Gibraltar Open 2022 LIVE snooker updates - Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson in action

Updated 24/03/2022 at 18:31 GMT

Hello and welcome to Eurosport's live coverage of the 2022 Gibraltar Open. Today we will surely enjoy some real drama as Neil Robertson takes on Liang Wenbo in late-afternoon action. Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson are also among the stars playing. Remember, you can stream all of the enthralling action from the Gibraltar Open live and on-demand on discovery+

Watch in full as Neil Robertson compiles a 750th career century

Robertson 4-2 Lines

Neil Robertson put together runs of 61, 67, 61 and 112 to see of a stubborn Oliver Lines in their second-round match. The Australian takes on Rory McLeod next.

German Masters

Trump whitewashes Kleckers in Berlin, Brecel exits

29/01/2024 at 23:40

Around the tables

Matthew Stevens 3-3 Ali Carter

Neil Robertson 2-1 Oliver Lines

Ding Junhui 2-1 Gary Wilson

Louis Heathcote 3-3 Ken Doherty

Ross Muir 0-0 Lyu Haotian

Aaron Hill 4-3 Stuart Carrington

Noppon Saengkham 0-0 Soheil Vahedi

Luca Brecel 3-0 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 2-0 Jak Jones

Farakh Ajaib 0-0 Michael Georgiou

Wilson 4-0 Hicks (89-8)

Sadly no century for Wilson as he fails to sink the green and finishes on a break of 80, but a magnificent performance from the 2020 runner-up, who will play Ali Carter or Matthews Stevens in round three. Eight frames played and eight frames won so far for Kyren

Wilson 3-0 Hicks (*68-8)

Is Kyren going to round things off with a third straight century? Three reds left and he's on 59 for this visit to the table. There's no way back for Hicks now

Wilson 3-0 Hicks (*20-8)

And Wilson just keeps on getting opportunities. He screws into the pack but sticks to a red, so that break ends at 8, but he's gifted another opportunity and this time it looks even more promising as he goes into the pack for a second time and spreads them perfectly

Wilson 3-0 Hicks (1-8)

Wilson is first at the table in frame four but misses a green. Hicks now has a chance himself, but misses the most straightforward of reds to the right middle. He just hasn't got going - and he's left a red for Wilson to pick off

Around the tables

Matthew Stevens 2-3 Ali Carter

Daniel Womersley 0-2 Rory McLeod

Neil Robertson 2-1 Oliver Lines

Ding Junhui 2-0 Gary Wilson

Louis Heathcote 3-3 Ken Doherty

Aaron Hill 3-3 Stuart Carrington

Noppon Saengkham 0-0 Soheil Vahedi

Luca Brecel 2-0 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 1-0 Jak Jones

Farakh Ajaib 0-0 Michael Georgiou

Wilson 3-0 Hicks (100-25)

And there we have it. Century number 50 for the season came in frame one, and number 51 follows in frame three. Excellent from Wilson, who has sprinted into a 3-0 lead and is looking in incredible touch

Wilson 2-0 Hicks (*61-25)

Now 61 and counting for Wilson with two reds still left on the table. There's another century possible here

Wilson 2-0 Hicks (*16-25)

Glorious stuff from Wilson, who capitalises on Hicks missing a double by sending a red into the right middle, but it's the positional play that's most impressive, playing with right-hand side to be on the black. Give this five minutes and it could be 3-0

Wilson 2-0 Hicks (0-25)

An opening burst of 24 for Hicks before playing safe with no pot on. He's left a plant a few shots down the line though and sinks that nicely. A safety battle follows though as once more he had nothing to play on

Wilson 2-0 Hicks (0-8*)

Wilson was a runner-up here in 2020 when he lost 4-3 in the final, so he's hungry to go one step further this year. He starts frame three by missing a pretty tricky long pot, but doesn't leave anything. A few shots down the line though and Hicks sinks a double which didn't look on. Can he strike back?

