Snooker results LIVE: International Championship qualifiers LATEST SCORES as Judd Trump books spot – updates
THE International Championship qualifying is taking place in Sheffield - and Judd Trump has booked his place for the China showpiece.
Elsewhere, the British Open concluded with Mark Selby claiming the Clive Everton Trophy.
Jester beat four-time champion 10-5 in the final and took home the £100,000 jackpot.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Follow our live blog below...
Latest scores - Lines makes century
Oliver Lines has taken the opening frame in his quarter-final clash with Jak Jones.
Lines got off to a flying start, making a century on table two.
Meanwhile, Mark Allen currently has the lead over Judd Trump in the first frame, but this one has the potential to go all the way.
- Jak Jones 0-1 Oliver Lines
- Judd Trump 0-0 Mark Allen
Latest scores - evening semi-final confirmed
It's been a slow start on both tables, with Mark Allen making a few mistakes early on against Judd Trump.
The winner of Trump vs Allen will play Mark Selby in the evening sessions on semi-final day.
- Jak Jones 0-0 Oliver Lines
- Judd Trump 0-0 Mark Allen
Evening quarter-finals underway
Well, we're in for a treat this evening with the two best left-handed players, Mark Allen and Judd Trump, going head-to-head for a spot in tomorrow's semi-final against Mark Selby.
On Table Two, Jak Jones faces Oliver Lines for the opportunity to play four-time British Open champion John Higgins in the last-4.
- Jak Jones 0-0 Oliver Lines
- Judd Trump 0-0 Mark Allen
Credit: Getty
New cue does the business
John Higgins is into yet another ranking semi-final and has been pleased with how his new cue is working for him.
Last week it was revealed that Higgins' previous cue was destroyed after it got soaking wet on his way back from a holiday in Portugal.
Higgins, who beat Elliot Slessor 5-1 to reach the final four said: "I'm pleased with the way I played, I won two frames from Elliot's break-off, which is something the top boys do consistently and it has been missing from my game.
"I'm feeling good about my game and my new cue."
Semi-final draw REVEALED
John Higgins and Mark Selby have already booked their spots in the final four after victories against Elliot Slessor and David Gilbert, respectively.
The winners of tonight's remaining quarter-final matches - Jak Jones vs Oliver Lines and Judd Trump vs Mark Allen - will fill the remaining spots.
Semi-final draw:
- Mark Selby vs Winner of Judd Trump vs Mark Allen
- John Higgins vs Winner of Jak Jones vs Oliver Lines
'He wants me to let him off'
Mark Selby just about managed to scrape past his pal David Gilbert in a thrilling match that went to the final frame.
Selby also revealed that Gilbert still owes him £20...
"I don't make it easy for myself," joked Selby. "It's just about getting the win, whether it's 5-0 or 5-4. I got a bit nervy towards the end, although Dave played very well from 4-1 to 4-4. I
" thought I wasn't going to get a chance, but he was unlucky in the last frame.
"We practised together before the English Open, we had four best of sevens, each for £5, and I won all of them so he owed me £20. At the end of the match today he shook my hand and said he hopes I win the title, but he wants me to let him off the £20!
"My game is close, I just need to be more clinical and close out matches earlier when I get chances."
Semi-final draw
Before tonight's two blockbuster quarter-finals, the draw for Saturday's semi-finals will take place.
It has been revealed that the draw is expected to begin at around 6.45pm BST on ITV4.
SunSport will also provide coverage of the draw right here.
'Making up for it'
Jak Jones got a big win on Thursday when he knocked out former world champion Luca Brecel, who had been showing a bit of form after a poor recent run.
Jones said: "It's a big win to beat Luca. Getting to the final in Sheffield gave me a lot of confidence and extra belief in myself.
"There has been more pressure as well, but that's part of the game. My season has been good so far, apart from losing in the first round in Saudi against Jack Lisowski as that was such a big event, but he's a great player and it was a tough draw. I feel I'm making up for that this week.
"I'm definitely a better player than I was a year ago. I'm not sure why, I think it's just the belief that no matter how I am feeling I can still beat anyone.
"Before I thought I could only beat the top players if I felt amazing on the day, but it's not really like that. My main goal now is to win my first title."
Lines vs Jones
Despite the pair being professionals for more than eight years, this will only be the second meeting between Oliver Lines and Jak Jones.
You have to go back to the UK Championship in November 2021 for a meeting between these two.
The first round clash saw Jones take a 6-4 win over Lines - only after he'd blown a 5-1 lead, however.
Neither player managed a century in what was a scrappy game, with Jones' break of 78 the high score.
Should Leeds-born Lines win tonight it will be his best EVER performance in a ranking tournament.
He previously reached the quarter-finals in the now defunct Turkish Masters and WST Classic. His fine form also follows a decent fourth-round showing at the English Open last week.
Head-to-head record:
- Oliver Lines: 0 wins
- Jak Jones: 1 win
- Lines frames won: 4 (40%)
- Jones frames won: 6 (60%)
Trump vs Allen
Somehow, two of the world's top three players have only played each other three times in the last two years - with two of those matches being finals.
Their last meeting came in the 2023 Champion of Champions Final in November 2023, with Mark Allen dominating Trump with a 10-3 win in Bolton.
