World Snooker Championship LIVE: Latest scores and results as Mark Selby takes on John Higgins
Ronnie O’Sullivan resumed his World Snooker Championship title defence on Tuesday against Luca Brecel as the business end of the tournament begins at the Crucible.
‘The Rocket’, who is playing down his chances of an eighth title to move clear of Stephen Hendry, repelled a fightback from Brecel to move three frames away from a place in the semi-finals.
On Sunday, there was a big win over Kyren Wilson to ensure John Higgins booked a blockbuster quarter-final against fellow former champion Mark Selby, which takes centre stage at the Crucible on Tuesday afternoon.
Mark Allen was level at 4-4 with Jak Jones in the morning session, while Anthony McGill and Si Jiahui also play for a place in the semi-finals this afternoon, as the Chinese sensation impresses on debut.
Follow all the live coverage from the Crucible with our live blog, below:
World Snooker Championship - Day 11: Ronnie O’Sullivan v Luca Brecel
The World Snooker Championship has reached Day 11 at the Crucible
Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-6 Luca Brecel
Mark Allen 7-6 Jak Jones
Afternoon session: Mark Selby 4-4 John Higgins
Anthony McGill all square with Si Jiahui at 4-4
Ronnie O’Sullivan closes in on a place in World Championship semi-finals
22:27 , Jamie Braidwood
Ronnie O’Sullivan repelled a fightback from Luca Brecel to move three frames away from a place in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
Despite looking far from his best over the majority of the opening two sessions of their last eight clash, O’Sullivan preserved his early four-frame lead and will take a 10-6 advantage into Wednesday afternoon’s concluding session.
Twice Brecel pounced on uncharacteristic errors by the seven-time champion to haul himself back within two frames of levelling the match, only for lapses of concentration to prove his own worst enemy as O’Sullivan pulled away again.
Ronnie O’Sullivan closes in on a place in World Championship semi-finals
World Snooker Championship
21:54 , Jamie Braidwood
Mark Selby racked up his 99th Crucible century as he hit back from a 4-1 deficit to earn a share of the opening session of his semi-final against fellow former winner John Higgins.
A series of uncharacteristic errors from Selby helped Higgins move into a commanding position but the Leicester man benefited from a fluked red midway through a break of 70 that helped him claim his second frame of the day.
Selby followed up with an 82 then rounded off an intriguing session with a clearance to black of 103 to ensure the pair will resume on Wednesday at 4-4.
Anthony McGill also fought back from 4-1 down to ensure he will also resume on Wednesday at 4-4 against Crucible debutant and fellow qualifier Si Jiahui.
Ronnie O’Sullivan rallies to build 6-2 quarter-final advantage over Luca Brecel
18:15 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan cut a frustrated figure despite fashioning a 6-2 advantage at the end of the first session of his World Snooker Championship quarter-final against Luca Brecel at the Crucible.
The seven-time champion took some time to settle and muttered “it’s a hard game today” after running out of position midway through a scrappy fourth frame.
O’Sullivan also thumped his leg in anger after missing a black in the seventh frame, but still managed to overhaul a 2-1 deficit and move within seven frames of sealing his place in the semi-finals upon their resumption on Tuesday evening.
A quickfire session looked in store when Brecel opened proceedings with a break of 93 and O’Sullivan responded with a fast 56 which proved enough despite a rare missed black off its spot.
Ronnie O’Sullivan rallies to build 6-2 quarter-final advantage over Luca Brecel
World Snooker Championship 2023
18:10 , Mike Jones
Si Jiahui impressed once again but let his match against Anthony McGill slip away towards the end of the session and the Scot pulled level ahead of tomorrow’s play.
This one’s all to play for.
World Snooker Championship 2023
18:05 , Mike Jones
Mark Selby put in a wonderful fightback this afternoon to claw his way back into the quarter-final match against John Higgins.
World Snooker Championship 2023
17:59 , Mike Jones
Two sessions down in the World Championship quarter-finals and only Ronnie O’Sullivan has a lead. Here’s how things stand:
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-2 Luca Brecel
Mark Allen 4-4 Jak Jones
Anthony McGill 4-4 Si Jiahui
Mark Selby 4-4 John Higgins
McGill 4-4 Jiahui
17:57 , Mike Jones
McGill guides a red in down the top cushion to leave Si needing three snookers to get back into the frame. He’s not going to get them and leaves McGill with another pot which the Scot rolls in.
