Snooker
- Thread starter The Uncouth
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Delboy99
Dam
..... I think Kyren Wilson brought his winning streak to an abrupt end the other day when he beat Trump.
Delboy99
Dam
China's top player Ding Junhui failed to reach the semifinals of the Champion of Champions snooker tournament after losing to Australian Neil Robertson 6-4 in Milton Keynes, England on Monday.
Ding, the world number 10, edged veteran John Higgins 4-3 while Robertson swept Jimmy White 4-0 in the group of four.
In the match between the two winners, Ding came from 4-2 down to level at 4-4 but was edged out by the defending champion Robertson in the following two frames.
The invitation tournament with 16 players will play in four groups from Monday to Thursday with the winner of each group progresses to the semifinals.
Ding, the world number 10, edged veteran John Higgins 4-3 while Robertson swept Jimmy White 4-0 in the group of four.
In the match between the two winners, Ding came from 4-2 down to level at 4-4 but was edged out by the defending champion Robertson in the following two frames.
The invitation tournament with 16 players will play in four groups from Monday to Thursday with the winner of each group progresses to the semifinals.
Delboy99
Dam
Judd Trump Equals Century Record in Milton Keynes
The world number one advanced to the semi-finals of the invitational tournament for the second season in succession.
Judd Trump equalled an impressive century record in the Champion of Champions as he compiled five tons in beating David Gilbert on Tuesday.
The haul matches Fergal O’Brien’s previous high tally in a best-of-11 frame encounter, which the Irishman memorably set back in the 2016 UK Championship.
Trump opened his quarter-final contest against Gilbert with a break of 103, and although he lost the next frames to briefly trail his opponent, the English Open champion dominated the remainder of the fixture with his trademark heavy scoring.
The Englishman added runs of 117, 112, 107, and a terrific 138 in the last frame to see off the challenge of Gilbert with a 6-3 triumph.
Last season, Trump became only the second player in history to record a century of centuries across a single campaign.
The 31 year-old is already on 18 for this term, four shy of Neil Robertson – Trump’s usual sparring partner in this department who has made 22.
Earlier on day two in Milton Keynes, Trump hit a break of 119 as he comfortably overcame Stuart Bingham in the first round with a whitewash display.
The world number one advanced to the semi-finals of the invitational tournament for the second season in succession.
Judd Trump equalled an impressive century record in the Champion of Champions as he compiled five tons in beating David Gilbert on Tuesday.
The haul matches Fergal O’Brien’s previous high tally in a best-of-11 frame encounter, which the Irishman memorably set back in the 2016 UK Championship.
Trump opened his quarter-final contest against Gilbert with a break of 103, and although he lost the next frames to briefly trail his opponent, the English Open champion dominated the remainder of the fixture with his trademark heavy scoring.
The Englishman added runs of 117, 112, 107, and a terrific 138 in the last frame to see off the challenge of Gilbert with a 6-3 triumph.
Last season, Trump became only the second player in history to record a century of centuries across a single campaign.
The 31 year-old is already on 18 for this term, four shy of Neil Robertson – Trump’s usual sparring partner in this department who has made 22.
Earlier on day two in Milton Keynes, Trump hit a break of 119 as he comfortably overcame Stuart Bingham in the first round with a whitewash display.
Delboy99
Dam
Few players can boast three wins on the spin over Ronnie O’Sullivan but Michael Holt takes that superb record into his clash with the Rocket at the Champion of Champions on Thursday. The Hitman has picked up a trio of wins over the world champion and has not lost to O’Sullivan since way back at the 2007 UK Championship. Any win over the six-time world champ is a notable one, but the three victories all came in significant events, with Holt snuffing out the Rocket at the International Championship, Shanghai Masters and World Grand Prix, all in 2016. The world number 28 is not quite ready to say he was hoping to draw O’Sullivan this week, but he is certainly not afraid of his first round opponent.
Delboy99
Dam
Ronnie O’Sullivan was involved in a remarkable exchange with Mark Allen in the final frame of their Champion of Champions quarter-final clash, which Allen upset the Rocket to win 6-3. O’Sullivan was behind and struggling, but he was at the table in the ninth frame when he started complaining to his opponent. It appeared that the world champion was complaining about Allen chalking his cue and standing up in his eyeline when taking his shots, ‘Can you sit still? You’re standing up and walking in my eyeline. You are. Come on,’ O’Sullivan said.
