World Open Snooker 2024 as it happened - Hossein Vafaei stuns Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump wins through
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Published 21/03/2024 at 13:59 GMT
The latest round of World Open action saw Ronnie O'Sullivan go head-to-head with 'frenemy' Hossein Vafaei at the Yushan Sport Centre in Yushan, China. The two have said they are friends, despite heated exchanges on and off the baize in the past. Following that match, Ding Junhui took on Shaun Murphy. Watch and stream all the action live on Eurosport and discovery+.
'He thought he'd thrown it away' - Watch dramatic ending to O'Sullivan-Vafaei classic
That's us done for today
Join us again tomorrow for more at 6.30am GMT!
Two massive results there
Neil needs to win here to avoid Crucible qualifying, but either way he's making his way back towards his best, while Jackson, an elirte-level talent, is finally making good on his promise, playing brilliantly to beat Selbz - who's also running into form. Great stuff!
Around the tables
Neil Robertson 5-1 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 2-5 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 3-2 Daniel Wells
Ding Junhui beats Shaun Murphy 5-3!
Shaun played superbly today, but Ding played superber, so he meets Hossein Vafaei, conqueror of Ronnie O'Sullivan, in the last eight. What a match! Shaun, by the way now knows he's not qualified to defend his Tour Chammpionship title, but will also arrive at the Cruce knowing he's in nick.
Murphy 3-4 Ding (1-59)
There are two reds above the black: do they plant? Ding thinks they do ... and he's right! That's the match!
Murphy 3-4 Ding (1-51)
Ding does just that, and with Sheffield on the horizon, he'll be thiniing this might just be the year he finally completes his career by winning the biggun. And as far as today goes, he's nearly there.
Murphy 3-4 Ding (1-30)
All Ding needs to do is pot balls, and luckily for him, there's nothing he does better. There are big shots still to play, but if he goes down to baulk, he'll find easy reds and the blue there to help him.
Murphy 3-4 Ding (1-8)
Nope, he's can't get on a colour so, with reds now down the table, we might have our first tactical frame of the match ... or not, Ding slotting an opener into the green bag following a poor shot from Shaun, and might that be his last in this competition? The pink is now free, he sinks it, and the Magician will be fearing the worst.
Murphy 3-4 Ding (1-1)
A lovely red down the side sees Shaun away and really this match deserves a decider. But he can't drain a nasty pink to middle, hitting the far knuckle, and though pink and black are tied up, Ding will fancy building a lead from here.
Around the tables
Neil Robertson 3-1 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 2-4 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 2-2 Daniel Wells
Murphy 3-4 Ding
Every frame here has been clinched with a quality run, and whoever koses will do so with no regrets, knowing they've played great but so has their opponent.
Murphy 3-3 Ding (17-62)
Yup, he does, then on 58 he needs a double to keep the run going ... so that 's what he finds, hitting it hard then sliding a good green to the corne,r securing the frame barring snookers. The standard of this match is off the charts and Ding looks fanrtastic out there.
Murphy 3-3 Ding (17-19)
He cannot, playing down the table and safe then, a few shots later, he finds a plant and this time gets lucky as balls move about the table! So far, luck is the difference in this match and I've no doubt Ding'll make the most of the opoprtunity.
Murphy 3-3 Ding (17-1)
Ding missesrto left corner, the red almost scooting along the rail and into right. But instead, Shaun comes to the table and tidies it up, soon nudges the pack ... then leaves a black in the jaws! He covers the pocket, but it doesn't matter because ding cuts to the middle ... only to snooker himself on all the colours in among the reds! Can he come off the side and pot the black? I don't think he can...
Around the tables
Neil Robertson 3-1 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-4 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 2-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 3-3 Ding
Another frame another clearance, thia time a 121, and this is fantastic stuff.
Murphy 2-3 Ding (82-1)
These boys can play, I don't know what more to tell you. Shaun clears the reds and will now secure another century.
Murphy 2-3 Ding (45-1)
Shaun tidies up loose balls, but there are three reds near the side rail of which I think he'll need one. I'm certain he'll manage that.
Murphy 2-3 Ding (16-1)
Shaun gets in and misses a black, but off his first red Ding finds himself stuck in between a poair of others on the side. So he plays safe, leaves a starter, and once again you expect Shaun to extract full benefit.
