World Open snooker 2024 recap - Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump claim wins after Luca Brecel beats Oliver Brown
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 19/03/2024 at 16:36 GMT
We're back with LIVE coverage from the World Open as the last 64 hots up. World champion Luca Brecel and John Higgins headline the early action before Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump take centre-stage. Seven-time Crucible conqueror O'Sullivan faces Michael White in his opener in China, while Trump – who triumphed the last time the tournament was played in 2019 – meets Sanderson Lam.
Watch: Surety's stunning first-ever 147 break at World Open in full
That's us done for today
Join us again tomorrow at 6.30am GMT for day three!
Around the tables
Cao Yupeng 4-3 Noppon Saengkham
He Guoqiang 2-2 Wang Xinbo
Neil Robertson 3-1 Tian Pengfei
Matthew Stevens 3-2 Ryan Day
Chris Wakelin 2-3 Jordan Brown
Judd Trump beats Sanderson Lam 5-2!
Judd rattles in a red so Sanderson concedes. The Ace didn't play well, apparently, taking two frames on the black, but he's won five ranking titles this term so is in nick, and will be a big threat in Sheffield. He meets Fan Zhengyi next.
Trump 4-2 Lam (73-0)
As we switch to this match, Judd plays safe and Sanderosn returns to the table needing four snookers.
Let's call in on Judd Trump
He's about to finish off Sanderson Lam...
Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Michael White 5-3!
Michael played much better once he was 3-1 down, but beating Ronnie from behind is even harder than beating him full stop and, though he had a chance to force a decider, you never got the sense he believed he'd make it happen. TMNTPETPUAC meets Lyu Haotian next.
O'Sullivan 4-3 White (39-53)
A short safety exchange then Michael leaves red over yellow pocket, and Ronnie will surely finish this now.
O'Sullivan 4-3 White (34-53)
Michael might use the opportunity to develop the cushioned red but instead tries a snooker by the black - it's next to right corner - but instead leaves a cut to left-middle. Ronnie sends it down, lays that snooker properly, and uses the ensuing free ball to stick the yellow back on its spot ... except he misses the pot! The red is safe, but give nothing else is, whoever sinks it shoud take the frame.
O'Sullivan 4-3 White (29-53)
Oh my complete and utter absolute days! Ronnie botches another sitter, tumping the butt of his cue against the cushion, enraged. He's struggled with those mid-range pots just off straight today, but when Michael misses a black he returns to the table 20 points behind and with two reds left. So he tries to get in behind the black ... only to go in-off, and this is now very tense.
O'Sullivan 4-3 White (3-32)
Terrific shot from Michael, stunning hard into the pack from underneath and sending claret everywhere. The balls are there for him, but he'll know that iof he misses, it's curtains. AND HE DOES MISS! A cheer goes up from people watching a nearby table, the black stays out of left corner, and surely Ronnie now finishes this?
O'Sullivan 4-3 White (3-23)
Ronnie gets in off Michael's break but then undercuts a red to right corner and now Michael has a chance. He's playing much better now and if he can force a decider, who knows what happens next?
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/03/19/3933090-79894568-2560-1440.jpg)
'Outrageous fluke' from O'Sullivan - but which pocket does the blue go in?
Around the tables
Cao Yupeng 4-2 Noppon Saengkham
He Guoqiang 2-1 Wang Xinbo
Neil Robertson 2-1 Tian Pengfei
Matthew Stevens 2-2 Ryan Day
Judd Trump 4-1 Sanderson Lam
Chris Wakelin 1-3 Jordan Brown
O'Sullivan 4-3 White
No ton this time, but Ronnie zooms back into the lead and Michael needs to straight for his first win over the greatest of all time.
O'Sullivan 3-3 White (73-0)
Very quickly, Ronnie eases home enough balls to secure the frame. He knows that if he's dialled in, Michael can't beat him, so here he is.
