Category: World Championship

Higgins edges Allen in epic, Bingham beats Lisowski

April 29, 2024

John Higgins beat Mark Allen 13-12 on the final black in an epic last-16 encounter at the World Championship on Monday evening.

Higgins let an earlier lead slip in the previous session at the Crucible and came out 9-7 behind his opponent ahead of the evening’s play.

Allen is still one of the best players around after his relatively recent ascent to become one of the sport’s big hitters, and has the Shootout, Players Championship and Champion of Champions crowns to his name already this season.

Higgins is yet to land a title this campaign but has markedly improved this year with five semi-final finishes across different tournaments, though he was yet to consistently show anything like his best in Sheffield.

An early miss from Allen allowed Higgins in during the first frame after the restart, and the Scot had a chance to get back within a frame to change the dynamic of the match-up, but a kick stopped him in his tracks with what appeared to be a routine red.

A miss from Allen saw Higgins land an outstanding double to the bottom right to set up a tough black, only for him to rattle it in the corner.

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Rare emotion from Higgins as he gets over the line in classic with Allen

A decent break from Allen gave him a 45-point advantage with 43 left on the table, but he won out the safety play and gave himself a three-frame cushion, needing three more to progress to the last four.

Higgins responded well in the next frame with a half century – just his third of the match at that point – before opening up the reds, only to be crowded out by a trio of reds and in a difficult position at 55-1 up, having to lay the ball off towards the bottom of the table, albeit rendering the black safe.

Allen missed a close-range red to the middle right after battling from 55-40 behind, and Higgins returned to sink an easier version of the same shot as he pulled back one frame.

Higgins looked poised to build a hefty opening break in the next but stopped at 26-0 up when he left a black hanging over the bottom right as it rattled the jaws, though he pulled off a comeback later to clinch the frame to move just one frame behind at 10-9.

Allen took on a monstrously difficult long red to the bottom left and only missed fractionally early in the 20th frame, but such was the power of the shot he generated that he took the red close to the opposite corner and sunk the white.

A kiss on the pink from Higgins when he was 68-0 up left him scratching his head as a century chance looked to have gone begging, with no obvious shot to take on, and he had to leave Allen with a number of options with 75 remaining on the table. However, HIggins picked up several fouls from Allen and he returned to the table to level things with three frames more needed from either man for victory.

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Fluke or deliberate? Astonishing Allen pot lights up Crucible as Higgins clash goes distance

After the mid-session interval, an accomplished break from Allen was enough to put him back in front with 66 – the highest break from him in this session.

In the next frame, Higgins elected to take a blue on when 33 up instead of pursuing a maximum, but he missed to the middle left and gave Allen a tough red to send to the opposite pocket. Allen quickly ceded control of the frame once more and Higgins returned to take it beyond his opponent and added another half century to level things at 11-11.

Higgins finally had a chance to go in front, but after looking to open the pack he was 33-0 clear with no obvious shot, he risked a double and missed to the left middle and Allen was presented with a chance – albeit one made harder by the growing pressure on both players.

Allen went ahead through some tidy safety play, with Higgins warned about the three-miss rule, and he caught the red thick before bouncing off the jaws of the left middle, and Allen was given the chance to build a decisive break to regain the lead. Soon, Allen was just one frame from an epic victory.

An exquisite pot from Higgins early in the next frame helped him into an early lead but he soon missed a red. A stalemate looked difficult to break with Higgins 23-0 up, and a re-rack loomed until Allen refused, and Higgins did well to escape a tough situation, despite leaving a red on – because there was no clear colour to build on.

After some back and forth, Higgins who swooped in to steal the frame to make it 12-12 in what was perhaps the match of the tournament so far – though Stuart Bingham v Jack Lisowski had a claim of its own on the other table.

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‘Look at this, he’s found a plant…’ – Higgins hits one of the shots of the tournament

Allen was away quickly in the 25th frame as the reds and black lined up well. At 62-0 clear he was on the cusp of victory but missed a red in the bottom left, and an expert double from Higgins set him up on the black, with the reds well spaced if Higgins could stay calm, and he cleared up the remaining balls with a break of 64 to go through to a quarter-final with Kyren Wilson.

In the day’s other last 16 clash, Bingham secured a hard-fought 13-11 victory over Lisowski to set up a match with tournament favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan.

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O’Sullivan into quarter-finals with commanding victory over Day

April 29, 2024

Ronnie O’Sullivan continued his charge to become the eight-time king of the Crucible as he wrapped up a 13-7 victory over Ryan Day in round two of the 2024 World Snooker Championship.

A cagey opening in Monday afternoon’s session eventually led to the Welshman squandering a simple safety shot thanks to a double-kiss, and it looked as though his esteemed opponent would be allowed to pounce.