Around the tables
Neil Robertson 3-1 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-4 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 2-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 2-3 Ding
We knew each player had to play no-miss snooker to beat the other, and here's the other side of the same coin: making the most of any luck you get. No ton, but another fine break, 83, and Ding leads again.
Murphy 2-2 Ding (1-65)
Ding is just so so good in the balls, his cue-ball control meaning there's not much to say about this because every pot, pretty much, is an easy one - though, a few shots ago, he sunk a nice cut with the rest. He's going back in front thanks in part to a fluke, but you've still got to capitalise.
Murphy 2-2 Ding (1-43)
And he does, but he's running out of easy balls. There are four close together not far form right corner, and if he can get in among those, he waon't beed any of the three on the cushions.
Murphy 2-2 Ding (1-1)
Ding flukes a starter to right corner, his chosen ball flicking anothewr and proceding to right corner. There are points out there, and he's in the kind of form to take them.
We go again...
Around the tables
Neil Robertson 2-0 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-2 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 0-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 2-2 Ding
Ding replies to Shaun's ton with a ton of his own - both now have six in this tournament - and we hit the mid-sesh none the wiser as to who might win, but in the knowledge that this match is every bit as good as we thought it'd be.
Murphy 2-1 Ding (0-87)
Ding secures the frame, his cue-ball contrl impeccable.
Murphy 2-1 Ding (0-47)
Ding pots balls. The autobiography title he never had.
Murphy 2-1 Ding (0-15)
Eesh, en route back to baulk, Shaun clips a red on the side and has he left owt? Yes he has, so chance for Ding - an good one, reds scattered all about the top half tof the table. "It seems nearly impossible he won't win the frame from here," reckons Fergal.
Around the tables
Neil Robertson 2-0 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-2 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 0-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 2-1 Ding
It's a proper standard is this.
Murphy 1-1 Ding (74-31)
Shaun sees both away easily enough, and assuming he sorts a simple final red and gets on to a colour, this will be 2-1 to him. Down it does, frame-ball, the black ensures Ding won't return to the table, and losing this'll sting him.
Murphy 1-1 Ding (36-31)
There are two reds on the side and Shaun will need both, but he knows that taking this frame will hurt Ding and he's laser-focused on making that happen.
Murphy 1-1 Ding (0-31)
Ding breaks the pack, claret spews everywhere, and he daren't miss ... then does, a simple enough red to right corner. Who saw that coming?! Chance for Shaun!
Murphy 1-1 Ding (0-20)
Ding guides a lovely starter from middle to corner, slides home the yellow and brings the white around the angles so he's about the black spot. The way these are playing, you excpect a frame-winning opportunity butm pro that he is, Ding will know that how well Shaun's playing means he's to be careful because any miss is likely to be punished.
Around the tables
Neil Robertson 1-0 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 1-1 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 0-1 Daniel Wells
Murphy 1-1 Ding
The pink brings up the ton, Shaun doesn't bother with the black, and this is brewing into a very fine tussle.
Murphy 0-1 Ding (78-0)
No one loves showing how good they are more than Shaun, and when he's good he's very very very good. There's a red near the side byh the baulk line, the only ball between him and a ton.
Murphy 0-1 Ding (46-0)
there's no reason at all to think Shaun won't finish the frame at this visit and both men are playing nicely.
Murphy 0-1 Ding (34-0)
Someone knocks at my door to deliver some jump leads - my car's in the garage and I'cve managed to run down the battery of the one I borrowed off a mate - so I miss Shaun getting in, apologies. But he does only to run out of position ... but he plays a safety that yields an error from Ding, and now he's back about the black spot potting balls, plenty of points there for him despite an infelicitous split.
Around the tables
Neil Robertson 0-0 Chris Wakelin
Mark Selby 0-1 Jackson Page
Eliott Slessor 0-0 Daniel Wells
Results from earlier
Judd Trump 5-3 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 5-4 Ben Woollaston
Murphy 0-1 Ding
Excellent work from Ding, and he hits the front.
Murphy 0-0 Ding (26-60)
Ding in the balls is one of the most glorious sights in sport, and he quickly enjoys the fruits of Shaun's labour, calmly slotting easy balls.