Around the tables

Matthew Stevens 1-3 Ali Carter

Daniel Womersley 0-3 Rory McLeod

Neil Robertson 1-0 Oliver Lines

Ding Junhui 1-0 Gary Wilson

Louis Heathcote 3-3 Ken Doherty

Aaron Hill 2-3 Stuart Carrington

Farakh Ajaib 4-2 Ashley Carty

Luca Brecel 1-0 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 0-0 Jak Jones

Xiao Guodong 2-3 Zhang Anda

Wilson 2-0 Hicks (89-32)

Six frames played and six frames won at the Gibraltar Open so far. Wilson rattles in a lovely 75 and he's half-way to victory

Wilson 1-0 Hicks (*52-32)

This is excellent from Wilson. There's one red that rattles in the jaws and somehow goes down, but other than that a flawless break so far, nudging and kissing his way around the table. There's two reds left and he's nearing the snookers required stage

Wilson 1-0 Hicks (*10-32)

A bit of bad luck for Hicks, who goes in-off after potting the yellow. With cue ball returned to the D, Wilson has a simple enough long red to the right middle the sinks into the heart of the pocket. A green, red and blue folow and suddenly this is beginning to look like another very good opening

Wilson 1-0 Hicks (8-31)

A wonderful long red from Hicks, and he nicely lands on the black too. The luck isn't going his way though - all the reds are blocking each other's path, despite how nicely they seem to be sat. He's growing in confidence though

Wilson 1-0 Hicks (8-23)

Hicks will be kicking himself. He does all the hard working, including a superb pot on the red, before missing a reasonably straightforward black. Wilson comes to the table and picks off a loose red and the black over the pocket, but his cannon into the pack brings no joy, so he has to play safe

Wilson 1-0 Hicks (0-14*)

That was Wilson's 50th century of the season - more than anybody else - and he looks hungry for more. He does leave a red for Hicks, a tough one of the right corner, but he again misses by miles. A poor safety from Wilson leaves another opening though, and Hicks is in on this occasion

Around the tables

Matthew Stevens 1-2 Ali Carter

Daniel Womersley 0-2 Rory McLeod

Neil Robertson 0-0 Oliver Lines

Ding Junhui 0-0 Gary Wilson

Louis Heathcote 2-3 Ken Doherty

Aaron Hill 1-3 Stuart Carrington

Farakh Ajaib 3-2 Ashley Carty

Luca Brecel 0-0 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 0-0 Jak Jones

Xiao Guodong 1-3 Zhang Anda

Wilson 1-0 Hicks (125-6)

A scintilating start from 'The Warrior', who rattles in some majestic pots with the rest and looks full of confidence. He makes 100 on the nose to race into a 1-0 lead

Wilson 0-0 Hicks (*66-6)

I tell you what, Wilson looks like he means business. He scored a century and a 97 in his first round match and he's cueing beautifully here. A lovely kiss on the black brings that into play and completely opens the table up. 41 and counting from this visit

Wilson 0-0 Hicks (25-6)

Wilson responds with a rapid 25 before coming unstuck as he plays into the pack off the red, leaving himself a somewhat tricky black that he fails to pot. Hicks fails to convert a half-chance as he gets back to the table though, so no damage done

Wilson 0-0 Hicks (0-6)

Not the best start for Hicks, who sinks the first red and adds a blue before missing a third pot but absolutely miles. Joe Johnson on commentary exclaims that he's never seen Hicks miss a pot by such a distance, adding "and I've seen him play a lot". Wilson with a chance to get in now

Wilson 0-0 Hicks

And so Hicks finally plays his first shot of the tournament as he breaks off in the opening frame

How they got here

Perhaps not best to mention how they got here, given quite a few players have had to pull out of the tournament after their travel arrangements were changed - but Kyren Wilson booked his place in the second round by Lukas Kleckers 4-0, while Andy Hicks had a walkover against one of the players who couldn't make it, Wu Yize

Since we've been gone...

Okay, we haven't been anywhere really, so Kelly Clarkson need not worry too much - but there have been some interesting results since our updates from Neil Robertson's win over Liang Wembo.