O'Sullivan 3-3 White (28-0)
For Michael to make 3-3, you've have assumed pre-match he'd have to play well, but he hasn't. Rather Ronnie has missed some sitters, but now it's grtting tight I'd expect him to concentrate harder and a cut to the green bag sees him away. He then breaks the pack, lands on a ball, and this is a good chance.
Around the tables
Cao Yupeng 4-1 Noppon Saengkham
He Guoqiang 2-1 Wang Xinbo
Neil Robertson 2-1 Tian Pengfei
Matthew Stevens 2-2 Ryan Day
Judd Trump 4-1 Sanderson Lam
Chris Wakelin 1-3 Jordan Brown
O'Sullivan 3-3 White
Now then! Michael's best run of the match, a terrific 96, and this s now a best of three!
O'Sullivan 3-2 White (23-65)
Michael's growing in confidence now and he taskes these well. The final two reds aren't far off the side rals, but he gets nicely on the first...
O'Sullivan 3-2 White (23-18)
Ronnie just can't get any consistency, a straightforward missed red handing Michael another opportunity. He'll be hearing opportunity knocking here, but can he keep his nerves in check?
O'Sullivan 3-2 White (17-10)
Ronnie sends down a long starter to left corner then deposits black in right, in the process moving a red that was covering its spot; brilliant behaviour, and this is a great chance for a big break.
O'Sullivan 3-2 White (1-10)
Ronnie goes in-off and Michael gets away, but a jawsed black - "a terrible miss," says Neal, "nothing remotely difficult about that shot" - means end of break, though there's no chance left.
Around the tables
Cao Yupeng 3-1 Noppon Saengkham
He Guoqiang 2-1 Wang Xinbo
Neil Robertson 2-1 Tian Pengfei
Matthew Stevens 2-2 Ryan Day
Judd Trump 3-1 Sanderson Lam
Chris Wakelin 0-3 Jordan Brown
O'Sullivan 3-2 White
Michael does the necessary, and 2-3 is a decet result given how he's played.
O'Sullivan 3-1 White (29-48)
A fine red leaves Ronnie top-side of the blue but a few shots later a kick on the green makes the final red a difficiult red ... and when he misses it, he leaves Michael a fourth chance to close to 3-2.
O'Sullivan 3-1 White (8-47)
Good work from Michael, who clears balls ... only to direct a blue he's made harder by landing on the side cushion, into the far jaw. Given the whereabouts of the reds, this will soon be 4-1, you'd imagine.
O'Sullivan 3-1 White (7-17)
Ronnie plays a roll-up but leaves one to right corner and Michael sends it down ... only to go in-off potting the pink. TMNTPETPUAC then guides down a nice starter ... only to miss a straight blue! I didn't see that coming at all, and Nealf reckons he's never seen Ronnie bitch one of those, but he leaves Michael what is now a third chance of the frame. Can he take it?
O'Sullivan 3-1 White (0-11)
It's Michael in ... and out, again, a cannon off the black going wrong and forcing him to play safe. You don't get the sense he's enjoying this.
We go again
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/03/19/3933012-79893013-2560-1440.jpg)
'Typically quickfire stuff' - O'Sullivan rattles in terrific 129 break at World Open
Around the tables
Cao Yupeng 2-0 Noppon Saengkham
He Guoqiang 0-1 Wang Xinbo
Neil Robertson 1-0 Tian Pengfei
Matthew Stevens 2-0 Ryan Day
Judd Trump 1-1 Sanderson Lam
Chris Wakelin 0-3 Jordan Brown
O'Sullivan 3-1 White
Yup, another ton, the 50th of a fine season, a fluked blue keeps the run going ... then he goes in-off potting the fifth. We'll be back in 15 for the conclusion, but this match has about it a distinct feel of O-V-E-R.
O'Sullivan 2-1 White (73-2)
Ronnie quickly secures the frame, a lovely red into right corner keeping him on course for another ton. He's putting on a show now.
O'Sullivan 2-1 White (46-2)
Against ronnie things just happen so quickly and he somehow conjures a cannon into an uninviting-looking bunch, the balls fanning nicely. This looks a lot like 3-1.