There were ongoing verbals between the two that weren’t picked up clearly on the microphones, but referee Marcel Eckardt had to continuously step in to ask O’Sullivan to get on with the game. The German referee also clearly said that Allen had done nothing wrong.
There were ongoing verbals between the two that weren’t picked up clearly on the microphones, but referee Marcel Eckardt had to continuously step in to ask O’Sullivan to get on with the game. The German referee also clearly said that Allen had done nothing wrong.
Delboy99
Dam
Defending champion Neil Robertson beat Mark Selby 6-5 in a high-quality semi-final which will go down as an all-time classic to reach Sunday’s final of the 888sport Champion of Champions at Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, live on ITV4.
The standard was exceptional and the six centuries made between Selby and Robertson equalled the record for a best of 11, set by Robertson and Judd Trump at the 2016 Masters. ITV4 pundits Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty agreed it was the best 11-frame match they had ever witnessed.
Nothing could split Selby and Robertson over the first ten frames; the Jester From Leicester led four times until his opponent pulled in front for the first time at 5-4. The world number four responded to force the decider but Robertson’s title defence will now continue against either Trump or Mark Allen after it was the Thunder From Down Under who took the final frame, with a match-winning break of 54.
“It was a brilliant match to be a part of,” said Robertson. “I think both of us really enjoyed being out there, playing like that and I think we both brought the best out of each other. I can’t really think of anything I missed and the centuries Mark was making were off really good long pots or fantastic safety shots to create chances.
“If I lost the decider with only really missing two balls in the match, it would have been harsh but what a match. The Rasson tables have played amazing well, really fast, it bounces off the cushions perfectly and it’s really good to score on. The real winner is the fans, everyone watching at home, because they’ve seen some really good snooker this week.
“Not many players have won this event. You have to beat the very best players in the world and it is going to require an equally impressive performance as what I gave today to lift the trophy.”
There was nothing to split Robertson and Selby at the mid-session; the Australian making his 23rd century of the season with a 100 to make it 2-2 at the break. Selby opened the second part of the match with a faultless 131 to take the lead for the third time in the match.
Robertson levelled again, but again his opponent moved ahead, this time with a 137. The defending champion wasn’t to be outdone though and produced a great 141 to level again; the match now reduced to a best of three.
The ninth frame was the one in which Robertson was finally able to move ahead as he produced a 121, but Selby forced the decider with a 137. The century tally was now at six in the last seven frames.
The decider was the longest frame of a pulsating match and it was Robertson who broke through, winning with a 54.
The second semi-final of the 888sport Champion of Champions takes place on Saturday as World No.1 Judd Trump faces Mark Allen over 11 frames from 6:45pm, live on ITV4.
The standard was exceptional and the six centuries made between Selby and Robertson equalled the record for a best of 11, set by Robertson and Judd Trump at the 2016 Masters. ITV4 pundits Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty agreed it was the best 11-frame match they had ever witnessed.
Nothing could split Selby and Robertson over the first ten frames; the Jester From Leicester led four times until his opponent pulled in front for the first time at 5-4. The world number four responded to force the decider but Robertson’s title defence will now continue against either Trump or Mark Allen after it was the Thunder From Down Under who took the final frame, with a match-winning break of 54.
“It was a brilliant match to be a part of,” said Robertson. “I think both of us really enjoyed being out there, playing like that and I think we both brought the best out of each other. I can’t really think of anything I missed and the centuries Mark was making were off really good long pots or fantastic safety shots to create chances.
“If I lost the decider with only really missing two balls in the match, it would have been harsh but what a match. The Rasson tables have played amazing well, really fast, it bounces off the cushions perfectly and it’s really good to score on. The real winner is the fans, everyone watching at home, because they’ve seen some really good snooker this week.
“Not many players have won this event. You have to beat the very best players in the world and it is going to require an equally impressive performance as what I gave today to lift the trophy.”
There was nothing to split Robertson and Selby at the mid-session; the Australian making his 23rd century of the season with a 100 to make it 2-2 at the break. Selby opened the second part of the match with a faultless 131 to take the lead for the third time in the match.
Robertson levelled again, but again his opponent moved ahead, this time with a 137. The defending champion wasn’t to be outdone though and produced a great 141 to level again; the match now reduced to a best of three.