But as the break reached 22, he missed a red, and Day capitalised by swerving the black and picking up the leftovers. O’Sullivan gifted the underdog another pot moments later, and the failure to exploit mistakes continued to swing back-and-forth until the superstar missed a long green at 35-14 up.

Day didn’t let that one slip, clearing the reds and moving 22 ahead. But after a series of safeties on the colours, Day again suffered a double-kiss and was ruthlessly punished, as O’Sullivan rattled in from the yellow onwards.

O’Sullivan would not make such a meal of the penultimate frame. He surged into a break of 42, with his final red being a superb effort off two cushions into the middle pocket. One failed safety from Day and the English icon was back in business, and his second break saw the frame end in a 127-point shutout.

An early missed red from O’Sullivan in the next frame rocked the jaws of the pocket and the table looked so well set up for a shot at a maximum. Yet after a break of just 16, Day put too much elbow grease into a simple single.

But again O’Sullivan didn’t capitalise, with a kick while using the rest seeing his visit end on five points, and the man on the brink of elimination went on to build a lead of 48. Following a bout of safeties, Day was allowed back in and held his nerve to win a seventh frame.

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O’Sullivan benefits from ‘dreaded double-kiss’ for Day

Day’s lingering hopes of making the last eight for the first time since 2011/12, or even making the mid-session interval, were then brutally extinguished. O’Sullivan was forced to wait several minutes for the first pot of frame No. 20, but once it came, he moved north up the table to put the displaced blue away, and never looked back.

A man who has been typically accused of playing in second or third gear over the last 24 hours cruised into a break of 67, and then after a mere few seconds out of the chair for Day, speedily sunk a further 53 to clinch the game.

‘The Rocket’ is now into a 22nd quarter-final, as he sits three victories away from breaking the tie with Stephen Hendry for seven trophy lifts in Sheffield. He’ll face either Jack Lisowski or Stuart Bingham in the next round.

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World Championship LIVE – O’Sullivan targets victory before Higgins v Allen

April 29, 2024

Our main focus this afternoon will be on Ronnie O’Sullivan, who resumes his quest for that record-breaking eighth world title at 10-6 up against Ryan Day.

The Rocket is a heavy favourite to progress to his 22nd Crucible quarter-final, but he certainly won’t be taking anything for granted. After all, he surrendered a 10-6 advantage in last year’s quarter-finals, as eventual champion Luca Brecel reeled off seven successive frames against him.

We will also have updated from Kyren Wilson’s clash with Joe O’Connor. The Warrior, who reached the 2020 final, also has a healthy 10-6 lead against the man who knocked out Mark Selby in round one.

‘Declare your loyalty’ – Murphy issues warning to potential breakaway snooker players

April 28, 2024

Shaun Murphy has warned “be careful what you wish for” as he said any snooker players who join a breakaway tour should not be permitted to play in the sport’s biggest events, including the World Championship.

There have been rumours of players being lured away from the World Snooker Tour (WST) to compete on a breakaway circuit.

“I’ve not been approached by anybody, I don’t know anything about it and nobody has rung me. I’ve got no interest in it,” he added.

“I’m led to believe some players have signed NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). I heard my name mentioned with people saying I’ve signed an NDA but I haven’t. I will finish this season and will look to return to the tour next season.”

“I was pleased to see Judd nail his colours to the mast. I’ve seen comments from players saying they have to make choices for their families. These players have taken and taken from the sport and they want to take even more and good luck to them.

“It’s a shame they’ve not considered putting a bit more back into a tour that’s given them so much before they run away.”

Murphy, who is on the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) players board, said talk of a breakaway tour at the moment is “all rumour and hearsay”.

But he said if it does develop further then players should have to “stick your flag in the ground and declare your loyalty”.

“They can play on the WST in major Triple Crown [World Championship, Masters and UK Championship] events with the history and prestige that Judd talks about or they can play on a new tour with an unknown backer and people we don’t know.

“How long will this pot of money last for? It’s a case of be careful what you wish for.

“I wouldn’t like a situation where players can go off and then come back to the Triple Crown events. I don’t think that should happen. You stick your flag in the ground and declare your loyalty somewhere.

“Players want the independence to play where they want when they want and I really do understand that. I’m not sure you can have your cake and eat it.”

Maguire said after beating Murphy that “something is happening in the background” and his “ears are always open”.

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Stephen Maguire celebrates breating Shaun Murphy

Image credit: Getty Images

“I’m only hearing it from other players and I think it’s good if someone else is interested,” he said.

“Some of the numbers that are getting thrown around, it’s interesting. My ears are always open, I’m always listening, always looking. I’ve not been approached but my door is always open.

“If there’s another opportunity that does not mean Barnsley or Leicester I would seriously think about it. If there was a few years’ guarantee, why not?”.