O'Sullivan 2-1 White (1-2)
Michael sinks a starter but a kiss on the brown ensures he's not on a colour. Soon after, he leaves a starter, Ronnie slots it, and he back at the table potting balls.
Around the tables
Cao Yupeng 2-0 Noppon Saengkham
He Guoqiang 0-1 Wang Xinbo
Neil Robertson 0-0 Tian Pengfei
Matthew Stevens 2-0 Ryan Day
Judd Trump 1-1 Sanderson Lam
Chris Wakelin 0-2 Jordan Brown
O'Sullivan 2-1 White
Weird: Ronnie gets on that red and, on contact, it moves away from the rail it's meant to slide along ... and still drops. A total clearance of 129 and this looks ominous for Michael.
O'Sullivan 1-1 White (86-0)
Ronnie secures the frame and is now ton-hunting, the red in the middle of black cush the main barrier to that.
O'Sullivan 1-1 White (48-0)
Methodically, ronnie eliminates balls, and there are loads of reds free. It's a difficult game, but given the whereabouts of the balls, you can't imagine him missing until the frame is over.
O'Sullivan 1-1 White (18-0)
Ronnie cuts a atarter to right corner and quickly gets to work, a fine blue to the yellow rescuing a break when a red blocks the black's route to the bag. He's looking good now.
Around the tables
Cao Yupeng 1-0 Noppon Saengkham
He Guoqiang 0-1 Wang Xinbo
Neil Robertson 0-0 Tian Pengfei
Matthew Stevens 1-0 Ryan Day
Judd Trump 0-1 Sanderson Lam
Chris Wakelin 0-1 Jordan Brown
Dave Gilbert w/o Fan Zhengyi
O'Sullivan 1-1 White
Michael clinches an absolute dog of a frame and we're back level.
O'Sullivan 1-0 White (35-55)
Oh dear, oh dear. Michael misses another easy ball, a red rolled into left corner, he leaves it over the bag ... and somehow Ronnie goes in-off, rolling back into right-middle! I didn't see that coming and nor did our players, but surely the underdog now puts this frame out of its misery.
O'Sullivan 1-0 White (27-28)
Oh man, Michael absolutely buthcers a pink to left corner ... only for Ronnie to miss a red to the same bag. Yet another chance for the Welshman!
O'Sullivan 1-0 White (21-12)
Ronnie misses a starter and sends the white down but Michael can't capitalise, over-cutting and over-hitting a black; chance for Ronnie with a few loose balls to go at ... but he misses to left corner, still not settled and leaving a dolly starter in the process. Michael, though, tries to slam down a green in order to break the pack and misses both. He looks really tense out there, but with noting on, Ronnie has to play into the pack.
Around the tables
Cao Yupeng 0-0 Noppon Saengkham
He Guoqiang 0-0 Wang Xinbo
Neil Robertson 0-0 Tian Pengfei
Matthew Stevens 1-0 Ryan Day
Judd Trump 0-1 Sanderson Lam
Chris Wakelin 0-1 Jordan Brown
O'Sullivan 1-0 White
Yup, Ronnie clears up and Michael will have known already he couldn't afford to miss, but now he really knows it.
O'Sullivan 0-0 White (41-22)
It's Ronnie in again and this time, you expect him to pilish off a scrappy opener. all the balls are there for him.
O'Sullivan 0-0 White (33-22)
Michael misses to right corner and that gives Ronnie another chance. There's work to do, though, five reds clustered and one on the side. He can't, though, make loads of it, quickly running out of position, so we're back playing safety.
O'Sullivan 0-0 White (0-10)
Ronnie gets a proper reception but it's Michael in first, a fine long red immediately following the break. He's a properly attacking player which usually suits the Rocket because it means chances, but if the underdog is on, you never know: maybe he can beat the best for the first time. Meantime, though, a poor yellow means he's not on his chosen red, he misses the reserve one ... and Ronnie can't get away himself, jawsing one you don't expect him to, so now Michael is again compiling.
