible. His sponsors allow him to pick and choose!

I read somewhere and now typically I can’t find it that Reanne Evans told Ronnie he had changed an undisclosed aspect of his game without realising and she spotted it and he reckons she was correct, and it has helped him get back to his best, reckons he’s already played more high standard matches this season than the whole of last season and credits Evans.

 

[ARAZI91]

Good to see Ronnie is happy and chasing the cash in Middle East and Asia and avoiding paying tax for the low value events in the UK. There is another article somewhere saying he won't be playing at the Crucible. His sponsors allow him to pick and choose!

The Hare - I actually watched the Chris Wakelin match where he done the two 147's live on TV - was explaining to my 18 year old daughter how a 147 is "rare" etc after the first one and he then goes and does another one a few frames later. I don't think i've seen anybody play as good as that in one match, 147, 147, 142, 134 !!!!! - the pockets must have looked like big giant empty bins to his eyes that night. You could tell he was absolutely buzzing afterwards in the interviews.

I've read that he probably won't be playing The Masters this year but the interview i seen with him he was talking about making The Crucible as his main focus for the next three years - sometimes i think he just makes it up as he goes eh lol.
Hendry was wondering on Mark Watson's podcast if Ronnie is only allowed back in the UK for so many "free" days now that he is a resident of Dubai.

Btw - feel there is a 147 done every week now, just seen Judd made one in China - any stats backing up the premise that they are more frequent these days ???

O Outlander - seen that article about Reanne - said that made him go back and watch old videos of himself
'Wow!' - O'Sullivan reveals comment from 12-time champion helped change game

 

[Delboy99]

I read somewhere and now typically I can’t find it that Reanne Evans told Ronnie he had changed an undisclosed aspect of his game without realising and she spotted it and he reckons she was correct, and it has helped him get back to his best, reckons he’s already played more high standard matches this season than the whole of last season and credits Evans.

...... hope he comes back and plays the way we all know he is capable of producing. This age thing is all in the head so looking for some improvement in his actions.

 

[The Hare]

I forgot to post this yesterday so not much point putting matches up now.

So after the original post another maximum this by Aaron Hill, his second ever and 23 days after the first. Said before "conditions" or pockets are more suitable in China and seems so again. 13 this season now.

So tomorrow there are 16 remaining Round 2 games with wildcard Zhang Hao, conqueror of Chris Wakelin playing lowest ranked professional left in, Mateusz Baranowski.

 

[The Hare]

The Hare - I actually watched the Chris Wakelin match where he done the two 147's live on TV - was explaining to my 18 year old daughter how a 147 is "rare" etc after the first one and he then goes and does another one a few frames later. I don't think i've seen anybody play as good as that in one match, 147, 147, 142, 134 !!!!! - the pockets must have looked like big giant empty bins to his eyes that night. You could tell he was absolutely buzzing afterwards in the interviews.

I've read that he probably won't be playing The Masters this year but the interview i seen with him he was talking about making The Crucible as his main focus for the next three years - sometimes i think he just makes it up as he goes eh lol.
Hendry was wondering on Mark Watson's podcast if Ronnie is only allowed back in the UK for so many "free" days now that he is a resident of Dubai.

Btw - feel there is a 147 done every week now, just seen Judd made one in China - any stats backing up the premise that they are more frequent these days ???

O Outlander - seen that article about Reanne - said that made him go back and watch old videos of himself
'Wow!' - O'Sullivan reveals comment from 12-time champion helped change game

Thanks for the link ARAZI91 . Reanne's early season form has fallen away as the others have caught up on sharpness the ladies had from their World Championship. Certainly great she spotted the flaw in Ronnie's game.

As you say there is a 90 day restriction to time that can be spent in the country if you are claiming to be Non-Dom. Obviously with family commitments and sponsors he is restricted, 3 weeks for the Crucible and a week or two at Alexandra Palace doesn't give him much scope. Plus the UK of course.

As mentioned another maximum after Trump yesterday so these are the totals by season for the 230 so far. Hearn started in season 2010/11 so tournaments ramped up then. Breaks are certainly easier in China, a whole host of centuries today. As you say O'Sullivan was something special in Saudi that day, the tables didn't seem to be any wasier than usual in that event, that is something I don't have stats on but should!

The Non-Dom is not working too well for Trump, seemed to struggle with the table in his game today and even though he got 3 snookers and won a black ball respot to force a decider still lost to Matthew Stevens. Obviously he has other distractions in Hong Kong but certainly well below his best this season. I remember when he moved back to Bristol from London or Essex, wherever he was living before, he struggled for a season or more. This time other distractions as mentioned!

As can see this season is already close to the top from last. The tables are all at a standard heat and the extra games players have certainly a help. Maybe it is just the climate/ humidity in China but they do seem to go in easier there.