This one is all square too! The quarter-finals are all beautifully poised.
McGill 3-4 Jiahui
17:55 , Mike Jones
McGill racks up alead of 59 with 59 points left available on the table. Si Jiahui would have to pot the black after each of the remaining four reds to achieve that and the reds are all resting near the cushions.
This is McGill’s frame to lose.
McGill 3-4 Jiahui
17:49 , Mike Jones
McGill faces a snooker and leaves a pot on for Si. The 20-year-old misses a cut into the bottom right pocket and looks under pressure. That one should have dropped.
McGill can now capitalise.
McGill 3-4 Jiahui
17:48 , Mike Jones
The very final frame of the afternoon session will be fought between Anthony McGill and Si Jiahui. Si had taken a 4-1 lead in this match but McGill has fought back to within one frame.
The Scot leads 22-4 in the final frame.
Selby 4-4 Higgins
17:45 , Mike Jones
Century and all square! Selby seals the frame with a break of 103 - the first century of the match.
A wonderful afternoon session comes to an end for Mark Selby and John Higgins. Higgins dominated the first half and piled the pressure on Selby who made a few errors that got punished.
Selby came out after the interval in a more reserved and focused manner that kept him on the table. It worked for him and Selby fought from 3-1 down to bring the match level at 4-4 heading into tomorrow.
Selby 3-4 Higgins
17:40 , Mike Jones
There’s perhaps a bit of table rust on John Higgins who makes a shocking error to leave the cueball with a straight pot on a red to the bottom right pocket.
Selby’s second break puts him further ahead but the black isn’t available and he needs to do a bit of work to get the pink in play. An ongoing break of 34 takes him up to 50 and Selby’s closing in on another frame and a level match.
Selby 3-4 Higgins
17:35 , Mike Jones
Selby’s on the board first once again. After a series of safety shots, he’s got the chance to open up the table and perhaps draw level with John Higgins.
The pink moves off the cueball at an awful angle and misses the stack of reds that Selby wanted to open up. He has another shy after potting the green but the cueball finishes lower than the black and Selby’s break is done at 16.
Selby 3-4 Higgins
17:27 , Mike Jones
The fightback is on! Mark Selby collects another frame, his second in a row with a very impressive break of 82. Selby will be breathing easier now.
He’s got the momentum heading into the final frame of the day.
John Higgins will be slightly perturbed if he ends this session on level terms with Selby.
Selby 2-4 Higgins
17:23 , Mike Jones
Selby has the chance to open up a break first in the seventh frame. He cleans up the loose reds and plays off the blue before skewing the cueball into the pink and spreading the reds around the table.
Selby’s break is 35 and counting. Lovely play.
Selby 2-4 Higgins
17:16 , Mike Jones
Selby wins the frame!
A break of 70 is enough from the world no. 2 to earn him his second frame of the match. The fluke pot on the red was a big turning point for Selby, if that hadn’t dropped then Higgins would have pounced.
Two frames to go in this session. Selby could end the day on level terms.
Selby 1-4 Higgins
17:12 , Mike Jones
Is that the luck that Mark Selby needs?! He misses a thin slice to the bottom left and the ball fizzes back into the remaining reds. One of them bursts out of the bunch and finishes in the middle right pocket.
Selby’s break is over 50 now and he’ll look to improve on it.
Selby 1-4 Higgins
17:09 , Mike Jones
Mark Selby gets the first chance to tackle the reds but once again his cueball play isn’t the best. He’s leaving himself with some difficult pots and a missed chance will get John Higgins away.
A nice recovery on the pink to the middle right sees Selby’s break move to 20 and a cut to the bottom left pocket nestles in his next red.
There’s a long way to go in this frame and Selby’s doing okay. Not spectacular but he’s just focused on potting the balls.
Selby 1-4 Higgins
17:01 , Mike Jones
The frame goes to Higgins!
A break of 79 puts him back ahead by three frames and there’ll be a part of Mark Selby that knows he let that frame go. Any chance to let John Higgins in today and the Scot has taken it.
It’s a big uphill battle for Selby but it’s early in the match. If a couple of frames go his way then he’s back in the contest.
Selby 1-3 Higgins
16:59 , Mike Jones
This is more excellent work from John Higgins. Up and down the table he goes, mixing the his reds with the blue and the black.