“Something is happening in the background. I’m not on social media so don’t really hear things, unless people say ‘Stevie, this is what’s happening’. I’m looking and listening. My phone is always on.”

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‘Who was that?’ – Spectator ejected after shouting out on Allen’s shot

April 28, 2024

Sweet wrappers, crisp packets and the dreaded mobile phone are often the scourge of professional snooker players when down on their shots.

Occasionally, and it is only occasionally, spectators do get a little wild and that was the case during Mark Allen’s clash with John Higgins at the World Championship on Sunday afternoon.

With Allen about to take a shot in the 13th frame, he was halted in the middle of his backswing by a scream from the crowd.

It was not clear what was shouted out, but it caught the attention of Allen who stepped up off his shot and referee Paul Collier exclaimed “who was that?”

It would appear the offending voice was identified, as Collier followed up by saying: “Can you escort him out please?”

A delay ensued, before a round of applause greeted the exit of the person in question.

His exit was welcomed by Joe Johnson in the Eurosport commentary box.

“Just as the player was down on his stroke, very ungentlemanly,” the 1986 world champion said.

The Crucible is an intimate venue and the ruckus also halted play on the adjoining table.

David Hendon was covering the Jack Lisowski versus Stuart Bingham match, and the doyen of the Eurosport commentary box said what many were thinking.

“It’s possible one gentleman has enjoyed the afternoon refreshments a little too much,” Hendon said.

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‘Who was that?’ – Spectator ejected after shouting out on Allen’s shot

April 28, 2024

Sweet wrappers, crisp packets and the dreaded mobile phone are often the scourge of professional snooker players when down on their shots.

Occasionally, and it is only occasionally, spectators do get a little wild and that was the case during Mark Allen’s clash with John Higgins at the World Championship on Sunday afternoon.

With Allen about to take a shot in the 13th frame, he was halted in the middle of his backswing by a scream from the crowd.

It was not clear what was shouted out, but it caught the attention of Allen who stepped up off his shot and referee Paul Collier exclaimed “who was that?”

It would appear the offending voice was identified, as Collier followed up by saying: “Can you escort him out please?”

A delay ensued, before a round of applause greeted the exit of the person in question.

His exit was welcomed by Joe Johnson in the Eurosport commentary box.

“Just as the player was down on his stroke, very ungentlemanly,” the 1986 world champion said.

The Crucible is an intimate venue and the ruckus also halted play on the adjoining table.

David Hendon was covering the Jack Lisowski versus Stuart Bingham match, and the doyen of the Eurosport commentary box said what many were thinking.

“It’s possible one gentleman has enjoyed the afternoon refreshments a little too much,” Hendon said.

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Allen wins four frames in a row to take lead against Higgins

April 28, 2024

Mark Allen won four frames on the spin to take control of his last-16 clash with John Higgins at the World Championship.

Higgins was the better player early in the session and moved into what looked an imposing two-frame advantage.

Allen failed to find his stride before the mid-session interval, but came out far more attacking following the break and he finished Sunday afternoon the stronger in securing a 9-7 advantage.

The two will return on Monday to play to a finish in the race to 13 for a place in the quarter-finals.

Higgins’ long game was shaky on Saturday afternoon, but he kicked off the second session with a superb red from distance and he picked off a break of 75 to move ahead at 5-4.

The Scot had control of the 10th frame but missed a brown with the long rest to gift a chance to Allen, and he settled into the session with a break of 54 to draw level.

A superb plant saw Higgins get underway in the 11th, but he was unfortunate with a split of the pack on 29 and he missed a tough red to left middle.

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‘Emphatically dispatched’ – Higgins finds superb plant against Allen

In the words of Philip Studd on Eurosport commentary, “this is a little like wading through treacle.” That was how the 11th felt, as both players struggled to find openings with reds on cushions.

Higgins eked out a 32-point lead with two reds remaining on the table and despite Allen working some penalty points with a fine snooker, Higgins took the 11th after sinking the final red.

Higgins looked good once again in the 12th, but a loose positional shot saw him break down on 38.

Allen failed to capitalise and the frame turned extremely scrappy, but it went Higgins’ way when his opponent caught the knuckle of the right middle with his safety and the four-time Crucible champion opened up a two-frame cushion for the first time in the match.

Allen lacked fluency before the mid-session interval, but he seized on a poor safety from Higgins in the 13th to craft a break of 71. The Northern Irishman left the table a little perplexed after missing a red and inviting a counter from Higgins, who needed one snooker, but he fended it off to cut the gap to one frame at 7-6.

Higgins showed attacking endeavour for much of the session and that mindset continued as he took on a difficult black to the left middle in the 14th. It dropped into the heart of the pocket to set him away, but he missed a blue to the bottom left and Allen cashed in with a break of 94 to draw level.

