Latest news with #WuhanOpen
Metro
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Allen replaced in Shanghai Masters draw after withdrawal for personal reasons
Mark Allen has withdrawn from the upcoming Shanghai Masters due to personal reasons, with Ali Carter taking his place in the draw. The world number 10 confirmed that 'family reasons' were behind his decision not to play in the invitational event, which starts later this month. The 39-year-old said in a statement: 'I would have loved to play in Shanghai but I'm not able to make it this year for family reasons. 'I'd like to apologise to the fans, our partners in Shanghai and my sponsors Liberwin and Omin as I have always enjoyed playing in this fantastic event. I'll be working hard to make sure I'm in it next season.' The Pistol was scheduled to face a wildcard player, who is yet to be confirmed, but world number 17 Carter will now take Allen's place in the draw and play in the opening round on July 29. While clearly Allen is dealing with more important matters, it is a blow to miss out on the prestigious event early in the season. Even defeat in the opening round sees players pocket £10,000, while the champions walks away with £210,000. Allen is yet to play this season, with his next match scheduled to be in the opening round of the Wuhan Open in August. The Shanghai Masters sees the world's top 16 qualify, joined by the next four highest ranked Chinese players and four amateur wildcards. The 24-player draw means the top eight in the world go straight into the last 16, while players ranked 9-16 have to face the Chinese qualifiers. More Trending This year's event runs from July 28 to the final on August 3 at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium. Monday July 28 UK times Round One02.30: Barry Hawkins vs Wu Yize02.30: Si Jiahui vs Wildcard07.00: Zhang Anda vs Yuan Sijun07.00: Chris Wakelin vs Wildcard12.30: Neil Robertson vs Pang Junxu 12.30: Shaun Murphy vs Wildcard Tuesday July 29 Round One02.30: Ali Carter vs Wildcard 02.30: Xiao Guodong vs Lei Peifan Round Two07.00: Kyren Wilson vs Si/Wildcard07.00: Mark Selby vs Murphy/Wildcard12.30: Ding Junhui vs Zhang/Yuan 12.30: Judd Trump vs Robertson/Pang Wednesday July 30 Round Two07.00: Mark Williams vs Allen/Wildcard07.00: John Higgins vs Xiao/Lei12.30: Zhao Xintong vs Wakelin/Wildcard 12.30: Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Hawkins/Wu Judd Trump will head to Shanghai as the defending champion after beating Shaun Murphy in last year's final. Ronnie O'Sullivan has tended to be the star of the show at the Shanghai Masters, though, winning four editions on the spin before Trump beat him in last season's semi-finals. World champion Zhao Xintong will be making his debut in this incarnation of the Shanghai Masters, having played in the previous ranking event version over a decade ago. Non-ranking event 2024 Judd Trump2023 Ronnie O'Sullivan2019 Ronnie O'Sullivan 2018 Ronnie O'Sullivan Ranking event 2017 Ronnie O'Sullivan2016 Ding Junhui2015 Kyren Wilson2014 Stuart Bingham2013 Ding Junhui2012 John Higgins2011 Mark Selby2010 Ali Carter2009 Ronnie O'Sullivan2008 Ricky Walden 2007 Dominic Dale MORE: Stephen Hendry makes Zhao Xintong prediction and Ronnie O'Sullivan comparison MORE: Snooker icon warns rivals about 16-year-old rookie with huge future ahead of him MORE: Stephen Hendry puts Ronnie O'Sullivan second in top five snooker players to watch
Metro
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Metro
The players who had dream and nightmare first weeks of the snooker season
The snooker season got underway in low-key fashion over the last few days, but it has already seen some players make an ideal start to their campaign and others face early worries. The Wuhan Open qualifiers begun on June 22, with the British Open qualifying starting straight after on June 25. Both qualifying events were held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester behind closed doors, so they won't necessarily live long in the memory, but could prove vital in the world rankings over the season. Winning the opening match in the Wuhan Open is worth £4,500 and the winner of the event will pick up a very healthy £140,000. The