A red slid along the bottom cushion puts Higgins in front by enough that Mark Selby would need snookers to get back in the frame but Higgins isn’t done yet.
How high will this break go?
Selby 1-3 Higgins
16:53 , Mike Jones
A break of 14 is all that Selby can muster after a sketchy trip to the table where he never truly got control of the cueball.
The reds are set up nicely for John Higgins’ response and the black is free to play with. This could turn into a big break for the Scot. Selby leads 14-9.
Selby 1-3 Higgins
16:46 , Mike Jones
As John Higgins gets his quarter-final back underway Si Jiahui has just extended his lead to 4-1 over Anthony McGill.
There’s four more frames to play this afternoon.
World Snooker Championship 2023
16:43 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel will return to the Crucible late this evening after the afternoon sessions have concluded. As will Mark Allen and Jak Jones.
The current quarter-finalists, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Si Jiahui and Anthony McGill have one more session to go today before returning tomorrow to complete their matches.
McGill 1-3 Si Jiahui
16:28 , Mike Jones
Over on table 2 Si Jiahui’s impressive debut at the Crucible goes on as he takes a 3-1 lead over Scotland’s Anthony McGill. These are early days of course but the signs are good for the 20-year-old.
Selby 1-3 Higgins
16:26 , Mike Jones
Higgins doesn’t take the opportunity. He adds 9 before a miscue brings Selby back to the table. The world no. 2 wastes no time adding to his lead.
Selby’s break of 70 sees him leave just the pink and the black but finally he wins a frame.
The interval arrives with Higgins leading by two.
Selby 0-3 Higgins
16:19 , Mike Jones
A big factor in John Higgins’ lead is how expertly he’s potted the long shots. Trailing Selby by 18 Higgins fizzes a long red into the bottom right corner to get his first point on the board.
It’s not an easy one but the Scot has a chance to win the fourth frame too.
Selby 0-3 Higgins
16:10 , Mike Jones
Selby does get the first opportunity to break and adds 11 to his score before leaving Higgins with a snooker to negotiate which he does without too much trouble.
Selby leads 17-0 in the final frame before the interval.
Selby 0-3 Higgins
16:05 , Mike Jones
A misjudgement from John Higgins sees him clip the pink when attempting a safe shot into the racked up reds. Selby is awarded six points at the start of the frame.
That’s very handy indeed if he can get on a break first.
Selby 0-3 Higgins
16:01 , Mike Jones
It’s the perfect start for John Higgins!
Mark Selby misses the opportunity to roll home the final red to the top right pocket and Higgins tidies up to take the frame. He’s unstoppable at the minute and Selby has work to do.
The world no. 2 needs to win the next frame.
Selby 0-2 Higgins
15:52 , Mike Jones
Selby’s nice play puts him within 32 points behind with one red left in play and 35 points remaining. Higgins just needs to pot the red to take the third frame too.
Selby 0-2 Higgins
15:46 , Mike Jones
Oh this is going to be another close frame. John Higgins misses a pot on the black to end his break at 63 and leave Mark Selby with another difficult chance to get back in the frame.
Selby does the first job and rolls a red into the bottom left pocket before rolling the black in as a follow up. 59 points remain and Selby is 53 behind.
Three off the remain four reds are in terrible positions though.
Selby 0-2 Higgins
15:41 , Mike Jones
Higgins is the man to break the deadlock again.
He gets on the board and needs to think his way through this table, the reds are scattered everywhere but Higgins will be more concerned with how best to pot the colours.
A steady ongoing break sees him notch up 39 points and clear the top half of the table of the red balls.
Selby 0-2 Higgins
15:31 , Mike Jones
What a testing frame this is turning out to be.
Tactical play, safety shots and half chances see half the reds knocked up to the opposite end of the table meaning safety shots are more difficult.
John Higgins leaves the cueball on the top cushion before Mark Selby replies with a safety that positions the white over the top right pocket.
Great play.
Selby 0-2 Higgins
15:23 , Mike Jones
Higgins adds another four points to lead by 60 and Selby concedes the frame!
It’s been a dominant start from Higgins who takes the opening two frames. Mark Selby will be a little perplexed, he’s not done a lot wrong here but Higgins has been on fire.
Selby 0-1 Higgins
15:21 , Mike Jones
A break of 37 from Higgins puts him 56 points ahead with 51 remaining on the table. Mark Selby will come to the table and try to find one of the two snookers he needs to get back in this frame.