Matt Selt has just crashed to a 4-1 defeat to Noppon Saengkham, while there have been second wins for Soheil Vahedi over Sean Maddocks and 4-0 victories for Jordon Brown and Jamie Jones against Luke Pinches and Iulian Boiko

Good afternoon!

Welcome back to our coverage of the first day of the Gibraltar Open! Coming up we'll be providing updates from Kyren Wilson's clash with Andy Hicks

That's all for now...

The action continues on Eurosport 2 with Matthew Selt in action, but we'll be back later for Neil Robertson's second round match against Oliver Lines

Around the tables

Elliot Slessor 0-1 Michael Georgiou

Luca Brecel 2-3 Jamie Curtis-Barrett

Zhao Xintong 2-1 Jamie Clarke

Hammad Miah 1-4 David Lilley

Soheil Vahedi 1-0 Sean Maddocks

Farahk Ajaib 0-1 Ashley Carty

Alfie Burden 2-3 Rory McLeod

Robertson 4-2 Liang (95-0)

The Thunder from Down Under finishes with a break of 46, but the match as a whole was far from a classic. Liang finishes with a pot success rate of under 80%, a margin only slightly eclipsed by Robertson. The Aussie will play Oliver Lines in the next round later on today

Robertson 3-2 Liang (*73-0)

Now here's a chance for Robertson to limp across the finish line. A mistake from Liang leaves the table open with the reds very tastily positioned. He goes past the snookers required stage...

Robertson 3-2 Liang (49-0)

A very strange look to the table, with eight of the nine remaining reds all pushed towards the right corner. Liang leaves a tricky plant, that Robertson does well to pot. He adds the pink before missing another tricky red down the left cushion. Attritional snooker

Robertson 3-2 Liang (41-0)

Well, I did say more was potentially to come, and it's just as well because Robertson, with a choice of reds, misses a fairly straightforward pot before Liang leaves him snookered behind the brown. The Thunder plays a pretty decent escape though

Robertson 3-2 Liang (*41-0)

It's the Australian who gets the next chance though, and the table looks quite handy for him, bar the black being out of play on the top cushion. He's playing around the pink spot and quickly racks up 35 with more potentially to come

Robertson 3-2 Liang (6-0)

First chance to Robertson in frame six as he pots a simple red before adding a much more complicated blue, only to then wildly clatter a red well wide of the pocket. There hasn't been much momentum in this match, but whatever momentum there is has swung Liang's way

Around the tables

Allan Taylor 0-4 Lyu Haotian

Luca Brecel 1-2 Jamie Curtis-Barrett

Zhao Xintong 0-1 Jamie Clarke

Hammad Miah 1-3 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 3-0 Stuart Watson

Gary Wilson 4-2 Mark King

Alfie Burden 2-2 Rory McLeod

Robertson 3-2 Liang (53-66)

Well, well, well. Robertson pots the brown before a safety battle on the blue, which Liang eventually pots, only for the cue to rest horribly on the side cushion. He needs to pink to take the frame and sinks to superbly. This has been gruelling and Liang is somehow still in it

Robertson 3-1 Liang (49-55)

Another foul, but this time by Liang who accidently pots the pink and leaves the yellow all in one. Robertson quickly closes the gap to six points before missing the brown with the rest. Important to note the blue is pretty safe against the left cushion - both players need it

Robertson 3-1 Liang (38-55)

Liang flukes a snooker that Robertson cannot escape from, leaving a free-ball in the process. He takes the green and then adds colour, red, colour before another fluke on the final red. Now Robertson is left with another snooker, this time behind the black

Robertson 3-1 Liang (38-41)

Robertson sinks a couple of terrific pots, including a mid-distance black, before missing the penultimate red, which clips the jaws and nestles up to the side cushion.