British Open is a small step down, with £3,000 won in the first round and the champion claiming £100,000. A number of players have started in perfect fashion, winning both their qualifiers and will be booking their trips to Wuhan and Cheltenham. Others will already be reckoning with gaps in their calendar when those events come round after suffering back-to-back defeats over the last week. There was a dramatic and brilliant start to the campaign for Marco Fu, the 47-year-old who has really struggled for results in recent years but still has some of the old magic in there. He had a really tough draw against Chris Wakelin to get to Wuhan but knocked in three centuries to win 5-3, then bounced back from 3-0 down to beat Stephen Maguire 4-3 and make the British. Louis Heathcote also picked up two wins from tricky draws, impressively downing Wu Yize 5-2, then edging out Jordan Brown 4-3. There was also a brace of victories for Stan Moody, the 18-year-old who continues to make great strides in the game, beating Antoni Kowalski to reach Wuhan and then Zhou Yuelong to make it to Cheltenham. 12-times women's world champion Reanne Evans has started the campaign ideally, with wins over David Lilley and new professional Lan Yuhao. There was also a pair of victories for the likes of Liam Davies and Jackson Page, two young British stars who will hope to move up a level this season. Zak Surety also kept up the good form he finished last season in, with wins over Gong Chenzhi and Zhao Hanyang, while Ben Woollaston, Lei Peifan, Matt Selt, Joe O'Connor, Noppon Saengkham, Matthew Stevens, Jak Jones, Ben Mertens, Xu Si, Chang Bingyu and Jack Lisowski all landed two victories. A number of players came away with a win and a defeat from the two sets of qualifiers, which they will be able to live with, but two losses will sting for those who came away without a victory. Ricky Walden was a notable name to lose on both outings, beaten 5-4 by David Grace to miss out on Wuhan, then downed 4-2 by Joe O'Connor in the British. The 42-year-old is down at number 49 on the end of season rankings and these early setbacks will be a concern. Fan Zhengyi is another to have gone winless in two games, losing 5-3 to Ben Mertens and then 4-2 to Robert Milkins. The former European Masters champ remains an unpredictable force, capable of brilliance but really lacking consistency. A number of the players who won their way onto the professional circuit through Q School, Q Tour or other routes had difficult starts and are still looking for their first victories of the campaign. Liam Pullen may well be the most frustrated of them after both his matches went to deciding frames and he lost both, beaten 5-4 by Jimmy Robertson and then 4-3 by Mertens. While it can't be considered a nightmare as he chose to do so, Luca Brecel is also winless so far after failing to turn up for his Wuhan Open qualifier and then pulling out of the British Open. The early-season action continues on Monday with the start of the Championship League, a sprawling event which runs all the way until July 23. Many of the big names are not playing in the tournament so there is a good chance for some of the lower-ranked players to either continue a strong start to the campaign or turn around a difficult one. Ishpreet Singh Chadha 5-1 Yao PengchengElliot Slessor 5-4 Oliver LinesRicky Walden 4-5 David GraceChris Wakelin 3-5 Marco FuAnthony McGill 2-5 Jimmy WhiteWu Yize 2-5 Louis Heathcote Matthew Selt 5-4 Sunny Akani Xu Si 5-1 Chris TottenJak Jones 5-0 Oliver BrownJamie Jones 5-4 Liu WenweiBarry Hawkins 5-1 Julien LeclercqNoppon Saengkham 5-0 Robbie McGuiganZhou Yuelong 5-2 Lan Yuhao Stan Moody 5-2 Antoni Kowalski Mark Williams 5-0 Chatchapong NasaMark Davis 4-5 Liam DaviesJoe O'Connor 5-4 Jiang JunBen Woollaston 5-1 Ken DohertyMark Selby 5-1 Alexander UrsenbacherMichael Holt 5-3 Liam GrahamDavid Gilbert 5-1 Cheung Ka Wai Haris Tahir w/o Luca Brecel Daniel Wells 4-5 Chang BingyuStuart Bingham 2-5 Liam HighfieldSanderson Lam 1-5 Zhao HanyangZhang Anda 5-2 Steven HallworthJimmy Robertson 5-4 Liam PullenLei Peifan 5-3 Ng On YeeAaron Hill 5-1 Sam Craigie Kyren Wilson 5-0 Connor Benzey Liu Hongyu 5-3 Ian BurnsJack Lisowski 