Brilliant play from Higgins.
Selby 0-1 Higgins
15:16 , Mike Jones
The pink and the blue balls are out of position making it difficult to get the cueball positioned well. Selby has to play off the yellow twice and misses his second attempt at potting it for a break of 4.
Higgins then plays safe and is rewarded when Selby pots the cueball for a foul!
Higgins leads 23-4 and has the chance to take control of the frame.
Selby 0-1 Higgins
15:09 , Mike Jones
Another spanking long pot puts Higgins on the board first in the second frame too. The Scot seems to have picked up where he left off in the previous round.
His break reaches 19 before a difficult red to the middle right hits the cushion and rolls away.
Still, that’s a decent opening trip from Higgins and Selby doesn’t have much to work with.
Selby 0-1 Higgins
15:02 , Mike Jones
Higgins wins it! Selby’s missed effort leaves the cueball on the bottom cushion but there’s an angle for a long pot to the top right.
John Higgins takes it on and smokes it right into the middle of the pocket. He wins the first frame.
Selby 0-0 Higgins
15:01 , Mike Jones
There’s a really tense atmosphere watching this frame.
It’s a black ball shootout with neither man risking the half chances to pot. Higgins attempts to cut one into the top right but gets it slightly off target.
Mark Selby’s next shot sees him go for the top left but the black kisses the pockets lips and flies away. So close, yet so far!
Selby 0-0 Higgins
14:54 , Mike Jones
Selby leaves Higgins with a tempting pot along the bottom cushion into the bottom left. Higgins takes it on but misses!
That sets up Selby with a long pot down the table into the same pocket, he strikes it well but the black bounces out!
What drama. This is the just first frame.
Selby 0-0 Higgins
14:53 , Mike Jones
Wonderful from Selby! John Higgins did the donkey work in that frame to put him in a position to win it but an error on a red to the bottom right opened the door for Mark Selby.
Selby cleaned up the table and this opening frame will be decided by a respotted black.
67-67.
Selby vs Higgins
14:50 , Mike Jones
Selby needs to pot all the reds with the black in order to level this frame. Two reds are positioned in the middle of the table meaning it isn’t a certainty.
The world No. 2 is up to the task though. All the reds drop in with Selby following up with the blacks!
Just the colours to go.
Selby vs Higgins
14:47 , Mike Jones
Red...
Black...
Miss.
John Higgins’ break ends at 67. There’s 67 points left available on the table too. What can Mark Selby do in response?
Selby vs Higgins
14:46 , Mike Jones
Calm, steady play from John Higgins.
He’s been faced with a few awkward positional pots but has managed to get through them to notch up a solid opening break of over 50 with six reds left on the table.
The Scot will be thinking about a century break but to win the frame he needs red, black, red.
Selby vs Higgins
14:38 , Mike Jones
As expected lots of tactical safety shots to open up the exchanges between Selby and Higgins. Higgins leaves the cueball on the top cushion having almost snookered Selby completely with the whole stack of reds still available.
The cueball leaves Higgins with a potential pot but he’ll need to double it off the right cushion into the middle left. Can he make it?
Yes he can! Wonderful shot to break the deadlock.
Selby vs Higgins
14:35 , Mike Jones
John Higgins gets the match underway on table 1 of the afternoon sesssion. If both players are on their A-game then this is a match up too close to call.
Selby vs Higgins
14:28 , Mike Jones
The main focus this afternoon is going to be on the match between Mark Selby and John Higgins. Both men are four time World Champions so this will be a fascinating battle between the two.
How to watch the afternoon session
14:16 , Mike Jones
The afternoon session at the Crucible gets underway around 2.30pm and you can watch it on the BBC platforms or follow our coverage in this live blog.
Here are the times and places to watch:
2.30-6.00pm - Uninterrupted table feeds on BBC iPlayer
4.30-5.30pm - Live on BBC Two
What is snooker’s Chinese betting scandal?
14:10 , Mike Jones
This year’s World Snooker Championship at the Crucible could be overshadowed as 10 players face an independent disciplinary hearing after charges related to match fixing.
The players, which include former UK champion Zhao Xintong and ex-Masters champion Yan Bingtao, are currently suspended from the World Snooker Tour.
The WPBSA confirmed in a statement: “The players will remain suspended until the outcome of the Independent Disciplinary Hearing is published.