Robertson 3-1 Liang (9-41)

A handy 35 from Liang, but he misses a blue to the right middle, perhaps with his mind wandering to what he can pot next. He leaves another inviting table for Robertson, and the margin is only 32 with six reds left

Robertson 3-1 Liang (9-6)

But Robertson leaves himself a nasty, thin black that he fails to pot, and the cue ball spreads the pack as well. That has left things very open for Liang

Robertson 3-1 Liang (0-6)

An early chance to make an impression on frame five goes begging for Liang, who tries to drill home a red to the left corner and fails to do so. Chance now for Robertson to make his mark

Around the tables

Allan Taylor 0-4 Lyu Haotian

Luca Brecel 1-2 Jamie Curtis-Barrett

Zhao Xintong 0-0 Jamie Clarke

Hammad Miah 0-3 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 3-0 Stuart Watson

Andrew Paggett 2-4 Ali Carter

Gary Wilson 3-2 Mark King

Alfie Burden 2-1 Rory McLeod

Robertson 3-1 Liang (42-71)

Robertson misses a tough pot on the last red and leaves it for Liang to clean up. The Firecracker looked out of this a few minutes ago, but he takes the frameand reduces the defecit with some tidy potting

Robertson 3-0 Liang (42-48)

And with the final red tucked on the left cushion, Liang's break comes to an end as there's no pot on. He plays safe and just six points separate the pair with 35 left on the table

Robertson 3-0 Liang (42-44*)

A quick-fire 28 from Liang, but he runs out of position on the red. A recovery on the black sends the cue ball high up the table, but he finds another long red and adds the black. He recalims the dubious crown for highest break of the match

Robertson 3-0 Liang (42-0)

Robertson keeps going, with some nice cannons and nudges here and there, before missing a tough black to the left corner. A score of 42 is the highest break of the match, but Liang could get back in here

Robertson 3-0 Liang (*17-0)

I think it's fair to say Liang is having a stinker. He misses a regulation red and leaves Robertson at the table with a great chance to seal the match in this visit. The only problem is the green has somehow ended up in the pack, blocking a few potential pots

Around the tables

Allan Taylor 0-3 Lyu Haotian

Luca Brecel 0-2 Jamie Curtis-Barrett

Ding Junhui 4-0 Mark Lloyd

Hammad Miah 0-2 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 2-0 Stuart Watson

Andrew Paggett 2-3 Ali Carter

Gary Wilson 3-2 Mark King

Alfie Burden 2-1 Rory McLeod

Robertson 3-0 Liang (80-0)

There are still seven reds left on the table, and Robertson pots one with a superb plant when bridging over the black. He only needs two more reds to secure the frame, but sprints way past the finish line thanks to a break of 31. One frame to go for the Aussie

Robertson 2-0 Liang (49-0)

Another miss for Liang, into the same pocket, and Robertson pots the same red before rolling up behind the brown. Wembo's escape is poor and now Robertson has a real chance to score big. The highest break of the match so far is 37, and he equals that before finding the jaws with a red along the top cushion

Robertson 2-0 Liang (7-0)

The Aussie gets another chance though as Liang leaves a red over the left corner. Blue, pink and black are all off their spots, so it isn't a straightforward break from here, but he takes the former to the green pocket and pots it nicely. And after that he misses a simple enough red to the left corner. A scrappy start to frame three

Robertson 2-0 Liang (1-0)

A good opening red to left middle starts frame three for Robertson, and he's nicely on the blue - only to miss it off the spot as he tries to find position on a red

Around the tables

Allan Taylor 0-1 Lyu Haotian

Luca Brecel 0-2 Jamie Curtis-Barrett

Ding Junhui 4-0 Mark Lloyd

Hammad Miah 0-1 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 2-0 Stuart Watson

Andrew Paggett 2-2 Ali Carter

Gary Wilson 2-2 Mark King

Alfie Burden 2-1 Rory McLeod

Robertson 2-0 Liang (68-52)

And the Aussie duly delivers, including a lovely long blue. Robertson is certainly beginning to cue better than he was at the start of the match and he is half way to victory

Robertson 1-0 Liang (*50-52)

Liang calls a foul on himself as he accidently touches the cue ball with his tip. Robertson then sinks a fine red into the green pocket and looks set to double his lead

Robertson 1-0 Liang (36-52)