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John Higgins knocks in excellent black against Allen

After trailing by two frames earlier in the afternoon, Allen got his nose in front by taking his third frame on the bounce on the back of a fluent and silky 80.

Momentum was with Allen heading into the final frame of the afternoon and he rammed home his advantage with a break of 74 to take a 9-7 lead overnight.

Bingham holds lead over Lisowski

Stuart Bingham maintained his two-frame lead over Jack Lisowski and will take a 9-7 advantage into the final session on Monday.

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‘It looked unmissable’ – Lisowski’s head sinks after shocking miss on green

Bingham took the first frame of the afternoon to extend his advantage to three frames, but he faltered before the mid-session interval as Lisowski won three frames on the bounce.

The two traded the four frames after the interval to leave Bingham with his nose in front but far from secure.

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‘I did well to get out of there before I broke something’ – Maguire reflects on wild celebration

April 28, 2024

Stephen Maguire reflected on his wild celebration against Shaun Murphy, admitting he was lucky to get out of the arena without breaking something.

Maguire and Murphy are fierce rivals dating back to their days at junior level, while an incident at the 2004 Grand Prix when the former was docked a frame after forgetting his chalk only ramped up the animosity.

This was the first meeting between the pair since they clashed at the 2022 World Championship, and tensions were high at the Crucible.

Murphy celebrated winning a couple of frames with a clench of the fist, which Maguire responded to in manic style.

After taking the 16th to open up a four-frame lead at the end of the second session, Maguire punched the table in celebration before swinging a fist in the air as he left the arena.

“It is not like me, I usually do that when I get beaten,” Maguire told Eurosport’s Rachel Casey. “There were things happening out there, he was giving it some and I was getting riled up.

“I was holding on and that was a good frame to steal, so something happened.

“I did well to get out of there before I broke something.”

Asked how his right hand was feeling, Maguire added: “These are rock solid. I have done it so many times, they are rock solid.”

Maguire admitted the match was won on the back of his excellent safety game.

“I think looking back at the first two sessions, safety made the difference as we were not scoring and not doing anything in the balls,” the Scot said. “It was coming down to safety all the time, and I sort of had his number for the safety.”

Maguire will face David Gilbert in the quarter-finals, and will keep his feet on the ground.

“I have been here before,” Maguire said. “I’ve been to a few quarter-finals and a couple of semis so there is still a long way to go.

“If you are still in the tournament you are still punching, so you just get your head down and try your hardest.”

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O’Sullivan gains two-frame advantage over Day, Maguire reaches quarter-finals

April 28, 2024

Ronnie O’Sullivan will take a two-frame advantage over Ryan Day into this evening’s session at the World Snooker Championship, having gone 5-3 up at the conclusion of the Sunday morning session at the Crucible.

O’Sullivan, who is seeking a record-breaking eighth world title, thrashed Jackson Page 10-1 to set up the encounter against Day, who had got past Barry Hawkins 10-8.

Day got off to a positive start, but missed a routine red after 16 points. It took just seven minutes for O’Sullivan to capitalise on this mistake, wrapping up the first frame with a flawless 123 clearance.

It appeared as if the world No. 1 would be heading for back-to-back centuries in the second frame, but he missed the penultimate red to end his break on 84.

Despite trailing 2-0, Day battled back before the mid-session interval. In an error-strewn third frame for both players, the world No. 18 finally got on the board.

O’Sullivan looked out of sorts again in the fourth frame, with Day capitalising on a missed red to bring the encounter level.

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‘How intimidating it must be…’ – O’Sullivan breezes to break of 84 against Day

After returning from a brief break, O’Sullivan took the lead with a break of 83. He then raced to 51 in the sixth frame, but missed a red to give Day a chance on the table.

His opponent squandered his chance, however, and O’Sullivan added 36 to restore his two-frame advantage.

Still Day did not give up, making one of the centuries of the tournament so far with a superb 115 clearance.

O’Sullivan responded with his own dominant performance, securing a 92 break to take a 5-3 lead into this evening’s session.

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O’Sullivan superbly sinks long last red as he takes fifth frame against Day

Meanwhile, Stephen Maguire beat Shaun Murphy 13-9 to set up a quarter-final tie against David Gilbert.

Maguire had a 10-6 lead heading into this morning’s session, needing just three frames to progress.

It was a scrappy start to the 17th frame but Maguire put together 68 to increase his advantage, before Murphy dug deep to reduce the deficit to four frames again with a break of 47.

The momentum swung back in favour of Maguire, who went within one frame from victory with a break of 73.

Again Murphy clung on, this time winning two frames on the bounce with breaks of 67 and 46.

His resistance finally faltered, however, with Maguire winning the match in style after a brilliant 127. The world No. 28 will now be back in action against Gilbert on Tuesday, April 30.

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