5-3 Amir SarkhoshRyan Day 5-1 Jonas LuzShaun Murphy 5-0 Michal SzubarczykJordan Brown 5-1 Duane JonesGary Wilson 5-2 Gao Yang Lyu Haotian 5-3 Bai Yulu Martin O'Donnell 1-5 Haydon PinheyTom Ford 5-2 Mateusz BaranowskiDavid Lilley 4-5 Reanne EvansNeil Robertson 5-0 Leone CrowleyHe Guoqiang 1-5 Artemijs ZizinsYuan Sijun 5-1 Xu YichenLong Zehuang 3-5 Dylan Emery John Higgins 5-2 Huang Jiahao Scott Donaldson 5-4 Mitchell MannPang Junxu 5-4 Hatem YassenThepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-0 Fergal QuinnZak Surety 5-1 Gong Chenzhi Fan Zhengyi 3-5 Ben Mertens Jackson Page 5-3 Ross MuirAli Carter 5-2 Florian NuessleRobert Milkins 1-5 Wang YuchenSi Jiahui 5-2 Bulcsu ReveszStephen Maguire 5-1 Kreishh Gurbaxani Matthew Stevens 5-2 Sahil Nayyar Chang Bingyu 4-2 Kreishh GurbaxaniJak Jones 4-1 Gong ChenzhiNoppon Saengkham 4-1 Liu WenweiLiam Davies 4-2 Jimmy WhiteMartin O'Donnell 4-1 Sahil NayyarOliver Lines 4-1 Stuart CarringtonUmut Dikme 4-3 Michal Szubarczyk Anthony McGill 4-3 Dylan Emery Ashley Carty 4-2 Alexander UrsenbacherBen Mertens 4-3 Liam PullenMitchell Mann 4-3 Wang YuchenMatthew Stevens 4-2 Huang JiahaoYuan Sijun 4-3 Jamie JonesDavid Lilley 4-2 Liam GrahamJoe O'Connor 4-2 Ricky Walden Antoni Kowalski 4-0 Chris Totten Reanne Evans 4-1 Lan YuhaoLei Peifan 4-0 Mateusz BaranowskiRobert Milkins 4-2 Fan ZhengyiLeone Crowley 4-0 Hatem YassenMatthew Selt 4-0 David GilbertXu Yichen 4-2 Oliver BrownStan Moody 4-2 Zhou Yuelong Jackson Page 4-2 Elliot Slessor Gao Yang 4-2 Fergal QuinnMarco Fu 4-3 Stephen MaguireHe Guoqiang 4-0 Farakh AjaibSunny Akani 4-0 Steven HallworthXu Si 4-0 Florian NuessleRyan Davies 4-3 Jimmy RobertsonHaris Tahir 4-3 Ken Doherty Long Zehuang 4-3 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh Bulcsu Revesz 4-1 Robbie WilliamsScott Donaldson 4-2 Ishpreet Singh ChadhaRobbie McGuigan 4-2 Lyu HaotianAmir Sarkhosh 4-1 Mink NutcharutJack Lisowski 4-3 Liam HighfieldIulian Boiko 4-2 Connor BenzeyBen Woollaston 4-2 Julien Leclercq Allan Taylor 4-2 Chatchapong Nasa Zak Surety 4-2 Zhao HanyangLiu Hongyu 4-0 Ng On YeeCheung Ka Wai 4-1 Jonas LuzIan Burns 4-1 Michael HoltStuart Bingham 4-2 Ryan DayLouis Heathcote 4-3 Jordan BrownSam Craigie 4-1 Yao Pengcheng Bai Yulu 4-2 Artemijs Zizins MORE: Sam Craigie feared for snooker career after neck surgery but now feels better than ever MORE: Snooker chiefs reveal fines for Ding Junhui and Seniors champ for disciplinary issues MORE: Three major World Snooker Tour events move to new TV channel
Wales Online
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Stephen Hendry comments on Shaun Murphy's snooker rule change proposal
Stephen Hendry comments on Shaun Murphy's snooker rule change proposal Snooker icon and Eurosport pundit Stephen Hendry has thrown his support behind Shaun Murphy's latest call for a rule change, but only under specific circumstances Stephen Hendry isn't totally against Shaun Murphy's suggestion (Image: Alex Pantling, Getty Images ) Shaun Murphy has found an ally in Stephen Hendry following his plea for a snooker rule change. The reigning Masters champion is well known for voicing his bold views and regularly suggesting ideas to enhance the sport's appeal. Murphy is particularly keen on the idea of adding a spot to the cue ball to indicate the level of spin applied during play. While spots are common in other cue sports, they are notably absent in snooker. The Magician has used a spot on the cue ball on his YouTube channel, where he shares coaching techniques and strategy advice. He said during one video: 'I'm going to keep using the spotted cue ball because we're getting some really good feedback about that. 'You guys are loving seeing the spin, how the spin manipulates the cue ball and what it's actually doing. It's great that you can see it with one of these. Article continues below 'You know what? I actually think we should be using one of these in tournament play. "I think that you should be able to see this when we're playing. Think about this, snooker, currently, is the only table sport and cue sport that doesn't use one of these. "They are using it in billiards, they're using it in nine-ball, they are using it in everything. Maybe it's time that snooker moved on, just so you guys can see what's happening." Murphy has called for snooker to make several changes (Image: Getty ) Now, snooker legend Hendry has weighed in on the subject. When asked by Neil Robertson for his thoughts on the idea on Hendry's Cue Tips YouTube channel, the seven-time world champion said he would be in favour of it being applied at certain tournaments - but crucially not all. 