A good contribution of 37 from Liang before he gets down to a really tricky last red and misses that to the green corner. After the crawl through frame one, frame two has breezed by so far

Robertson 1-0 Liang (36-15)

And Robertson adds 35 before missing a red with the rest. Neal Foulds on commentary suggests he's not looking his normal self - and that could be down to the lack of practice tables in Gibraltar

Robertson 1-0 Liang (1-15)

Anearly chance for both players in frame two, but neither are able to add a significant score, and now Liang has left Robertson with a great chance to score a big break

Around the tables

Allan Taylor 0-1 Lyu Haotian

Luca Brecel 0-1 Jamie Curtis Barrett

Ding Junhui 3-0 Mark Lloyd

Hammad Miah 0-1 David Lilley

Robbie Williams 1-0 Stuart Watson

Andrew Paggett 2-2 Ali Carter

Gary Wilson 2-1 Mark King

Alfie Burden 2-0 Rory McLeod

Robertson 1-0 Liang (64-52)

Well it takes an age for the brown to go down. A mistake from Robertson leaves it hanging over the pocket, which Liang duly pots, before missing the blue by an unfathamable distance. The Thunder pots it and adds the pink and draws a scrappy frame to an end with the black.

Robertson 0-0 Liang (45-48)

Liang doubles the green before putting the brown safe, and Robertson's escape, which results in a double-kiss, is poor. Wembo needs up to the pink, but misses the brown with the rest. Still all to play for

Robertson 0-0 Liang (45-45)

And that snooker pays dividends for Robertson, as Wembo leaves a simple red with his escape. The Aussie picks off the final two reds and sinks the yellow, but then misses a long green by a mile

Robertson 0-0 Liang (27-45)

Liang misses a red to the left corner and that opens the door for Robertson. He adds seven, two reds and a colour, including a terrific double, before rolling a snooker in behind the yellow

Robertson 0-0 Liang (20-45)

Liang wins the resulting safety battle after a mistake by Robertson. The former UK Championship runner-up is left with a simple red to the middle and follows it with a pink. He runs into trouble though when potting the black to put it back on its spot, meaning there's no potting angle on the red.

Robertson 0-0 Liang (20-24)

Robertson responds with a massive fluke into the left middle. He flicks an apology in Liang's direction. What 'The Firecracker' can't see is the massive smile on Neil's face. The table is open and he picks off a few reds before catching the green with the cue ball when trying to get in and out of baulk

Robertson 0-0 Liang (0-24)

Liang gets his hand on the table first with a red into the green pocket. The black is tied up, making scoring difficult, but he somehow picks a gap to send a long pink into the yellow corner. That, though, is followed by missing a pink off its spot

Robertson 0-0 Liang

Robertson wins the coin toss and elects to break. This first round match is underway...

Around the tables

Just a quick update on some of the other results this morning. They're best of seven matches, so plenty have finished already including:

Ken Doherty 4-0 Lee Stephens

Hang Li 0-4 Luke Pinches

Aaron Hill 4-0 Rod Lawler

Robertson getting familiar with the locals

The Thunder from Down Under got to know some of the local wildlife. He'll be hoping Liang doesn't throw the cat among the pigeons this lunch-time.

Robertson and Liang to join us shortly

Well we've already had some nail-biters this morning. Zhang Anda has just edged past Barry Hawkins, winning 4-3 in a match he should have put to bed far earlier

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the 2022 Gibraltar Open.

We will surely enjoy some real drama as Neil Robertson takes on Liang Wenbo in late-morning action.

Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson are also among the stars playing as they face Mark Lloyd and Lukas Kleckers respectively.

The big snooker debate that will not go away

Earlier this week, David Hendon filed his latest expert column for Eurosport, and you can read it here.

Prize money distribution in snooker is a subject of much discussion among players, many of whom are unhappy with the present arrangements, writes Eurosport commentator Hendon.

There is a strong argument for a rejigging of the prize money structure lower down the professional side of the sport. However, there are arguments on both sides of this debate.