The ninth frame was the one in which Robertson was finally able to move ahead as he produced a 121, but Selby forced the decider with a 137. The century tally was now at six in the last seven frames.
The decider was the longest frame of a pulsating match and it was Robertson who broke through, winning with a 54.
The second semi-final of the 888sport Champion of Champions takes place on Saturday as World No.1 Judd Trump faces Mark Allen over 11 frames from 6:45pm, live on ITV4.
Delboy99
Dam
The showdown is a repeat of the 2015 final when the Australian emerged with the trophy.
Neil Robertson and Mark Allen will clash in the Champion of Champions final at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes on Sunday.
Defending champion Robertson had already made it through to the final following Friday’s 6-5 victory against Mark Selby, and Allen joined him on Saturday evening with a straightforward 6-1 defeat of Judd Trump
Allen and Trump had been expected to produce fireworks, but their battle never managed to fully spark into life.
The world number one couldn’t produce his best form and Allen capitalised with breaks of 102, 67, 66, and 65 to comfortably advance.
Allen last featured in a Champion of Champions final five years ago, when he lost 10-5 to Robertson at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
Indeed, this will be the latter’s third final overall in the prestigious tournament as he bids to match Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record haul of three titles.
Both the reigning champion and Allen have lost their most recent appearances in finals, with Robertson missing out on glory in the recent English Open and the Northern Irishman suffering a reverse to Stephen Maguire at the Tour Championship towards the end of last season.
In general, though, Robertson has been the far more prolific winner of late, accumulating five trophies since Allen last etched his name onto silverware at the 2018 Scottish Open.
The duo’s head-to-head record also reads in favour of Robertson, who has triumphed 11 times from the 18 previous encounters with one another.
However, Allen has recorded a victory over the Melbourne man in a major final, when he scored a 10-5 win in the International Championship title decider just over two years ago.
The world number eight might feel slightly fortuitous being involved in this year’s Champion of Champions having not actually won a tournament in the last twelve months – instead gaining an invite as a highly-ranked top-up.
But the former Masters winner has already proven his worth with standout victories over both the world champion and the world number one.
Neil Robertson and Mark Allen will clash in the Champion of Champions final at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes on Sunday.
Defending champion Robertson had already made it through to the final following Friday’s 6-5 victory against Mark Selby, and Allen joined him on Saturday evening with a straightforward 6-1 defeat of Judd Trump
Allen and Trump had been expected to produce fireworks, but their battle never managed to fully spark into life.
The world number one couldn’t produce his best form and Allen capitalised with breaks of 102, 67, 66, and 65 to comfortably advance.
Allen last featured in a Champion of Champions final five years ago, when he lost 10-5 to Robertson at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
Indeed, this will be the latter’s third final overall in the prestigious tournament as he bids to match Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record haul of three titles.
Both the reigning champion and Allen have lost their most recent appearances in finals, with Robertson missing out on glory in the recent English Open and the Northern Irishman suffering a reverse to Stephen Maguire at the Tour Championship towards the end of last season.
In general, though, Robertson has been the far more prolific winner of late, accumulating five trophies since Allen last etched his name onto silverware at the 2018 Scottish Open.
The duo’s head-to-head record also reads in favour of Robertson, who has triumphed 11 times from the 18 previous encounters with one another.
However, Allen has recorded a victory over the Melbourne man in a major final, when he scored a 10-5 win in the International Championship title decider just over two years ago.
The world number eight might feel slightly fortuitous being involved in this year’s Champion of Champions having not actually won a tournament in the last twelve months – instead gaining an invite as a highly-ranked top-up.
But the former Masters winner has already proven his worth with standout victories over both the world champion and the world number one.
Delboy99
Dam
Northern Ireland's Mark Allen defeated Neil Robertson 10-6 in the Champion of Champions decider in Milton Keynes.
It was level at 4-4 with Allen, 34, hitting two centuries while defending champion Robertson knocked in three.
Former Masters champion Allen won the final frame of the first session to edge ahead and the world number eight then led 7-6 before surging to victory.
A break of 119 moved him two clear and Allen finished in style with a 105.
In a high-quality opening session Allen started with a 101 break but his Australian opponent hit back with a 121.
A 110 saw the Northern Irishman go 4-2 ahead but back came Robertson again with 108 and 109 to level the match.
Allen also compiled breaks of 55, 57, 84, 53 and 70 while former world champion Robertson added breaks of 63 and 67 to his three centuries.