 

[Delboy99]

Trump suffers surprise defeat by Stevens in China.​

World number one Judd Trump suffered a surprise defeat in the second round of the Xi'an Grand Prix as he fell 5-4 to Matthew Stevens in China.
From 3-1 behind against 2019 world champion Trump, Welshman Stevens won the next three frames to take a 4-3 lead.
Trump was trailing by 38 points with 27 left on the table in the eighth frame but earned a decider by forcing a foul on the blue and then on the pink before clearing up and sinking the respotted black.
Both players had opportunities to win the decider, but 47-year-old former Masters and UK Championship winner Stevens, now ranked 51st, held his nerve to book a spot in the last 16 against China's Lyu Haotian.
Englishman Trump, 36, had a 147 in his opening match this week but has struggled for consistent form in the early months of the 2025-26 season.
His exit in China means he has yet to reach the quarter-finals of a ranking event since the World Championship, when he lost to eventual runner-up Mark Williams in the semi-finals in early May.
Trump's last tournament victory came at the UK Championship in York in December 2024.

 

[ARAZI91]

Thanks for the link ARAZI91 . Reanne's early season form has fallen away as the others have caught up on sharpness the ladies had from their World Championship. Certainly great she spotted the flaw in Ronnie's game.

As you say there is a 90 day restriction to time that can be spent in the country if you are claiming to be Non-Dom. Obviously with family commitments and sponsors he is restricted, 3 weeks for the Crucible and a week or two at Alexandra Palace doesn't give him much scope. Plus the UK of course.

As mentioned another maximum after Trump yesterday so these are the totals by season for the 230 so far. Hearn started in season 2010/11 so tournaments ramped up then. Breaks are certainly easier in China, a whole host of centuries today. As you say O'Sullivan was something special in Saudi that day, the tables didn't seem to be any wasier than usual in that event, that is something I don't have stats on but should!

The Non-Dom is not working too well for Trump, seemed to struggle with the table in his game today and even though he got 3 snookers and won a black ball respot to force a decider still lost to Matthew Stevens. Obviously he has other distractions in Hong Kong but certainly well below his best this season. I remember when he moved back to Bristol from London or Essex, wherever he was living before, he struggled for a season or more. This time other distractions as mentioned!

As can see this season is already close to the top from last. The tables are all at a standard heat and the extra games players have certainly a help. Maybe it is just the climate/ humidity in China but they do seem to go in easier there.

View attachment 160834

The Hare - Thanks mate - nice 147 frequency table there, obviously reflecting the higher standard these days right through the rankings. Can see the effects of conditions, China etc also.
I see "wee" Jamie Burnett is on your list for his 148 lol

True story - used to frequent Jamie's dad's club in Lanarkshire "The Corner Pocket" in a mis-spent youth and was once involved in a long altercation with his father Drew who claimed to be a black belt and several "dans" above in multi martial arts lol. Drew eventually phoned Police Scotland and had me "huckled" away for a night in the cells and eventually barred me.
Jamie was a fine player as a youngster and there was a lot of buzz around him then. He plays mainly Pool now I'm told.

Yes, Judd Trump has been struggling this season so far, forgot he is an "ex-pat" - can look fantabulous one frame and then comes out and is all over the shop in the next.

 

[The Hare]

The Hare - Thanks mate - nice 147 frequency table there, obviously reflecting the higher standard these days right through the rankings. Can see the effects of conditions, China etc also.
I see "wee" Jamie Burnett is on your list for his 148 lol

True story - used to frequent Jamie's dad's club in Lanarkshire "The Corner Pocket" in a mis-spent youth and was once involved in a long altercation with his father Drew who claimed to be a black belt and several "dans" above in multi martial arts lol. Drew eventually phoned Police Scotland and had me "huckled" away for a night in the cells and eventually barred me.
Jamie was a fine player as a youngster and there was a lot of buzz around him then. He plays mainly Pool now I'm told.

Yes, Judd Trump has been struggling this season so far, forgot he is an "ex-pat" - can look fantabulous one frame and then comes out and is all over the shop in the next.

Yes Burnett completed the 148 many years ago at Prestatyn, something rarely mentioned when they talk about maximum breaks. He did also have a maximum break on the list in 2007 in the Grand Prix as it was then, against Liu Song in the early days of Chinese players. The Prestatyn was against Leo Fernandez.

Jamie kind of disappeared after he was charged with match fixing and drifted away, never found guilty but his results went downhill after that. I think O Outlander has posted a youtube clip of those events! A very good plater but the mental side is the important factor.

 

[The Hare]

Bit carnage today as my 3 top rated players crash out.

Trump struggled with the table, as mentioned many centuries elsewhere but perhaps that table and the lighting weren't so good as Stevens ball control was poor as well. Trump had an easy game against Ng On Yee in the first round but this was poor, as mentioned earlier.

2nd top Selby in his first game at the event also struggled against an inspired Mark Davis. He has been struggling this season and I thought perhaps age was catching up with him but he was in top shape here against a little under par Selby. His practice partner, Jimmy Robertson had followed a similar path this season and he had an excellent win over O'Connor, so perhaps both peaked together?

World Champion Xintong also lost to the well out of form Milkins, who was another to regain some of his best. Xintong has been nowhere near his World Championship form and clearly a lot more out of snooker work for him now and the distractions are clear.

So this has left a big hole in the bottom quarter, with Si the only top 16 player left after he won the decider against Fan, 4 centuries in a row in that.
The quarter above Williams and Hawkins the top 16 players left. Stan Moody beat Ali Carter to continue his upwards movement.
The top half more top players with Wilson, N Robertson, O'Sullivan, Murphy and Ding all progressing and improving North Easteners Wilson and Slessor in top shape still.

Best of 9 tomorrow,