'I think there'd be room for it in one tournament but I wouldn't like to see it rolled out in everything,' explained Hendry. 'A lot of players wouldn't like it because they'd see the unwanted side they put on the ball.' Article continues below Murphy has also suggested a host of other changes to shake up the sport, including implementing a shot clock and axing the foul and miss rule. He stated at this year's Welsh Open: "I just find it so weird that we have a rule in the game that allows players to have a sighter. In my opinion, the miss rule needs to be taken out of the game altogether. I don't like the rule at all." Meanwhile, Murphy began the new season with a crushing 5-0 victory over 14-year-old tour newcomer Michal Szubarczyk to qualify for the televised stages of the Wuhan Open in late August.
Metro
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Chang Bingyu returns from match-fixing ban with back-to-back wins
Chang Bingyu has returned to the World Snooker Tour after the conclusion of his match-fixing ban and has kicked off his first season back as a professional with consecutive victories. Still just 22 years old, Chang was given a two-year ban in June 2023 for fixing a match, which kept him out of snooker until December 2024 – backdated to his original suspension. In April he comfortably won the Asia-Pacific Snooker Championship to book his place back on the professional circuit and has made a bright start to his return. It didn't look like it was going to be a winning return when Chang fell 4-1 down to Daniel Wells in Wuhan Open qualifying on Monday, with the Welshman knocking in two centuries. However, the Chinese youngster won the last four frames, with breaks of 84, 60 and 70 to dramatically claim a 5-4 win. It was a more comfortable victory on Thursday as he beat India's Kreishh Gurbaxani 4-2 in British Open qualifying, with breaks of 118, 93, 64 and 70. There is now every chance that Chang can make a big impression on the World Snooker Tour, maybe not to the same level, but as world champion Zhao Xintong has done since returning from his own ban. Chang was a wildly talented junior player, winning the IBSF World Snooker Championship at just 16 years old, having made a maximum in tournament play at just 14. His first stint on the professional tour did not yield many notable results, but has clearly spent his time away from the pro ranks working on his game, preparing for a return. Chang admitted to fixing a match against Jamie Jones at the 2022 British Open, but did so as a result of pressure and influence from Liang Wenbo, who subsequently received a lifetime ban. The Disciplinary Commission's findings read that Chang 'accepted that he on 28th September 2022 had fixed a snooker match that he was playing in.' He gave evidence to the commission that he was called by Liang Wenbo on the morning of the match 'with a threatening tone' and told that Liang 'had placed a lot of money on his bet without my knowledge, for my match with Jamie Jones that evening.' Chang 'reluctantly agreed' but said he never received the money he was told he would be given for the fix. The independent tribunal's findings on Chang read: 'We have found that Chang fixed or contrived, or was a party to an effort to fix or contrive, the result or score of a snooker match on one occasion. 'We note that, at the time that his match fixing took place, Chang was aged 20. He was young and impressionable and under the influence of Liang, of whom he was scared. Chang has given evidence that he thought Liang would take action against him if he did not comply with Liang's demands. We accept that, in all probability, Chang would not have offended absent that element of threat. He was also suffering financial difficulties at the time, he has shown genuine remorse for his actions and he admitted his office at the earliest opportunity. There is no suggestion that Chang committed any betting offence.' 