It has been an event to remember for the Antrim man, after Allen was involved in a heated exchange with Ronnie O'Sullivan in his victory over the Englishman in the semi-finals.
Allen labelled O'Sullivan a "bully" after the six-times world champion said Allen was distracting him by being in his eyeline more than once.
It was level at 4-4 with Allen, 34, hitting two centuries while defending champion Robertson knocked in three.
Former Masters champion Allen won the final frame of the first session to edge ahead and the world number eight then led 7-6 before surging to victory.
A break of 119 moved him two clear and Allen finished in style with a 105.
In a high-quality opening session Allen started with a 101 break but his Australian opponent hit back with a 121.
A 110 saw the Northern Irishman go 4-2 ahead but back came Robertson again with 108 and 109 to level the match.
Allen also compiled breaks of 55, 57, 84, 53 and 70 while former world champion Robertson added breaks of 63 and 67 to his three centuries.
It has been an event to remember for the Antrim man, after Allen was involved in a heated exchange with Ronnie O'Sullivan in his victory over the Englishman in the semi-finals.
Allen labelled O'Sullivan a "bully" after the six-times world champion said Allen was distracting him by being in his eyeline more than once.
Delboy99
Dam
Champion of Champions winner Mark Allen – ‘I didn’t deserve to be in the event’
Nigel Slater / 24 hours ago
Mark Allen has revealed how he didn’t feel he deserved to be in the Champion of Champions tournament before going on to win the trophy.
The Northern Ireland potter beat Neil Robertson 10-6 to win his first major trophy in almost two years – his last title coming in the 2018 Scottish Open.
But Allen was only picked for the annual ITV event due to his high world ranking position as (due to Judd Trump’s dominance) there were not enough tournament champions from last season to enter via the traditional method.
However, former Masters champion Allen made the most of his good fortune and produced brilliant displays against Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Robertson to win the trophy and a whopper cheque for £150,000.
Allen said: “I did what Stephen Maguire did at the Tour Championship; I didn’t feel I deserved to be here but I took full advantage by going on to win.
Mark Allen. Picture by Monique Limbos
“I could have been beaten first round against Scott Donaldson, I was a few balls away from losing that match 4-2.
“Beating the World No.1, 2 and 3 in succession to win a big tournament like this, it’s what we play for.
“A few splits here and there and that could have been a lot closer, because Neil didn’t look like missing when he was in.
“My safety was pretty good all day and I feel like I played pretty well.”
Allen also shed light on how difficult it is to win major tournaments these days due to high standard of players.
He added: “Guys like Neil (Robertson), Ronnie (O’Sullivan), Judd (Trump) and (Mark) Selby, they make winning look easy and it’s not.
“I work really, really hard on the practice table and if I can pick up a tournament or two every season or every other season, I feel like I am doing well because the standard is that good.”
Nigel Slater / 24 hours ago
Mark Allen has revealed how he didn’t feel he deserved to be in the Champion of Champions tournament before going on to win the trophy.
The Northern Ireland potter beat Neil Robertson 10-6 to win his first major trophy in almost two years – his last title coming in the 2018 Scottish Open.
But Allen was only picked for the annual ITV event due to his high world ranking position as (due to Judd Trump’s dominance) there were not enough tournament champions from last season to enter via the traditional method.
However, former Masters champion Allen made the most of his good fortune and produced brilliant displays against Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Robertson to win the trophy and a whopper cheque for £150,000.
Allen said: “I did what Stephen Maguire did at the Tour Championship; I didn’t feel I deserved to be here but I took full advantage by going on to win.
“I could have been beaten first round against Scott Donaldson, I was a few balls away from losing that match 4-2.
“Beating the World No.1, 2 and 3 in succession to win a big tournament like this, it’s what we play for.
“A few splits here and there and that could have been a lot closer, because Neil didn’t look like missing when he was in.
“My safety was pretty good all day and I feel like I played pretty well.”
Allen also shed light on how difficult it is to win major tournaments these days due to high standard of players.
He added: “Guys like Neil (Robertson), Ronnie (O’Sullivan), Judd (Trump) and (Mark) Selby, they make winning look easy and it’s not.
“I work really, really hard on the practice table and if I can pick up a tournament or two every season or every other season, I feel like I am doing well because the standard is that good.”
Delboy99
Dam
THE GERMAN MASTERS DRAW.