And off we go
Results from earlier
John Higgins 3-5 Jackson Page
Liu Hongyu 2-5 Ding Junhui
Lyu Haotian 5-4 Aaron Hill
Stephen Maguire 5-3 Pang Junxu
Elliot Slessor 5-3 Zhang Anda
Zhou Yuelong 1-5 Wu Yize
Out comes the ref
Followed by our players.
We go again!
That's us done for now
But join us again at 11.30am GMT for ... Ronald Antonio O'Sullivan v Michael White!
Around the tables
John Higgins 3-4 Jackson Page
Liu Hongyu 2-4 Ding Junhui
Lyu Haotian 2-2 Aaron Hill
Stephen Maguire 2-2 Pang Junxu
Elliot Slessor 4-1 Zhang Anda
Zhou Yuelong 1-4 Wu Yize
Luca Brecel beats Oliver Brown 5-2!
That missed green will haunt Oliver because it would've given him 3-0 - and he had chances for 3-2 too. But instead, the world champ wins five frames on the spin and meets Stephen Maguire or Pang Junxu next.
Brecel 4-2 Brown (69-0)
At rapid speed, Luca secures the match. he needs to win here to make the Tour Finals, but really he's aiming for Sheffielkd and he's coming to the boil nicely, rapping in balls so quickly he's giving the ref a workout in the process.
Brecel 4-2 Brown (32-0)
Oliver plays a double-kiss back-away and it's not a bad effort ... except Luca slots a fine starter to right corner and this could be curtains - all the balls he needs are there for him.
Brecel 4-2 Brown (17-0)
Not for long. He cracks a cut to left corner ... but not long into his break misses a red he shouldn't and by a way ... but does well to leave nowt.
Brecel 4-2 Brown (0-0)
Luca goes hard at one to left corner and misses, but Oliver can't clean up an admittedly tricky starter; he'll be fearing the worst, but the world champ can't get away himself and back round we go.
Around the tables
John Higgins 2-4 Jackson Page
Liu Hongyu 2-3 Ding Junhui
Lyu Haotian 2-2 Aaron Hill
Stephen Maguire 2-2 Pang Junxu
Elliot Slessor 3-1 Zhang Anda
Zhou Yuelong 1-3 Wu Yize
Brecel 4-2 Brown
Long way back from here for Oliver, who'll know he's had the chances to lead. Instead, though, he's a frame - and perhaps a mistake - away from defeat.
Brecel 3-2 Brown (40-45)
Oh, Oliver. He misses a simple penultimate red to left corner thinking about how to get on to the ultimate, leaves a sitter, and that might not just cost him the frae but the match too.
Brecel 3-2 Brown (40-31)
That's the thing with players like Luca, matches against them can disappear very quickly. He does, though, take a while pondering a plant to right corner, catching the near jaw, so Oliver comes to the table, getting in with a plant of his own, andagain, just as in frame one, all he has to do is pot a succession of straightforward balls to steal!
Brecel 3-2 Brown (23-1)
I can't lie, the mate taking my daughter to school comes and oparks around the corner so I've to walk her out; I return tofind Luca at the table confidently smashing down balls. Not that long ago, he was about to go 3-0 down; by the loosk of things, he's soon to go 4-2 in front.
Around the tables
John Higgins 1-4 Jackson Page
Liu Hongyu 2-2 Ding Junhui
Lyu Haotian 2-2 Aaron Hill
Stephen Maguire 1-2 Pang Junxu
Elliot Slessor 3-1 Zhang Anda
Zhou Yuelong 1-3 Wu Yize
Brecel 3-2 Brown
He played some nice shots before the interval but the balance wasn't quite right. Now, though, the world champ might just be hitting stride.
Brecel 2-2 Brown (67-44)
Lovely stuff from Luca, who gets behind the red off the black, then rams it into right corner, white brought back to baulk in case. That forces him to play a snooker, cue-ball and yellow separated by baulk colours, and though Oliver hits, he can't get it safe and this is going to be 3-2.