They also met in January 2023 in the final of the World Grand Prix, although that match was a much tighter affair, with Allen winning the deciding frame.
In all, Allen narrowly edges Trump - winning 18 of their 33 matches.
Head-to-head record:
- Judd Trump: 14 wins
- Mark Allen: 18 wins
- Draws: 1
- Trump frames won: 115 (46.75%)
- Allen frames won: 131 (53.25%)
Tonight's schedule
Speaking of tonight we still have two more quarter-finals to come with one an absolute barnstormer between two of the world's very best players.
Judd Trump and Mark Allen, the world No 1 and world No 3, go head-to-head on the TV table, with Oliver Lines and World Championship finalist Jak Jones playing next to them.
Both games are due to start at 7pm.
- Judd Trump vs Mark Allen
- Oliver Lines vs Jak Jones
Latest scores – Selby takes it
Selby made no mistake with that second opportunity to put the match to bed, putting together a very neat and tidy break of 57 to send David Gilbert packing.
The four-time world champion will join John Higgins in the semi-final draw, with two matches still to play tonight.
- David Gilbert 4-5 Mark Selby (F)
Latest scores - Tensions high in decider
We're into the final frame of the afternoon session and you can feel the tension rippling around the table.
Mark Selby first played a break of 15 but then missed a pottable ball, before David Gilbert got himself into a great position - but smashed the black ball of the table.
Selby now has a second chance to make a match-winning break here, with a few reds available to him.
- David Gilbert 4-4 Mark Selby
Latest scores - Gilbert takes quarter-final to decider
David Gilbert has completed a stunning comeback from 4-1 down to level the last-8 tie to 4-4.
The all-important ninth-frame decider is up next in Cheltenham...
- Elliot Slessor 1-5 John Higgins (F)
- David Gilbert 4-4 Mark Selby
Latest scores – Gilbert makes it 4-3
David Gilbert has made it 4-3 in the all-important quarter-final.
He was 4-1 down to World No 5 Mark Selby but has won the last two frames to keep the tie alive.
Selby remains within one frame and will be hoping it doesn't come down to a ninth-frame decider.
- Elliot Slessor 1-5 John Higgins (F)
- David Gilbert 3-4 Mark Selby
Latest scores - Gilbert mounts sensational comeback
David Gilbert has made an impressive start to the seventh frame after taking the sixth to keep the quarter-final alive.
The Farmer holds a strong lead in the all-important frame and is close to taking Selby to an eighth.
- Elliot Slessor 1-5 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 2-4 Mark Selby
Latest scores - Gilbert keeps tie alive, Higgins THROUGH
David Gilbert dominates the sixth frame to keep the quarter-final tie alive.
While John Higgins is the first man to secure his spot in the British Open semi-finals after thrashing Elliot Slessor.
- Elliot Slessor 1-5 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 2-4 Mark Selby
Credit: Getty Latest scores - Selby and Higgins close in on semi-finals
Mark Selby is now 4-1 against David Gilbert after edging past The Farmer.
And on Table Two, John Higgins is also one away after a dominant performance against Elliot Slessor in the fifth frame.
- Elliot Slessor 1-4 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 1-4 Mark Selby
Back underway
The mid-session interval has concluded and quarter-final action is back underway.
Mark Selby and John Higgins are two frames away from the semi-finals in their respective matches.
- Elliot Slessor 1-3 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 1-3 Mark Selby
Latest scores - Gilbert pulls one back
Mark Selby was seemingly running away with it, but David Gilbert has pulled one back after a dominant frame.
A timely break of 73 secured Gilbert the win to get his first frame on the board.
Meanwhile, on Table Two, Higgins has secured a 3-1 lead.
- Elliot Slessor 1-3 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 1-3 Mark Selby
Latest scores - Selby goes THREE up
Mark Selby has taken a 3-0 lead in his quarter-final clash against David Gilbert.
It was tight and edgy for Selby as Gilbert put pressure on the World No5 but he came through and now is cruising towards the semi-finals.
John Higgins has also reinstated his lead on Table Two after winning the third frame 86-11
- Elliot Slessor 1-2 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 0-3 Mark Selby
Credit: Getty
Latest scores - Slessor levels quarter-final
Elliot Slessor has levelled his quarter-final tie with Higgins after taking the second frame.
Selby makes a strong start to the third frame as he seeks a 3-0 lead.
- Elliot Slessor 1-1 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 0-2 Mark Selby
Latest scores - Selby takes 2-0 lead
Mark Selby now has a TWO frame lead in his quarter-final clash against David Gilbert after a superb 101 break.
Meanwhile, John Higgins is currently behind as Slessor closes in on the leveller.
- Elliot Slessor 0-1 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 0-2 Mark Selby
Latest scores - Selby draws first blood
Mark Selby has taken the first frame against David Gilbert after a dominant opener from the World No5.
- Elliot Slessor 0-1 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 0-1 Mark Selby
Credit: Getty Latest scores - Higgins takes first frame on Table Two
John Higgins has got his quarter-final off to a superb start against Elliot Slessor as he takes a 1-0 lead.
Mark Selby is also closing in on taking the opening frame with just one red left on the table.
- Elliot Slessor 0-1 John Higgins
- David Gilbert 0-0 Mark Selby