The qualifying rounds are played over the best of nine frames. German Masters draw and schedule Tuesday 10 November 10:00 Sunny Akani v Peter Lines 10:00 Xiao Guodong v Lu Ning 10:00 Mark Davis v Ben Hancorn 10:00 Gary Wilson v Lei Peifan 10:00 Allan Taylor v Duane Jones 10:00 Joe Perry v Li Hang 10:00 Steven Hallworth v Chang Bingyu 10:00 Barry Pinches v Alan McManus 14:30 Kacper Filipiak w/o v Riley Parsons 14:30 Scott Donaldson v Luo Honghao 14:30 Fan Zhengyi v Ashley Carty 14:30 Ding Junhui v Martin Gould 14:30 Sean Maddocks v Jamie Jones 14:30 Matthew Selt v Dominic Dale 14:30 Stephen Maguire w/o v Rod Lawler 14:30 Mark Williams v Paul S Davison 19:00 Judd Trump v Anthony Hamilton 19:00 Shaun Murphy v Chen Zifan 19:00 Ian Burns v David Lilley 19:00 Graeme Dott w/o v Fraser Patrick 19:00 Jamie Wilson v Leo Fernandez 19:00 Jimmy White w/o v Mark King 19:00 Barry Hawkins v Hossein Vafaei
The qualifying rounds are played over the best of nine frames. German Masters draw and schedule Tuesday 10 November 10:00 Sunny Akani v Peter Lines 10:00 Xiao Guodong v Lu Ning 10:00 Mark Davis v Ben Hancorn 10:00 Gary Wilson v Lei Peifan 10:00 Allan Taylor v Duane Jones 10:00 Joe Perry v Li Hang 10:00 Steven Hallworth v Chang Bingyu 10:00 Barry Pinches v Alan McManus 14:30 Kacper Filipiak w/o v Riley Parsons 14:30 Scott Donaldson v Luo Honghao 14:30 Fan Zhengyi v Ashley Carty 14:30 Ding Junhui v Martin Gould 14:30 Sean Maddocks v Jamie Jones 14:30 Matthew Selt v Dominic Dale 14:30 Stephen Maguire w/o v Rod Lawler 14:30 Mark Williams v Paul S Davison 19:00 Judd Trump v Anthony Hamilton 19:00 Shaun Murphy v Chen Zifan 19:00 Ian Burns v David Lilley 19:00 Graeme Dott w/o v Fraser Patrick 19:00 Jamie Wilson v Leo Fernandez 19:00 Jimmy White w/o v Mark King 19:00 Barry Hawkins v Hossein Vafaei
Delboy99
Dam
Ronnie O'Sullivan gets his campaign for a first Northern Ireland title underway against world number 82 Jamie O'Neill in the first round on Monday 16 November at 7pm LIVE on Eurosport.
The world champion has lost the past two finals at the event 9-7, on both occasions to world number one Judd Trump, who is hoping to lift the Alex Higgins trophy for a third straight year.
Trump – winner of the English Open last month – begins his bid against Ireland's world number 74 Gerard Greene at 1pm on Monday with that encounter live on Eurosport and Quest.
The best of the first-round action sees 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy meet two-times ranking event winner Ryan Day at 7pm on Monday.
Both men have hit two of the three 147s made so far this season with four-times world champion John Higgins celebrating the other maximum at the recent Championship League.
The 2017 champion Mark Williams faces fellow Welshman Jamie Jones on the opening afternoon.
Champion of Champions winner Mark Allen meets Anthony Hamilton in his tournament opener on Tuesday evening as the Antrim man bids to claim his home tournament for the first time, while European Masters winner Mark Selby takes on Andrew Higginson.
All matches are played over the best-of-seven frames until the quarter-finals, which increases to the best-of-nine.
The semi-finals are contested over the best-of-11 frames, with the best-of-17 frames final on Sunday 22 November.
Due to the global health pandemic, all remaining World Snooker Tour events in 2020 – including the German Masters qualifiers, UK Championship, Scottish Open and World Grand Prix – will continue to be staged behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
The world champion has lost the past two finals at the event 9-7, on both occasions to world number one Judd Trump, who is hoping to lift the Alex Higgins trophy for a third straight year.
Trump – winner of the English Open last month – begins his bid against Ireland's world number 74 Gerard Greene at 1pm on Monday with that encounter live on Eurosport and Quest.