Brecel 2-2 Brown (48-44)
Luca very quicly closes the gap, sends black skidding to left-centre, and will be working out how he's going to get at the one trickly red, near the side rail. He's cueing nicely now, so you feel he'll find a way,
Brecel 2-2 Brown (9-44)
A poor shot from Oliver - he catches a stray red and leaves a sitter - means Luca is at the table potting balls. There are reds blocking each other, but if they're removed in the correct order, the frame is there for him.
Brecel 2-2 Brown (0-44)
All match, Oliver's looked confident out there, and he quickly builds a useful lead ... only to jaws a toughie to right corner. Luca knew it was dicey and that if it went, he was in big trouble. So whern it doesn't, he fairly bounces out of his seat, though there's nothing left on.
Brecel 2-2 Brown (0-6)
Oliver gets in but overcits to left corner; no matter. Luca misses to right, Oliver sinks to left, and he's away!
We go again...
Around the tables
John Higgins 1-3 Jackson Page
Liu Hongyu 2-2 Ding Junhui
Lyu Haotian 2-1 Aaron Hill
Stephen Maguire 0-2 Pang Junxu
Elliot Slessor 2-0 Zhang Anda
Zhou Yuelong 0-3 Wu Yize
Brecel 2-2 Brown
A red for Oliver, but he can't drain the black, meaning he does not need a snooker ... until Luca scorches a red into the yellow, and that's 2-2 at the mid-sesh. He's actually played alright, he's just been a bit scruffy, and if he can just play sensibly - by his standards - he should progress from here.
Brecel 1-2 Brown (66-0)
Oliver will wonder if he missed his chance - most particularly that green that would've given him 3-0. Instead, though, he's back at the table 66 behind with 67 left when Luca runs out of position and plays safe.
Brecel 1-2 Brown (44-0)
This is the thing with playing Luca: one minute it's fine, the next he's put 44 points on you in seeming seconds. The reds are open, and all he has to do is pot the balls he should - but for that, he needs to keep control of the white.
Brecel 1-2 Brown (1-0)
A cut-back into the green gets Luca away and the balls are pretty decent.
Around the tables
John Higgins 1-2 Jackson Page
Liu Hongyu 2-1 Ding Junhui
Lyu Haotian 2-0 Aaron Hill
Stephen Maguire 0-1 Pang Junxu
Elliot Slessor 2-0 Zhang Anda
Zhou Yuelong 0-2 Wu Yize
Brecel 1-2 Brown
Oliver sends down the pink and though the points are initially applied to his score, hes actually missed his chance for 3-0 and might tha tbe a turning point?
Brecel 0-2 Brown (67-52)
Oliver gets above the green to nuzzle in behind and send it to its own pocket ... but he leaves it in the jaws. Luca will surely get on the board here, and though he leaves the pink over the pocket, Oliver needs a snooker and that's extremely unlikely.
Brecel 0-2 Brown (55-50)
Luca leaves one red on black cush and the orther stuck to it; Oliver twice misses his thin contact so to avoid losing the frame has to hit them harder and he leaves one if not both. All he can manage, though, is a red-blue, then Luca tries to bring the last ball into play - it's on the baulk rail - and he leaves a dolly! He's playing so impatiently today, and if Oliver can bin the green, also on the baulk rail, he'll be a lock for 3-0.
Brecel 0-2 Brown (35-45)
Luca sends a decent one into right-middle but will need to develop two reds on the side if he's to win the frame at this visit. But he cannot, so it's a safety with the frame likely to be won by whoever pots next.
Brecel 0-2 Brown (7-45)
Oliver digs into the pack and this is a chance to make something definitive. But rolling a black towards left corner deadweight, he leaves it in the jaws and Luca now has a chance to get on the board.
Brecel 0-2 Brown (0-1)
Oliver proper fancies this now, a lovely starter sent to right corner. If he can take this frame too, he might just be favorite - especially thw way he's playing.
