Championship League snooker LIVE RESULTS: Bingham, Jones, O’Connor, and Selt all make it to Group Five

Robertson forfeits place in World Open

Neil Robertson has been forced to forfeit a snooker match after an embarrassing error.

He was due to play Michael Holt on December 22 for a place at the World Open, taking place in China, but failed to show up.

The 2010 world champion had forgotten what day he was supposed to be playing and gave up his place in China by default.

Robertson has not commented publicly on the matter but he has missed out on the chance at another payday in Yushan, where he made the semi-finals last year and received £32,500.

O'Sullivan reflects on Carter row

Ronnie O'Sullivan put his explosive, expletive-laden rant at Ali Carter down to 'heat of the moment stuff' but admitted regret over the outburst.

Carter described the crowd - very much on O'Sullivan's side - as 'morons' who 'haven't got enough brains'.

He also alleged that O'Sullivan 'snotted' on the floor.

The Rocket, meanwhile, ferociously hit back, saying: ''He needs to sort his f***ing life out.

"I'm not going to skirt around it anymore, tip-toeing on egg shells around someone like that. He's a f***ing nightmare."

O'Sullivan has now admitted he regrets the outburst, putting it down to being in the "heat of the moment".

He said: "It’s just heat of the moment stuff. If I feel like I’ve got to say something I’ll say it.

"It’s nothing personal, just heat of the moment stuff. He’s entitled to say what he’s got to say, like I am.

"Do I regret saying it? Probably. I wish I’d kept my mouth shut and been a bit more polished with my answers, a bit more diplomatic. But I’ve said what I’ve said and that’s fine.

"It’s only words innit? He goes back to his life, his family and I do. We only have to meet on the table, it’s not like we’re best mates but it’s fine, we’re both pretty grown up."

Famous fourth?

Selby is now chasing a fourth Masters title - although he has failed to reach the semi-finals at Ally Pally in more than a decade.

Have enjoyed dominant form at previous venue Wembley Arena, reaching four finals in his first six appearances, he then reached the first Ally Pally final in 2014.

But he has struggled at the venue since, with five first round exits and five quarter-final defeats, including last year.

Selby begins his campaign against Ali Carter on January 13.

"I don’t go there with any bad memories.

"I just think it’s so difficult to win. It’s the same with the UK now especially now it’s got back to the tiered structure.

"You look at Judd [Trump] he went and won the tournament, but his draw was absolutely brutal. He had Neil Robertson first game and then John Higgins.

"That’s going to happen on the tiered structure. I keep saying I prefer that structure even though you get tougher draws.

"If you win the tournament, you can hold the trophy at the end and you know you really deserve it.

"It’s the same at the Masters. Any match is capable of being a final.

"For me, not having a great record there in the last few years makes it even more pleasurable knowing I got to five finals in seven years from when I won it.

"It makes it even more incredible when you look back at that now."

Selby's battle with depression

Four-time world champion Mark Selby has bravely opened up on his battle with depression.

The Jester from Leicester revealed he had been "suffering for a few years".

Selby, who also considered retirement in 2024, told SportsBoom: "I feel as though, before, everything for me was always snooker.

"It was my life. If I lost, I’d be really on a downer and just practice and practice.

"I’d go to the next comp expecting to do well and if I don’t I’d be down and frustrated.

"But with everything I’ve gone through over the past few years I’ve got a different perspective on it and I’ve realised there’s more to life than snooker.

"I go out there giving it my best and try to enjoy it if I can and if I win great, if I don’t then other things are more important.

"It doesn’t make losing any easier from a competitive side of it though.

"If I was to lose and laugh it off then I’d know the hunger wasn’t there anymore and it doesn’t mean anything. It’s still got to hurt a little bit.

"I’ve always said that when the time comes where I don’t think losing matters anymore that would mean I was on the spiral the other way where you don’t want it.

"It still hurts to a degree, but I try not to beat myself up too much. It hurts as much as it should do, whereas before it hurt and then I’d be hurting myself by beating myself up.

"I’m trying not to do that anymore. The balance is better for me on that front at the moment."