The World Open

The World Open will be the 3rd and final ranking tournament of the season held in China. The last time this tournament was played was in 2019 but now it's back after covid. Judd Trump is the reigning champion having beaten Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 10-5 in the 2019 final.

The qualifiers are being played this week at the Metropole in Barnsley from 22-24 Jan 2024. The event will then be moved to Yushan in China from 18-24 March 2024.

Dominic Dale and Zhou Yuelong were among the winners this morning. There have been no major upsets as yet.

I was watching Ronnie O'Sullivan on Discovery Plus playing Alfie Burden in his qualifier. Ronnie was hobbling around and looking unwell, so he really needed to get his qualifier over with quickly. Alfie Burden didn't make it easy, with his accurate potting and safety play he was proving the opponent from hell! But Ronnie was finally able to book his place to Yushan with a 5-3 victory.

Mark Selby, Tom Ford, Neil Robertson, even Ali Carter and Tubs, all winners against lower ranked players, all booked their place for the Yushan leg of the tournament.

The only upset was Gary Wilson, Scottish Open Champion and World no.16, losing 5-4 to Stuart Carrington.

On the final day of the Barnsley qualifying stage of the World Open, Maguire, Higgins and Mark Allen comfortably qualified for the competition proper in Yushan.

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, Jack Lisowski and Anthony McGill all lost and won't be competing in Yushan.

Ding Jinhui, Zhang Anda, Judd Trump and Luca Brecel will play their qualifier against a lower ranked player in Yushan on March 18th

(23-01-2024 21:43 )Joannis Wrote:  The only upset was Gary Wilson, Scottish Open Champion and World no.16, losing 5-4 to Stuart Carrington.

Stuart Carrington is one of those infuriating players who has not realized his true potential. He has so much ability but fails to translate it into consistent results. If only he could have a big run in a tournament it might shake his career up.

It was a busy day at the World Open in Yushan which is now over for the day as China is 8 hours ahead of us and it's after midnight there.

Ding Jinhui, Zhang Anda, Judd Trump and Luca Brecel all won their held over qualifiers.

Mark Selby and Ali Carter both won to cement their places in the top 12 in the 1YRL for the Tour Championship. Tubs Murphy won to keep his slim hopes of defending the Tour Championship alive.

There were a few surprises. Si Jiahui, who has done well this season, lost to Long Zehuang. Tom Ford lost to Robbie Williams. Tom could out of the Tour Championship if there is a surprise winner in the World Open final like Hossain Vafaei. Vafaei was a 5-1 winner today against Graham Dott. Mark Allen is out.

Daniel Wells was 4-0 up against Allen in the Scottish Open but lost 6-5. Today Wells got his revenge and from 4-2 up he beat Allen 5-3 despite Allen getting a century break in the 7th frame.

You've said all I was gonna say, I think (Hawkins also through alas).

Ding & Brecel through, John Higgins out.

John Higgins lost, and he's 12th on the 1YRL so his place in the Tour Championship is at risk. However, Noppon Saengkam, Zhou Yuelong and Matthew Selt are all out so there's only really Vafaei, Chris Wakelin and Lyu Haotian left who can overtake him on the 1YRL just by reaching the final. The rest will have to win the tournament to take Higgins' place.

Ronnie found Michael White harder to beat than I thought he would. Ronnie made a 30 clearance to win the 8th frame on the black to win 5-3 with White so close to levelling the scores and forcing a decider. Judd Trump had a more comfortable day, beating Sanderson Lam 5-2.

Zhang Anda was a surprise loser to Elliot Slessor, but Maguire won his match against Pang Junxu 5-3.

Maguire 5-1 Luca Brecel

Ronnie had to cope with Lyu Haotian on good potting form. Lyu should have made it 3-3 but missed an easy yellow and found himself 4-2 down. Ronnie made a 96 break from Lyu's break off in the 7th frame for a comfortable looking scoreline of 5-2 even though the win was much tougher than the scoreline suggested.

Vafaei beat Milkins 5-2 and Chris Wakelin beat Carter 5-1, so Vafaei and Wakelin can continue their bid to get into the Tour Championship. However, Vafaei's got Ronnie in the last 16, and Wakelin's got Neil Robertson.

Tubs won to keep his hopes of defending the Tour Championship alive, but he's got Ding Jinhui next.

Wins also for Judd Trump and Mark Selby.