Around the tables
John Higgins 1-1 Jackson Page
Liu Hongyu 1-1 Ding Junhui
Lyu Haotian 2-0 Aaron Hill
Stephen Maguire 0-1 Pang Junxu
Elliot Slessor 2-0 Zhang Anda
Zhou Yuelong 0-1 Wu Yize
Brecel 0-2 Brown
Yup, Oliver does the necessary, again clearing up after a wild shot from Luca. And that's the problem, i guess: the way he plays, if he's not clinical, his opponent gets plenty of chances to beat him.
Brecel 0-1 Brown (24-44)
Luca runs out of position so attempts a hopeful onew to right corner, misses by miles and makes like he always planned things to end up as they do, stretching his cue over the table wherethe white lands. But Oliver steadily rolls a starter into the middle and this is a great chance for 2-0.
Brecel 0-1 Brown (6-26)
This time, a ball sent long to the yellow won't drop, so Luca returns to the table in arrears less troubling than he might've feared. He then slots one to right-middle, and there are plenty of points out there for him.
Brecel 0-1 Brown (0-20)
Luca loses patience and tries to force something, leaving Oliver a chance, and he's looking good out there. Had Luca taken that first frame, he might've won easily, but suddenly he's in a proper match and might just be going two-down.
Brecel 0-1 Brown (0-1)
Oliver's into this now, cracking a really nice starter into the corner. He's on nothing, but that dish will have fortified him with confidence, and he'll need it.
Around the tables
John Higgins 1-0 Jackson Page
Liu Hongyu 0-1 Ding Junhui
Lyu Haotian 1-0 Aaron Hill
Stephen Maguire 0-0 Pang Junxu
Elliot Slessor 1-0 Zhang Anda
Ben Woollaston w/o Iulian Boiko
Zhou Yuelong 0-1 Wu Yize
Brecel 0-1 Brown
But he sinks it nicely! That's a great steal.
Brecel 0-0 Brown (62-57)
Oliver's high on the final black ... pressure!
Brecel 0-0 Brown (62-37)
Oliver gets in then sends a do-or-die brown to the yellow. He can't add anything else, but when Luca misses a red, with no security, suddenly Oliver has the colours off their spots to steal!
Brecel 0-0 Brown (62-5)
Anorther nasty broon to left-middle is made to look simple, but Luca will need one of four tied-up reds ... so he promotes one of three on the top cushion off the pink; a tight slide to the centre and Oliver needs snookers. But he can't quite find the angle to get it down, so we'll have a bit of back and forth before he eventually secures the frame. Except as I type, Oliver goes in-off, so it's just a red required now.
Brecel 0-0 Brown (33-5)
Luca looks in decent touch here - he's been steadily improving these last few months after enjoying a long world champion's holiday. He keeps the break going with a brown coaxed diagonally to the middle, a thin cut to right corner follows, and this looks like developing into a frame-winning contribution.
Brecel 0-0 Brown (11-5)
Attacking safety from Luca that opens the pack but leaves one for Oliver; he can manage it and no more. The world champ then misses a thin contact, looking to go up the table and flick a red close to left-middle in off the top rail. He misses but his opponent doesn't fancy it himself so puts him back in, second time he hits, and he's away,
Away we go!
Our boyz baize
For you this morning
We begin with Luca Brecel v Oliver Brown, and after that it's Ronnie O'Sullivan v Michael White. Not bad, eh?
Hello there!
And welcome to the World Open 2024 - day two!
Monday recap - Allen out, Trump and Brecel reach main draw
World No. 3 Mark Allen crashed out of the World Open in China after a scrappy 5-3 defeat to Daniel Wells.
Allen was made to pay for a sluggish start in a slow-paced encounter as Wells ground out victory.
Elsewhere in the main draw, Kyren Wilson progressed with a 5-4 win over David Grace that he topped off with a 122 break, while Barry Hawkins beat Jenson Kendrick 5-2.
Monday's action also saw plenty of qualifying matches, with home favourite Ding Junhui outlasting Zak Surety to reach the last 64, but there was a moment to remember for the Englishman after he produced a career-first 147 break.
Top seed Judd Trump and world champion Luca Brecel were also among the winners.
- - -
Stream top snooker action, including the World Open, live on discovery+
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement