World Open Snooker LIVE RESULTS: Judd Trump beats Wilson to set up semi against Page after Ronnie O’Sullivan’s exit
JUDD TRUMP has booked his spot in the semi-final of the 2024 World Open - but the same cannot be said for Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Trump overcame Kyren Wilson in a thrilling last-8 match to set up a semi-final against Jackson Page.
While O'Sullivan shockingly went crashing out courtesy of Hossein Vafaei.
- Session times: 6.30am & 11.30am GMT
- TV channel: Eurosport 1
- FREE live stream: Discovery+
- Explainer: World Open snooker full schedule and latest results
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Snooker world champion reveals Celtic star mate got match CANCELLED to go to game
HE won his first world championship one week before watching his boyhood club Celtic secure a momentous title triumph the next.
So it's not very surprising that John Higgins admits it was probably the best week of his life.
The Wishaw Wizard is, of course, one of snooker's modern greats and it's coming up for 26 years since his first triumph at the iconic Crucible.
On Monday, May 4 1998 Higgins defeated defending champion Ken Doherty in to win his first world title.
That was just the beginning of an incredible week for the then 23-year old.
He was back up to Scotland the following day, with a couple of days of huge press interested following his triumph on the grandest stage.
Read the full story .
Ken Doherty reveals comical Alex Higgins line on George Best
Ken Doherty recalled a funny story about how Alex Higgins maintained his trademark sense of humour even in his darkest days, with a tale involving a fellow maverick in former Manchester United star George Best.
Speaking to , Doherty said: "Alex was recovering from his cancer, he was very unwell, very skinny having lost a lot of weight.
"He came down on the train to Dublin and came through to the practise room at the Radisson Hotel at ten o’clock in the morning, and he’s got the Racing Post in his pocket, he’s got his Fedora hat on, and I said to Alex, ‘D’you want something to eat?
"And he said, ‘No, just get me a pint of Guinness, babes’. I told him, ‘Alex, it’s ten o’clock in the morning’, and he said ‘There’s enough iron in that to see me through the day.
"He gets the pint, he pulls the Racing Post out of his pocket, picks his lucky four horses and goes around the room. He’s smoking and drinking and looking at the photographs on the wall.
“I bring him over to a photograph of George Best in Dublin. I knew Alex knew him, and he used to play him when George played for Manchester United because Higgins lived in Manchester at the time.
“I said to Alex, ‘Here’s an old friend of yours, you might recognise him’.
"And he’s got the glasses on the bridge of his nose, he takes a drag of his cigarette, a sup at his Guinness, and he looks at the picture and goes ‘Oh Georgie, Georgie Best, what a waste!"
Tomorrow's first matches
Here's how the quarter-finals will look for fans tuning in tomorrow morning:
Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson - 6:30am
Jackson Page v Eliott Slessor - 6:30am
Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins - 11:30am
Hossein Vafaei v Jing Junhui - 11:30am
O'Sullivan's World Open exit interrupted by xylophone
Ronnie O'Sullivan's World Open exit was interrupted by a "xylophone" to the confusion of those in attendance.
The Rocket was beaten 5-4 by Hossein Vafaei at the Yushan Sport Centre in China on Thursday.
However, the contest was not without incident, most notably during the fourth frame.
With the frame already won, O'Sullivan was looking to clear the table when a noise was heard from the crowd.
The sound baffled those inside the venue as well as the Eurosport commentary team.
They even suggested it sounded similar to a xylophone, explaining: "I thought that was someone on the xylophone actually.
Watch O'Sullivan reaction to Vafaei defeat
Ronnie O'Sullivan was praised for his classy reaction after suffering defeat at the hands of Hossein Vafaei at the World Open.
Vafaei upset the odds by beating the World No1 5-4.
You can watch the video of the end of the match below.
Commentator praises Ronnie O'Sullivan's reaction after crashing out of World Open to arch-rivalAll of today's results
Winners have progressed to the quarters...
- Kyren Wilson 5-4 Ben Woollaston
- Judd Trump 5-3 David Lilley
- Barry Hawkins 5-1 Stephen Maguire
- Hossein Vafaei 5-4 Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Neil Robertson 5-1 Chris Wakelin
- Jackson Page 5-2 Mark Selby
- Eliott Slessor 5-2 Daniel Wells
- Ding Junhui 5 Shaun Murphy 3
Vafaei makes up with Ronnie
Hossein Vafaei insists any past feud with Ronnie O'Sullivan is water under the bridge.
He declared: “I feel great. I’m still shocked by how I missed that red in the final frame. I don’t know how.
“I went down so quickly. That was unforgivable. I thought I would lose.
“I’m so happy. He’s my hero, just playing against him is a dream. Ronnie said at the end, go and win it. I will try my best.
“I won’t talk about past results. The past is the past.”
Last result of the day
Eliott Slessor 5-2 Daniel Wells
Slessor finally closes out a win to move into the quarters!
Ronnie's final remarks...
"The way I’ve played for two years now hasn’t been great. I’ve competed in my head, it’s been ten out of ten.
“So, I give myself full marks for that. But as far as technique and execution of the shots, I’d say probably four or five out of ten. It hasn’t been great.
“I’ve had to work hard for my performances and that’s not my natural style.
“I find that after a while, yeah you win, but you don’t really get much satisfaction from it.”
Ronnie continued...
"I’m winning, I’m competing, but I’m not striking the ball well. I think I play better if I know I’m doing more exhibitions.
“I think I learn to relax in front of a crowd. It’s hard when you’re playing matches against very, very good players all of the time. You’re competing for ranking points.
“I need to figure out a way to try and find my game again.
“John Spencer, who was a three-time world champion, once said he always played better if he’s done exhibitions. I have found that to be the case with myself.
“So, I need to factor in some more exhibition games. I think it will help me when I’m out there playing in the big competitions.”
Ronnie speaks about loss
Ronnie O'Sullivan has opened up over his shock defeat to Hossein Vafaei.
The Rocket said: "It wasn’t meant to be. A lot of stuff is fate. Usually 99 times out of 100, the better player usually wins. That’s how the match unfolds.
“He deserved his victory, he played the better snooker. It’s disappointing that I didn’t play well enough to win.
“I’m doing some exhibitions, Monday and Tuesday, in Hong Kong.
“I’m coming back to China in May. We’re doing a tour of China, playing exhibitions.
“I’m trying to figure out why I’m not feeling good out there when I’m playing."
Still playing
Eliott Slessor 3-2 Daniel Wells
A real slog-fest going on here
Two more results
Neil Robertson 5-1 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 2-5 Jackson Page
Result - Murphy 3 Ding 5
It's game, set, match for Ding!
An impressive showing from the Chinese ace sends him through to the next round.
Other scores
Neil Robertson 3-1 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 2-4 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 2-2 Daniel Wells
Murphy 3 Ding 4
A fine showing from Ding to go back ahead.
Murphy needs a strong response to keep in this.
Other scores
Neil Robertson 3-1 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-4 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 2-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 3 Ding 3
Too close to call, this one!
Murphy fires back with a 121 frame clearance.
Murphy 2 Ding 3
Advantage to the Chinese ace.
An 83 sees him move ahead.
Other scores
Neil Robertson 2-0 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-2 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 0-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 2 Ding 2
Neck and neck after a spirited fightback from Ding.
He hit his sixth ton of the tournament to level the score.
Other scores
Neil Robertson 2-0 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-2 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 0-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 2 Ding 1
The Englishman moves ahead with some sharp shooting.
His focus was something to behold there.
Other scores
Neil Robertson 1-0 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-1 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 0-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 1 Ding 1
Murphy has pulled one back already.
This has all the makings of a classic.