The best of the first-round action sees 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy meet two-times ranking event winner Ryan Day at 7pm on Monday.
Both men have hit two of the three 147s made so far this season with four-times world champion John Higgins celebrating the other maximum at the recent Championship League.
The 2017 champion Mark Williams faces fellow Welshman Jamie Jones on the opening afternoon.
Champion of Champions winner Mark Allen meets Anthony Hamilton in his tournament opener on Tuesday evening as the Antrim man bids to claim his home tournament for the first time, while European Masters winner Mark Selby takes on Andrew Higginson.
All matches are played over the best-of-seven frames until the quarter-finals, which increases to the best-of-nine.
The semi-finals are contested over the best-of-11 frames, with the best-of-17 frames final on Sunday 22 November.
Due to the global health pandemic, all remaining World Snooker Tour events in 2020 – including the German Masters qualifiers, UK Championship, Scottish Open and World Grand Prix – will continue to be staged behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
Delboy99
Dam
GERMAN MASTERS.
John Higgins displayed his celebrated powers of recovery in a 5-4 win over Robert Milkins as he hit back from 4-3 behind to win the final two frames in the first round of qualifying for the German Masters.
The four-times world champion watched fast-scoring world number 53 Milkins open up with a run of 119 before contributing knocks of 81 and 119 to forge a 3-2 advantage behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
'The Milkman' responded with 55 and 80 to lead 4-3 but Higgins kept his composure to claim the final two frames for victory and a meeting with Ashley Hugill in the second qualifying round.
World number 13 Yan Bingtao will take no further part in this year's event after losing 5-4 to Northern Ireland's world number 56 Sam Craigie.
Bingtao led 2-0 with knocks of 57 and 132, but Craigie won five of the closing seven frames for a 5-4 victory.
2019 World Championship semi-finalist David Gilbert is also out at the first stage of qualifying after going down 5-2 to 20-year-old Chinese prodigy Yuan Sijun.
But last season's world finalist Kyren Wilson eased through with a 5-0 whitewash of Zak Surety boosted by breaks of 126, 124 and 76.
John Higgins displayed his celebrated powers of recovery in a 5-4 win over Robert Milkins as he hit back from 4-3 behind to win the final two frames in the first round of qualifying for the German Masters.
The four-times world champion watched fast-scoring world number 53 Milkins open up with a run of 119 before contributing knocks of 81 and 119 to forge a 3-2 advantage behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
'The Milkman' responded with 55 and 80 to lead 4-3 but Higgins kept his composure to claim the final two frames for victory and a meeting with Ashley Hugill in the second qualifying round.
World number 13 Yan Bingtao will take no further part in this year's event after losing 5-4 to Northern Ireland's world number 56 Sam Craigie.
Bingtao led 2-0 with knocks of 57 and 132, but Craigie won five of the closing seven frames for a 5-4 victory.
2019 World Championship semi-finalist David Gilbert is also out at the first stage of qualifying after going down 5-2 to 20-year-old Chinese prodigy Yuan Sijun.
But last season's world finalist Kyren Wilson eased through with a 5-0 whitewash of Zak Surety boosted by breaks of 126, 124 and 76.
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Neil Robertson lost 5-4 to Ben Woollaston in the first round of qualifying for the German Masters less than a year after reaching the final.
Robertson – who was defeated 9-6 by Judd Trump in the final in Berlin last season at the Tempodrom – was outgunned by world number 35 Woollaston, who found some of his best form to oust the Melburnian with runs of 68, 92, 62, 84 and 73.
Robertson enjoyed 60, 56 and 72 to force the decider from 4-2 behind, but failed to register a point in the closing frame.
Three-times world champion Mark Selby is also out after suffering a 5-3 defeat to veteran Irishman Fergal O'Brien in the first round of qualifying despite rolling in knocks of 108 and 50.
O’Brien enjoyed breaks of 56, 83, 62, 67, 85 and 57 to set up a meeting with Simon Lichtenberg for a spot in the main draw.
Champion of Champions winner Mark Allen completed a comfortable 5-1 defeat of China’s Gao Yang in the first round of qualifying courtesy of breaks of 126, 95 and 70.
1995 world finalist Nigel Bond overcame 2008 Crucible runner-up Ali Carter 5-2 in another surprise result.