“They will therefore not participate in any remaining World Snooker Tour events during the 2022/23 season, including the 2023 World Snooker Championship.”
But what have the players been accused of, and what will happen at the hearing?
What is snooker’s Chinese betting scandal?
Si Jiahui continues dream debut run to east past Robert Milkins
13:56 , Mike Jones
Si Jiahui picked up where he left off on Sunday to secure a spot in the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals with a 13-7 victory against Robert Milkins.
The world number 80 is the lowest ranked player left in the tournament and continued his fantastic debut at the Crucible despite a rocky start on Monday afternoon.
Si will now face Anthony McGill or Jack Lisowski in the quarter-finals later this week.
The 20-year-old started the afternoon 11-5 ahead needing just two frames to seal a spot in the last eight, but both players felt the pressure in the opening frame with Milkins missing plenty of chances to score.
Si sunk the final red and cleared up the remaining colours to go within one frame of victory, but a great start to the second was soured after he missed the match ball, allowing Milkins to steal the frame with a clearance of 69.
Si Jiahui continues dream debut run to east past Robert Milkins
Mark Selby stays on track for fifth world title with impressive Gary Wilson win
13:45 , Mike Jones
Mark Selby saw off Gary Wilson 13-7 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship and keep alive hopes of a fifth title.
Selby, who last lifted the trophy at the Crucible in 2021, resumed with a 10-6 advantage which was soon extended following a confident 109 clearance in the opening frame of Monday’s concluding evening session.
Two half-century breaks helped Wilson reduce the deficit to 11-7, before Selby, who sank a superb thinly-cut black with the extension, edged the next 73-45 after both men had spurned chances to put the frame to bed.
There were more nerves in the 20th frame, with Wilson unable to capitalise on a poor break from Selby, who then failed to build on a run of 35.
Mark Selby stays on track for fifth world title with impressive Gary Wilson win
World Snooker Championship 2023
13:33 , Mike Jones
Luca Brecel had plenty of time to think this morning whilst watching Ronnie O’Sullivan take a 6-2 lead in their quarter-final match. Will the Belgian rethink his gameplan ahead of the evening session?
World Snooker Championship 2023
13:24 , Mike Jones
Crucible debutant Jak Jones is realising how difficult matches become in the World Championship. After an impressing morning he’s been unable to shake off Mark Allen and their quarter-final is finely poised at four frames apiece.
World Snooker Championship 2023
13:16 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan takes a 6-2 lead into the evening session against Luca Brecel. Can the seven time World Champion secure a place in the semi-finals?
World Snooker Championship 2023
13:10 , Mike Jones
There’s a break in play now before the afternoon session gets underway.
In action this afternoon is Scotland’s Anthony McGill who takes on China’s Si Jiahui but the headline match of the next session is undoubtably John Higgins vs Mark Selby.
Allen 4-4 Jones
13:07 , Mike Jones
Oh no! I like it when risk is rewarded. Jones risks a long pot on the yellow and knocks it into the top right pocket. It leaves him with a tricky cut on the green to potentially extend his lead in the match but leaves it over the pocket.
Mark Allen doesn’t err from here and cleans up the table to level the match at 4-4.
Allen 3-4 Jones
13:03 , Mike Jones
It’s very tense. With just the colours left, Allen misses the yellow and Jones is still in the frame.
Allen leads 51-40.
Allen 3-4 Jones
13:02 , Mike Jones
Stellar from Jak Jones! A long pot, the full length of the table, sees him slip one of the two remaining reds into the top left pocket.
Mistake from Jak Jones! After that superb pot Jones misses a simple straight shot for the brown as he’s focused on the positional finish for the cueball.
Mark Allen jumps on the chance to take the frame and extends his lead to 11.
Allen 3-4 Jones
12:55 , Mike Jones
Jones’ break brings him within six of Allen who leads 45-39. The remaining reds are stuck to the cushions so it’ll be a safety for the Northern Irishman.
It’s not a good shot either. Jones is left with a straight pot to the middle pocket but he misses it!
This frame is in the balance once again.
Allen 3-4 Jones
12:51 , Mike Jones
Chance! Mark Allen racks up a break of 45 but kisses the top right pocket with a simple slice on a red. Jak Jones has another opportunity to win the frame.
He needs the rest to knock in the red Allen missed then follows up with the brown to the middle left. Four reds to go but one is on the left hand cushion in tricky position.