Murphy 0-0 Ding (26-6)
Even pockets as generous as these won't accept a black Shuna cuts back, so a reprieve for Ding along with a chance to socre; he'll take that.
Murphy 0-0 Ding (16-6)
Ding's looked good this week but Shaun's in nick too and he's quickly at the table with the balls broken. No one will enjoy disappointing the vocal hoe crowd more than him.
Ding emerges to a rapturous reception
This is going to be good.
We're back!
That's us done for now
We'll be back at 11.30am GMT with a belter: Ding Junhui v Shaun Murphy.
Hossein Vafaei beats Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-4!
Well done Hossein Vafaei! he rebounds from the misery of choking his chance to take out his second, and the two players enjoy a moment together; Ronnie knows how big this is for his opponent. So he moves on, still in with a chance of making the Tour Championships and the Cruce as a seeed. But for now, a W over TMNTPETPUAC is more than enough!
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei (63-57)
Ronnie plays a poor shot and Hossein has a chance at the yellow ... which he clips to the corner! he's tossed this match once, but now he's favourite! Pink to black, the latter languishing on the top rail, is the key shot and here it comes ... lovely. A blac along the rail for the match! Can he do it?! TENSION! DRAMA! PRESSURE!
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei (63-37)
Ronnie flukes a snooker; Hossein escapes well, a match-saving shot really. But have a look! From near the black spot, Ronnie clips a red from near the brown into the yellow bag - a tremendous pot, but one that doesn't quite secure the match. A black along the top rail, though, won't drop - in comms, Nealf wonders why he played it so hard - and Hossein is still in this, just!
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei (62-37)
Ronnie misses a thin contact and this is tense now; I've not a clue who's going to win.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei (62-33)
Potting pink to middle, Ronnie cannons a pair of stuck reds, jabs another into the same bag - "What a brilliant shot that is," marvels Fouldsy. "Looked simple but it wasn't." So it's just the red on black cush to go, then colours off their spots; can he drop in behind it? Er, no. Relief for Hossein who leaps up, but where will he be left? Nowhere terrible, so here we go!
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei (35-33)
Somehow, a red wriggles into the green bag - the pockets are generous but even so - a fantastic blue follows, and we've seen this one before, haven't we?
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei (15-33)
"OH WOW!" exclaims Nealf! "What a miss! Wow! Well I've seen nothing like that!" And he's seen a bit. An absolute sitter to right corner doesn't drop and I'm afraid it's hard to describe that as anything other than a choke. It's understandable too - Ronnie has that effect on people - and he quickly sets about administering due punishment.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei (0-26)
Hossein knows he can't afford to land a 40 or 50 - he has to finish this now. So he breaks the pack, and this is now a brilliant opportunity for him to record his first win over the greatest of all time.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei (0-4)
The players shake hands then Ronnie's break leaves one to the middle and Hossein nips it down. He moves back up the table off the yellow, slots a red, and already this looks a dfair opportunity. Can he hold it down?
Around the tables
Judd Trump 4-3 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 3-3 Ben Woollaston
O'Sullivan 4-4 Vafaei
A lovely cutback red with the rest, down the side rail, keeps the run going, it soon becomes yet another ton, and a total of 119 means we've got ourselves the decider we deserve.
O'Sullivan 3-4 Vafaei (65-0)
The ehight of Ronnie: when he needs to, he finds his best form of the match.
O'Sullivan 3-4 Vafaei (44-0)
Just the easy reds, and Ronnie will have forced a decider. He's so so diffcult to beat, something we can forget when rhapsodising his genius in the balls.
O'Sullivan 3-4 Vafaei (15-0)
Ronnie's struggled to score today, not words one often types, but he's in at the start of frame eight and, so far this season, he's largely found what he's needed when he's needed it wiothout playing that well.
Around the tables
Barry Hawkins 5-1 Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump 4-3 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 3-2 Ben Woollaston
O'Sullivan 3-4 Vafaei
not only has Hossein never beaten Ronnie, he's been battered every time they've played. Well, not now; he's one away from a huge win.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Vafaei (8-65)
Ronnie gets in but a poor shot means a pressure-red with the rest .. and he misses it! So Hossein rolls in a simple starter, without apparent plan for what comes next. No matter, he can send a blue long to the yellow and doe; this is going to be 4-3.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Vafaei (0-50)
Hossein knows he can't afford to botch this chance, and that 50 points aren't enough. That, though, is when things get tricky so, with palpable regret, it's a safety, frame still in the balance despite his handy lead.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Vafaei (0-20)
Hossein drills a fine starter into right corner but soon loses position, but when Ronnie goes in-off he's back at the table with plenty at which to go; "What an opportunity," muses Nealf.