Robertson – who was defeated 9-6 by Judd Trump in the final in Berlin last season at the Tempodrom – was outgunned by world number 35 Woollaston, who found some of his best form to oust the Melburnian with runs of 68, 92, 62, 84 and 73.
Robertson enjoyed 60, 56 and 72 to force the decider from 4-2 behind, but failed to register a point in the closing frame.
Three-times world champion Mark Selby is also out after suffering a 5-3 defeat to veteran Irishman Fergal O'Brien in the first round of qualifying despite rolling in knocks of 108 and 50.
O’Brien enjoyed breaks of 56, 83, 62, 67, 85 and 57 to set up a meeting with Simon Lichtenberg for a spot in the main draw.
Champion of Champions winner Mark Allen completed a comfortable 5-1 defeat of China’s Gao Yang in the first round of qualifying courtesy of breaks of 126, 95 and 70.
1995 world finalist Nigel Bond overcame 2008 Crucible runner-up Ali Carter 5-2 in another surprise result.
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Judd Trump hit two centuries on his way to a 5-0 victory against Peter Lines in the second round of qualifying for the German Masters.
The word number one – a 9-6 winner of the event against Neil Robertson in the Berlin final last season – produced runs of 103, 107, 71 and 69 to overwhelm world number 89 Lines, who contributed only 57 points in five frames.
UK champion Ding Junhui – who completed a 9-5 victory over Trump in the 2014 final – completed a 5-0 whitewash against Ashley Carty boosted by breaks of 51 and 65.
2005 world champion Shaun Murphy rolled in knocks of 117, 68, 55 and 113 in a 5-1 win over Ian Burns.
Tour champion Stephen Maguire defeated fellow Scot Alan McManus 5-4 after recovering from 3-1 behind.
The former UK holder enjoyed breaks of 80, 108, 82 and 55 in progressing to the last 32.
The word number one – a 9-6 winner of the event against Neil Robertson in the Berlin final last season – produced runs of 103, 107, 71 and 69 to overwhelm world number 89 Lines, who contributed only 57 points in five frames.
UK champion Ding Junhui – who completed a 9-5 victory over Trump in the 2014 final – completed a 5-0 whitewash against Ashley Carty boosted by breaks of 51 and 65.
2005 world champion Shaun Murphy rolled in knocks of 117, 68, 55 and 113 in a 5-1 win over Ian Burns.
Tour champion Stephen Maguire defeated fellow Scot Alan McManus 5-4 after recovering from 3-1 behind.
The former UK holder enjoyed breaks of 80, 108, 82 and 55 in progressing to the last 32.
Delboy99
Dam
German Masters last 32 draw
- Judd Trump (Eng) v Mark Davis (Eng)
- Duane Jones (Wal) v Joe Perry (Eng)
- Kacper Filipiak (Pol) v Ding Junhui (Chn)
- Dominic Dale (Wal) v Stephen Maguire (Sco)
- Shaun Murphy (Eng) v Jamie O'Neill (Eng)
- Jordan Brown (Eng) v Graeme Dott (Sco)
- Barry Hawkins (Eng) v Ryan Day (Wal)
- Liang Wenbo (Chn) v Jak Jones (Wal)
- Fergal O'Brien (Ire) v Michael White (Wal)
- Tom Ford (Eng) v Yuan Sijun (Chn)
- Stuart Carrington (Eng) v John Higgins (Sco)
- Pang Junxu (Chn) v Robbie Williams (Eng)
- Stuart Bingham (Eng) v Zhou Yeulong (Chn)
- Louis Heathcote (Eng) v Jack Lisowski (Eng)
- Luca Brecel (Bel) v Noppon Saengkham (Tha)
- Mark Joyce (Eng) v Joe O'Connor (Eng)
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Stephen Hendry announces delay to sensational return
Nigel Slater / 8 hours ago
Snooker fans will have to wait a while longer to see Stephen Hendry back on the professional tour, it has emerged.
The seven-times world champion stunned the world of snooker earlier this year when he announced his comeback from retirement after accepting a wildcard invitation to play on the professional tour again from World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn.
But Hendry is yet to play this season and has so far not entered any events.
Last month Hendry’s new coach Stephen Feeney told World Snooker Tour Hendry was working on getting to a playing standard of a current top 16 player.
But Hendry has recently revealed on Twitter that he wants to start his comeback when crowds can return to live events. He also admitted that his game is “not ready” as things stand.