10 players were banned in June 2023 as part of the match-fixing investigation, with Zhao and Chang the first two to return to the professional circuit. Zhao did not fix a match himself so received the shortest ban, but was punished for being party to another player fixing matches and betting on snooker. Chang received the shortest ban of those found guilty of match-fixing, due to the circumstances surrounding his case as he was believed to be caught up in the scandal against his will. The 22-year-old will look to keep up his 100 per cent record early in the season when he plays in the Championship League on July 3 against Ricky Walden, Steven Hallworth and Rob Milkins. Liang Wenbo has been found in to be in breach of the Conduct Regulations as follows:• That he fixed or was a party to fix five snooker matches between 24th July and 28th September 2022• That he solicited, induced, enticed, persuaded, encouraged, or facilitated players to fix nine matches between 24th July and 13th December 2022• That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules.• That he behaved in conduct that was corrupt by threatening another player and making him delete his messages on his phone.• That he threatened another player to seek to persuade him not to assist the WPBSA enquiry.• That he on or after 1st September 2022 when aware of the WPBSA enquiry covered up or attempted to cover up his involvement in match fixing by deleting messages on his mobile phone and by requesting that other players deleted messages on their phones. • That he failed to cooperate with the WPBSA enquiry by failing to attend interviews and provide material requested by the WPBSA enquiry. Li Hang has been found to be in breach of the Conduct Regulations as follows:• That he fixed or was a party to fix five snooker matches between 24th July and 29th September 2022• That he solicited, induced, enticed, persuaded, encouraged or facilitated players to fix seven snooker matches between 24th July and 13th December 2022.• That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules. • That he on or after 1st September 2022 when aware of the WPBSA enquiry covered up or attempted to cover up his involvement in match fixing by deleting messages on his mobile phone and by requesting that other players deleted messages on their phones. Lu Ning was found not to have been involved in inducing others to fix matches. He accepted the following:• That in the 2014-15 season he fixed three snooker matches that he played in• That he on 23rd July 2022 he fixed one snooker match that he played in.• That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules. • That he on or after 1st September 2022 when aware of the WPBSA enquiry covered up or attempted to cover up his involvement in match fixing by deleting messages on his mobile phone. Yan Bingtao accepted the following:• That he on 29th August 2016 fixed one match that he played in• That he between 3rd March 2022 and 29th September 2022 fixed three snooker matches that he played in. • That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules. Zhao Xintong accepted the following:• That he on 3rd March and 11th March 2022 he was a party to another player fixing two snooker matches. • That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules. Zhao Jianbo accepted the following:• That he on 26th August 2022 fixed a snooker match that he was playing in • That he bet on the snooker match that he fixed. Chang Bingyu accepted that he on 28th September 2022 had fixed a snooker match that he was playing in. Bai Langning accepted that he on 26th September 2022 had fixed a snooker match that he was playing in. Chen Zifan accepted the following: • That he between 24th July and 23rd August 2022 fixed or contrived, or were a party to an effort to fix or contrive the result or score of three snooker matches that he played in Zhang Jiankang accepted the following:• That he on 22nd July 2022 fixed a match that he was playing in• That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules. • That he failed to provide information