Around the tables
Barry Hawkins 4-1 Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump 3-2 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 3-1 Ben Woollaston
O'Sullivan 3-3 Vafaei
A best of three it is.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Vafaei (67-42)
A tremendous pot from Ronnie, a red sent from near the blue spot to right corner, but the colours are in funny places so lozzing them won't be straightforward. A lovely yellow, though, caressed long, keeps him going, but can he slot a brown along the baulk line? Of course he can. Hossein now needs a snooker, but a blue slid to the centre secures things.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Vafaei (45-42)
He can't, the chase for it on, and this might be the pivotal passage of this match.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Vafaei (42-42)
Ronnie empties the busines end then, after missing a cannon glides to left-centre instead. From here, though, things get difficult, so he rams down a yellow, manages to slide a red to the middle, and this is very good work. If he can get across to the last red, just below the baulk line and towards the side, the frame will be his.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Vafaei (8-42)
Patiently, Hossein works in baulk, then comes up the table for blacks with the few reds in that area. But a poor shot forces him to try a double to left-middle ... and he misses. So Ronnie returns to the table well in a frame he should've lost, sinks the starter he's left, and can he steal?
O'Sullivan 2-3 Vafaei (8-6)
Playing from black cush, our players sends reds towards baulk, then Hossein funds a plant and, with reds everywhere, he's a chance for a two-frame lead heading into the home straight. Because the balls are in baulk, he'll be taking low-value colours, but if he bins them all it doesn't matter.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Vafaei (8-0)
Ronnie clunks a gorgeous starter into the green bag, a shot so good Hossein applauds. But rattling the pack yields nowt so it's a safety, reds everywhere.
Around the tables
Barry Hawkins 3-1 Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump 2-2 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 3-1 Ben Woollaston
O'Sullivan 2-3 Vafaei
He doesn't miss and again, the prince goes in front.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Vafaei (43-34)
Hossein bins the succession of easy balls Ronnie's left for him, and it's hard to see where he misses.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Vafaei (43-1)
Ronnie screws back ..,and the white goes into the middle! Chance for Hossein, the balls all there for him.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Vafaei (17-0)
A bit of safety, then Hossein leaves a simple starter and Ronnie gets going. The Prince will have feared this: a bit of phoney war then, with the match in the balance, TMNTPETPUAC does what he does.
We go again
Around the tables
Barry Hawkins 2-1 Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump 2-1 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 1-1 Ben Woollaston
O'Sullivan 2-2 Vafaei
Ronnie levels the match, and coming back the interval, we've got ourselves a best of five. Lovely stuff!
O'Sullivan 1-2 Vafaei (52-19)
A cut0back black stays out, by a way - it was never in - and I'm certain ronnie will secure the frame from here because he doesnt need the two cushioned reds.
O'Sullivan 1-2 Vafaei (51-3)
Ronnie zips around the table doing what he does, but will need to cannon the five reds below the pink, he ges now and is he on one? He is not, so it's a decent safety with Hossein still in the frame; he plays a poor shot ... and flukes a red off the right side into left corner! This game!
O'Sullivan 1-2 Vafaei (8-0)
Ronnie chips a starter into right-middle then sends a glorious pink down the same hole and he's in.
Around the tables
Barry Hawkins 1-1 Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump 2-0 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 1-1 Ben Woollaston
O'Sullivan 1-2 Vafaei
Ronnie misses a red and concedes.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Vafaei (8-73)
A pink leaves Ronnie needing a snooker, but running out of position, Hossein sends one towards the green bag as a shot to nowt ... and it stays out. So Ronnie will close the gap seeking a snookering opportunity - and taking a yellow means he now needs two of the badgers.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Vafaei (4-26)
Tht last frame was the opposite of what you'd expect from these two, and Hossein is quickly making up for lost time. This looked a great chance at conception, and nothing has happened to change that since. The Prince will be spewing if he can't secure this at this visit.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Vafaei (4-1)
Ronnie leaves one to left corner via miserable shot, Hossein cuts it home easily enough, and there are points out there - loads of them.