Allen 3-4 Jones
12:46 , Mike Jones
Jones’ break of 26 is decent but the cueball lands in the middle of five reds. It’s a delicate situation with neither player wanting to take the cueball away.
There’s an available red along the top cushion for Mark Allen after Jones escapes the pack. Allen follows up with the pink as well.
Great play.
Allen 3-4 Jones
12:42 , Mike Jones
Jak Jones gets on the board first with a red followed by the green. There’s a couple of loose reds that Jones tidies up before knocking the blue in and spreading the pack.
Jones’ break moves to 11 and he’s still got plenty of options. This could send him into the evening session with a two frame lead.
Allen 3-4 Jones
12:39 , Mike Jones
Jak Jones and Mark Allen have one more frame to go as well this morning. It’s been an intriguing contest with Jones looking to pull away but Allen keeping him close.
The Welshman leads 4-3.
O’Sullivan 6-2 Brecel
12:37 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan leads 6-2 after the morning session! A break of 85 following Luca Brecel’s missed black is enough to give the reigning champion his fifth straight frame.
Overall O’Sullivan probably deserves the lead especially after Brecel’s rapid start. The Belgian looked strong early on and pounced on a couple of mistakes from the Englishman.
However, a couple of tactical frames were edged by O’Sullivan who grew in confidence especially as Brecel started to make mistakes of his own.
Five consecutive frames went O’Sullivan’s way and he leads this quarter-final match.
O’Sullivan 5-2 Brecel
12:30 , Mike Jones
Brecel attempts to open up the reds with a screw into the pack but he hits the black too hard and it bobbles out of the pocket without dropping.
The Belgian’s break ends at 9.
O’Sullivan tidies up a loose red, pots the black then plays a wonderful plant to keep his break going. Brecel looks a little forlorn watching on from the side.
O’Sullivan 5-2 Brecel
12:25 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan breathes a sigh of relief! Brecel pots the blue but leaves the pink over the pocket when he should have knocked it in.
O’Sullivan puts it in and wins the frame.
Brecel pushed him right to the end though. One more frame to play in this session. Luce Brecel could really do with winning it.
O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
12:23 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan is in the driving seat but he may have to take on a risky long pot. He does and misses the yellow!
Luca Brecel rolls it into the top left pocket and follows up with the green and brown. This would be a huge steal if he can slide in the remaining three colours.
O’Sullivan leads 59-47.
O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
12:20 , Mike Jones
Oh wow! Luca Brecel underhits a shot and leaves Ronnie O’Sullivan with a tricky but pottable shot on the yellow.
But, as he lines it up O’Sullivan nudges the black with his elbow and fouls! Brecel gets seven points and now it’s game on. Whoever pots this yellow should take the frame.
Top class drama.
O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
12:17 , Mike Jones
Brecel plays a lovely shot to leave O’Sullivan with an awkward shot. The cueball is nestled in behind the brown and O’Sullivan has to come off the right side cushion to hit the yellow.
He misses! Brecel collects four points but needs another snooker and all of the colours to potentially take the frame.
O’Sullivan leads 59-31.
O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
12:13 , Mike Jones
A break of 58 from O’Sullivan means that Brecel needs at least two snookers with just the colours remaining on the table. He’s going to continue the frame for a while but the advantage is with Ronnie.
O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
12:09 , Mike Jones
Oh Luca! Just when he looked to be setting the frame up nicely he misses a relatively straight pot on the blue and leaves O’Sullivan with the opportunity to mop up the table.
Brecel’s break of 27 should easily be overturned.
The Rocket flies up to 17 and screws the cueball into the reds to separate them, opening up opportunities to pot around the table. Quality play from the reigning champion.
O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
12:03 , Mike Jones
Both players left the arena after that frame for a short break. Luca Brecel will have been thinking things through, he could do with a getting a frame on the board here.
O’Sullivan leaves him with an opportunity and Brecel slides a red into along the bottom cushion to get on the board early in the seventh frame.
O’Sullivan 4-2 Brecel
11:58 , Mike Jones
Century! Ronnie O’Sullivan pounces on a mistake from Luca Brecel and records the first 100 break of the match.
He sweeps up all the colours except the black in a break lasting a touch over eight minutes. The break ends at 128 and O’Sullivan now leads by two.
He’s won both frames since the interval.
O’Sullivan 3-2 Brecel
11:55 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan deals with all the loose reds and slides in an out of position pink to increase his break over 50. He’ll be eyeing up a century here but there’s a bunch of four reds which will be tricky to displace.
O’Sullivan 3-2 Brecel
11:51 , Mike Jones
Oh. Luca Brecel speads the reds across the table and gives Ronnie O’Sullivan plenty of options to go for. The Belgian should be waiting a while before coming back to the table.
O’Sullivan needs to keep his composure and he can notch up a big break here.
O’Sullivan 3-2 Brecel
11:46 , Mike Jones
The last two frames have been scratchy, thought-provoking affairs and both have been won by Ronnie O’Sullivan. Will Luca Brecel rethink his aggressive, attacking approach?
O’Sullivan seems to be winning the tactical battle between the two men. He clinches the fifth frame 73-23 and leads for the first time in the match.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Brecel
11:41 , Mike Jones
Is this the opening O’Sullivan was after?
A foul from Brecel leaves him with a long pot to the bottom right and O’Sullivan guides it in with gusto. He follows up with the black, another red and the blue to get some momentum into the break.
Good signs for the reigning champion.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Brecel
11:38 , Mike Jones
There’s been a few missed chances from both players in this frame. O’Sullivan leaves a red over the pocket after missing with the rest and Brecel rolls it in before leaving the cueball on the blue.
The colour follows but his next red leaves him with an awkward angle on the out of position black. A grimace and a shrug from the Belgian shows he’s decided to go for it and he pots the black to the bottom left!
His lead is up to 23 now.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Brecel
11:33 , Mike Jones
Brecel gets on the board first in the fifth frame but the reds are scattered and it’ll take some good positional play to maintain the break.
He earns himself 9 points but gets stuck with no colours available to pot. The Belgian picks the yellow and dinks the cueball up the other end for a safety.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Brecel
11:26 , Mike Jones
The players are back out on table 1 with Luca Brecel breaking off. The previous frame was quite scrappy but wonderfully entertaining.
Expect more of the same for the rest of the morning.
Allen 1-3 Jones
11:15 , Mike Jones
Jones takes the fourth frame and the opening session. The Welshman leads 3-1 at the interval, it’s been a brilliant morning for the Crucible debutant.
These quarter-finals are shaping up nicely.
Allen 1-2 Jones
11:12 , Mike Jones
Equally good has been the action on table 2. Jak Jones took the lead with a break of 78 to clinch the first frame but Mark Allen has found a way back into the match.
Jones has a 2-1 lead in terms of frames and is closing in on his third frame of the morning.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Brecel
11:08 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan takes it! He leaves the white nestled right behind the black which shields it from the red. Brecel doesn’t have an escape from the snooker and can’t respond.
He leaves the red open for O’Sullivan who knocks it in then tidies up the rest of the colours.
Lovely stuff and a brilliant match as the players head into the interval.
O’Sullivan 1-2 Brecel
11:05 , Mike Jones
Two more trips to the table sees O’Sullivan increase his lead over Brecel to 27 but there’s a red hugging the cushion and the Rocket has to play it to safety.
A tactical game ensues with Brecel almost snookering O’Sullivan by hiding the red behind the pink.
It doesn’t work.
This frame will come down to who makes a mistake on these safety shots.
O’Sullivan 1-2 Brecel
10:58 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan’s average pot time for this break is 36 seconds, exactly double what he was across the previous three frames. That shows how tricky this table has been to work.
O’Sullivan eventually misses a medium length pot to the bottom left after racking up 32 points.
Brecel can’t respond and misses a straight pot to the same pocket with the rest.
O’Sullivan 1-2 Brecel
10:54 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan has to work hard to get his break going, he screws the cueball in between two reds to set up a shot on the black to the bottom left before landing a slight cutback on a red to the bottom right.
The 7x World Champion has been made to think about his shots and is working the cueball up and down the table.
His break is up to 16 and ongoing.
O’Sullivan 1-2 Brecel
10:49 , Mike Jones
Oh here we go. A poor break from O’Sullivan leaves Brecel with an opening as he pots another long red into the bottom right corner pocket.
There’s work to do to maintain the break but the Belgian takes his time to think through his plan of attack.
A break of 19 comes to an end when he gets the wrong angle on the black and cannons it into one of the reds.
O’Sullivan 1-2 Brecel
10:45 , Mike Jones
A break 68 sends Luca Brecel into the lead once again. His long shot on the yellow won him that frame. It was a risk that could have backfired but the Belgian is in top, top form and earned his reward.
Ronnie Sullivan has made two mistakes and he’s lost both of the frames he made them in.
One frame to go before an interval.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Brecel
10:42 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan doesn’t capitalise! He takes his eye off a simple red to the middle right and the ball bounces out of the pocket LEaving him with just a break of 4.
Oh my!
Luca Brecel looks to separate some reds with a lot of top spin on the cueball. He hoped to leave the black available but an awkward red blocks his way. The pink isn’t on either so Brecel goes down the length of the table and drives the yellow into the top left corner!
That’s a lovely shot and the table has opened up for him now.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Brecel
10:39 , Mike Jones
Luca Brecel leaves the cueball slightly short of the top cushion and tempts Ronnie O’Sullivan into a long shot down the table. O’Sullivan misses the pot and the white cannons into the blue leaving Brecel with the advantage.
Brecel put on a break of 12 but misses a cut into the middle right leaving O’Sullivan with a straight red to the top left pocket.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Brecel
10:35 , Mike Jones
Over on table 2 Jak Jones from Wales has taken the first frame against Mark Allen. The Welshman is competing for the first time at the Crucible and that frame will settle him into the quarter-final.
O’Sullivan 1-1 Brecel
10:34 , Mike Jones
All square after two.
Brecel’s attacking nature almost paid off and if the red into the middle right dropped he would have had the chance to clean up.
It didn’t though and O’Sullivan dances around the table and takes the frame 116-0.
O’Sullivan 0-1 Brecel
10:32 , Mike Jones
Perhaps not. Brecel lines up an aggressive double to the middle left pocket but the red doesn’t drop. O’Sullivan then hides the cueball behind the black.
Or he tries to at least.
There’s an opportunity for Brecel to dink a red into the middle right but the ball kisses the pocket and bounces out!
O’Sullivan should take the frame now.
O’Sullivan 0-1 Brecel
10:30 , Mike Jones
Luca Brecel would have been feeling confident after the opening frame but Ronnie O’Sullivan is reminding him of just how tricky this match is going to be.
Like Brecel, O’Sullivan isn’t taking much time over each shot - an average of 18 seconds per pot - a break of 56 puts O’Sullivan 65-0 up but a lack of concentration sees him miss a black which would have won him the frame.
Is the door ajar for Brecel?
O’Sullivan 0-1 Brecel
10:25 , Mike Jones
A break of 9. An awkward angle on the pink, with the blue out of position, convinces O’Sullivan that a safety to the top cushion is the better play.
It works out as Brecel leaves him with a long pot down the left cushion which he rolls in.
Fine work from the Rocket.
O’Sullivan 0-1 Brecel
10:24 , Mike Jones
After the rapid nature of the first frame the second starts in a more measured and sedate way. Both men employing safety shots to try and force a mistake from the other.
O’Sullivan pulls out the rest and rolls in a medium length red to the bottom right leaving a simple pot for the black. What kind of break can the 7x World Champion muster from here?
O’Sullivan 0-1 Brecel
10:19 , Mike Jones
A blistering start from Luca Brecel! Ronnie O’Sullivan made a slight error on the green and the Belgian doesn’t let him back into the frame.
A break of 93 is enough for Brecel to take the frame but he misses the final red and O’Sullivan takes the opportunity to pot a few balls before conceding the frame.
Brecel leads 1-0.
O’Sullivan vs Brecel
10:15 , Mike Jones
Brecel is a quick and simple player. A rapid break of 16 sees him start to dominate the frame, he sets up a pot for the black, rolls it in and spins the cueball into the cluster of reds separating them across the table.
Lovely shot.
Brecel is in charge now.
O’Sullivan vs Brecel
10:13 , Mike Jones
Luca Brecel gets the first frame started with a nice break but he may have just left Ronnie O’Sullivan with a long pot to the bottom right pocket.
He has! O’Sullivan is on the board immediately but then misses a simple shot on the green.
Brecel has the chance to take control of this frame.
World Snooker Championship 2023
10:08 , Mike Jones
The quarter-final matches are best of 25 frames - first to 13 - and this is only the second such match that Luca Brecel has played.
His previous match of this length was in the second round of this tournament where he defeated Mark Williams 13-11. Today’s match is a totally different contest though as he’s up against the 7x World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
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