requested by the WPBSA Punishments Liang Wenbo has been given a lifetime from snooker and is to pay £43,000 in costs. Li Hang has been given a lifetime from snooker and is to pay £43,000 in costs. Lu Ning has been given an 8 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 5 years and 4 months until 6 April 2028. He is to pay £7,500 in costs. Yan Bingtao has been given a 7 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and plea of guilty, to 5 years until 11 December 2027. He is to pay £7,500 in costs. Zhao Xintong has been given a 2 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 1 year and 8 months until 1 September 2024. He is to pay £7,500 in costs. Zhao Jianbo has been given a 3 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 4 months until 7 April 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs. Chang Bingyu has been given a 3 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years until 7 December 2024. He is to pay £7,500 in costs. Bai Langning has been given a 4 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 8 months until 6 August 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs. Chen Zifan has been given a 7 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 5 years until 20 December 2027. He is to pay £7,500 in costs. Zhang Jiankang has been given a 4 year and 5 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 11 months until 1 December 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs. MORE: Snooker chiefs reveal fines for Ding Junhui and Seniors champ for disciplinary issues MORE: Luca Brecel pulls out of British Open in bizarre start to his snooker season MORE: Three major World Snooker Tour events move to new TV channel
The Irish Sun
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Snooker maverick Luca Brecel pulls out of second major event as he hangs out with girlfriend and wears bizarre mask
LUCA BRECEL has put in another no-show just days after skipping qualifying for the Wuhan Open. The Advertisement 3 Luca Brecel missed another qualifying round on Wednesday Credit: Alamy 3 The 30-year-old has been posting updates with new girlfriend Shawney Demuyter Credit: Instagram @ 3 Brecel rocked a number of costumes in updates posted on Tuesday Credit: Instagram Brecel failed to show in the East Midlands for his match with Alexander Ursenbacher. It comes just days after he A brief statement from the World Snooker Tour read: "Luca Brecel has withdrawn from this week's British Open qualifiers and been replaced in the draw by Ashley Carty. "Brecel was due to face Alexander Ursenbacher on Wednesday afternoon but has decided to pull out. Advertisement READ MORE ON SNOOKER "Carty is the highest available player from the Q School top-up list." Brecel is currently enjoying a summer holiday with new flame Shawney Demuyter. He appeared to be out of the country on Sunday as he On Tuesday, the day before his scheduled match with Ursenbacher, Brecel uploaded a snap of himself wearing a bizarre mask on Instagram. Advertisement Most read in Snooker Warning BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He followed it with snaps of him wearing a pink hat and a giant black wig. He captioned the picture: "Bad hair day." BBC commentator spots moment Luca Brecel apologises to Judd Trump during epic World Snooker Championship quarter-final The Belgian Bullet has Advertisement Legendary snooker star Steven Hendry said of Brecel: "He's fallen off a cliff. What a great player, though. "It's very frustrating for me to watch someone who is so talented [not perform]. "He's still in his 20s, and could play still for the next 10, 15 years, win so many tournaments, earn so much money... [but he] doesn't seem interested." Brecel had been set to play in next month's Championship League. Advertisement But he has already withdrawn from that event. Brecel has previously The maverick told : "I just don't really think a lot about winning tournaments and stuff like that. I just like playing the game. "I'm more of a Ronaldinho type of player in snooker, so it's all about just entertaining and fun! Advertisement "And also having a nice life around it, that's more important to me! So yeah, no pressure."