Around the tables
Barry Hawkins 1-1 Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump 2-0 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 1-0 Ben Woollaston
O'Sullivan 1-1 Vafaei
This is one reason he's the greatest, Ronnie maintaining discipline to see out a minger of a frame and level the match.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei (62-40)
A poor shot from Hossein leaves a starter to left corner, Ronnie bins it and the last, so it's colours from slightly unusual positions for 1-1.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei (45-40)
Ronnie wins the safety exchange, but there are two reds fastened to black cush and he'll need both, so winning the frame at this visit looks unlikely. But looking to come into them off the side following a pink to middle, he misses the pot and the cannon doesn't work. This frame isn't close to over.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei (27-33)
Hossein misses to the middle and we now have a trick tanle, reds on black cush and others just above. We may be here a while.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei (26-27)
Trying to force balls into play, Ronnie goes in-off and Hossein clips in a starter then again gets to work, enjoying the fruits of his opponent's labour.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei (26-8)
A bit of safety, then Ronnie takes a beauty from middle to right corner, he comes back up the table and rthere's no onew better at picking a route through a mish-mash of reds apparently blocking each other. But so far this week, the consistency hasn't been there, and he's having to fight to sustain the run.
Around the tables
Barry Hawkins 0-0 Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump 0-0 David Lilley
Kyren Wilson 0-0 Ben Woollaston
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei
Hossein hits the front.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Vafaei (26-67)
Hossein does the necessary, and this is a good start - from him and to the match.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Vafaei (26-35)
Hossein accumulates, and he should really take the frame from here. There are four reds clustered, but he should be able to pick the balls off.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Vafaei (26-7)
Ronnie misses a red to the centre and flicks out a stray that means Hossein can get going. He needs to cash-in here.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Vafaei (26-0)
Hossein goes at one to right corner, misses, and Ronnie gets himself going ... but not for long, overcutting to that same right-corner bag but quite some way. So the Prince of Persia cuts a starter to the yellow ... and goes in-off, allowing the Rocket to send down a nice starter and get going again.
And off we go
We're not all on GMT
But there's something beautiful about some 6.30am Ronnie O'Sullivan isn't there? Add to that some Hossein Vafaei, and the needle between them from last year's Worldsm- before Ronnie won 13-2 - and you've got some decent morning fun.
How do?
Off we go again...
O'Sullivan and Vafaei to lock cues in feisty clash
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Hossein Vafaei will chase a spot in the World Open quarter-finals when they meet on Thursday morning in Yushan (6:30am GMT live on Eurosport and discovery+) in an intriguing clash marked by the memories of two bizarre break-off shots.
O'Sullivan won the final three frames to fend off Lyu Haotian 5-2 in the last 32 on Wednesday after Vafaei defeated former Welsh Open winner Robert Milkins by the same scoreline earlier in the day.
Judging by recent history, the last-16 dust-up won't be one for the faint-hearted.
Iran's leading player Vafaei was upset after O'Sullivan produced a classic pool shot in a qualifier for the German Masters in October 2021 when he smashed the balls open off the break without any care in the fifth frame.
Trailing 4-0, the world No. 1 managed to hole an opening red and was spotted chuckling at the table, but it was no laughing matter for the former Shoot Out winner, who responded with a similar break-off shot at the World Championship last April by splattering the reds everywhere in the first frame.
Desmond Kane looks at why the showdown between the pair could be tasty...
Wednesday recap - O'Sullivan and Trump remain on collision course
Ronnie O'Sullivan ran off three frames in a row to complete a 5-2 victory over Lyu Haotian and book his place in the last 16 of the World Open.
'The Rocket' was much improved from the previous round and made four 50-plus breaks, including a century, to set up a meeting with Hossein Vafaei.
Lyu played his part in a high-quality contest but was left to rue a simple miss on a yellow that would have drawn him level at 3-3 before a poor break-off shot allowed O'Sullivan to seal his progress in style.
Judd Trump also booked his place in the last 16 with a 5-3 win over Fan Zhengyi.
Full report here
- - -
Stream top snooker action, including the World Open, live on discovery+
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement