Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby all in action at World Grand Prix 2021 – LIVE last-16 snooker
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ByEurosport
Updated 16/12/2021 at 22:25 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan headlines the afternoon session at the 2021 World Grand Prix from the Coventry Building Society Arena as he faces Hossein Vafaei. Jack Lisowski is taking on Stephen Maguire ahead of quarter final action later on starting with Mark Selby in action against Tom Ford and Neil Roberston going head-to-head with Yan Bingtao.
Top 10 shots from the Scottish Open featuring O'Sullivan, Trump, Brecel
That'll do us
We're done here for the evening, thanks for your company. Join us again tomorrow for the conclusion of the quarter-finals and our first semi-final.
Mark Selby is through to the semi-finals
Tom Ford was out of the blocks quickest tonight, but Selby gradually asserted his authority on the match soon after. Breaks of 58, 74, 104, 59 and 93 gave him victory in a match that was more of a grind than scoreline might suggest. The sixth frame was pivotal, secured by Selby after a Homeric 50-minute struggle, and he now has a chance to go on and win one of the few tournaments he has yet to get his hands on.
He'll play the winner of Neil Robertson and Yan Bingtao, who will be sorting things out in a decider shortly on the other table.
Selby 5-2 Ford
A pink to left middle leaves Ford needing snookers, but as the white then opens up a cluster of three reds thereafter we know they won't be sought. He can't end it with a ton, but a 93 puts him in the semi-finals.
Selby 4-2 Ford (56-0)
A black takes Selby to 56 in the frame, and the two open reds that are left will sort this for him. It's been a granite break, and he's got himself together quickly after the trawl of frame six.
Selby 4-2 Ford (26-0)
Selby gets a look at a place in the semi-finals, as Ford leaves him a red to the right middle. It's a thin cut but Selby commits completely, dropping it in deadweight and he's off. A good early split on the bunch off the blue leaves reds on left and right, and this is such a chance.
Selby 4-2 Ford
Bless this mess, now Ford's gone in-off! He now needs a snooker to win again, but Selby can't convert a straight yellow from the D. Selby has a little grin to himself; he just can't put this frame away, which is now in its 48th minute. It's done now though, as Ford leaves the yellow on to the right middle. Selby mops it up, and then up to the pink, and he's one from victory.
Selby 3-2 Ford (64-38)
Ford gets the upper hand in the safety exchange, drawing a four-pointer from a miss after a good snooker behind the yellow. A poor safety a few shots later however leaves Selby a long distance cut at frame ball red, and in it goes. He can't convert the blue to secure the frame though, and then disaster strikes a few shots later when he sends the yellow careering into the blue, and the blue into the right middle! Ford can now win the frame, and this elongated safety exchange continues.
Selby 3-2 Ford (63-29)
Selby moves 34 ahead with a black after the penultimate red, but had no angle to get on the final red so plays safe off it. Ford needs the maximum out there to win by a point or final red with pink and colours to tie.
On our other table, Yan Bingtao leads Neil Robertson 4-3.
Selby 3-2 Ford (33-29)
It's another eight away from Selby as he needs three pops at escaping from behind the yellow to drop softly behind a red near the left middle. He's not had much go his way in this frame, but it might now; Fords tries to catch the pack off two cushions and return to baulk, but hits the red too thick and Selby is right in. Ford's left the frame on here, and Selby soon takes the lead in it.
Selby 3-2 Ford (11-21)
Now it's Selby that pots his way out of trouble, swerving brilliantly around the brown to come off the side cushion and thin snick in a red to the bottom left. It's a great shot, but he lands welded to another red and he's not on a colour. A few shots later his ill fortune continues, as he sends the blue into the bottom left when playing safe to give away five. This is a bizarre frame so far.
Selby 3-2 Ford (10-16)
Ford has quite the start to frame six, fluking the first two reds when playing safety shots, and picking up eight from an ensuing safety as Selby can't escape from behind the green. A later safety error from Selby gifts Ford an easy starter to the bottom right. It's a good chance, but it only yields six as Ford misses a simple red to the bottom left to leave Selby in. It's a chance, but not an easy one with the black snarled up in reds, and it needs a plant to be made to keep it going. Soon enough though, it's over, as Selby misses a wild smash on a blue to the left middle.
Selby 3-2 Ford
Well, hello! Ford lands a cracking snooker behind the pink and black, from which Selby can't connect with the brown. It's also on as a cut to the yellow pocket. It's thin, but Ford nails it, and he's perfect on the blue! He dishes the high value colours, and steals back a frame he looked to have thrown away. How big a swing might that be?
Selby 3-1 Ford (64-43)
The yellow doesn't go in clean, requiring Selby to go around the angles when potting the green. He does so - off five cushions no less - and gives himself a shot at it! Played, Jester! It's still an incredibly tough pot along the rail though, but it jaws out and safe. Ford then has a disaster from his safety, sending the white straight into the right middle! Crikey. The brown is safe from the D, but it's now frame ball.
Selby 3-1 Ford (55-43)
If Selby converts this it will hurt Ford something fierce, and probably decide the match. It looks like it will happen, too; Selby dishes all reds with colours to reach a half-ton and goes up for the yellow. He'll need up to blue to nick this, and the brown near the top cushion is Ford's potential saviour here.
Selby 3-1 Ford (5-43)
Not been practicing at the interval, lads? Both players miss reds they'd otherwise expect to get at the start of frame five, before Ford gets in for real. This feels like a big visit if he's going to make a match of this. It's going well as the break reaches 39, but then disaster strikes as he splits the pack off the blue and sends a red into the bottom left.Oof, that's a rough one; even worse, he's left the world on.
Selby 3-1 Ford
There's enough on for a ton and Selby obliges, emptying the table for a 104 to cap a commanding mini-session.
We'll be back in 15 for the denouement.
Selby 2-1 Ford (65-13)
Frame ball red takes Selby to 58, and leaves Ford needing a snooker. The pink follows, as does another red, and we're done in this one.
Selby 2-1 Ford (43-13)
Selby won't want the interval, because he's really hitting his stride here. A deftly-judged red to bottom left opens the path for a few more, and he's zoning in on another half-century. There are five reds left, and the three in the open will put this frame to bed.
On the other table, Yan Bingtao and Neil Robertson are at 2-2 at the interval.
Selby 2-1 Ford (18-13)
A sloppy break from Selby, catching the blue and leaving Ford with his hand on the table in the D, leads to a red soon disappearing into the bottom left. It's a good chance for Ford, which goes horribly wrong when trying to open the pack off the black. The split happens but the pot doesn't, and Selby's on a long red to the yellow pocket. That goes, and he's soon in the lead in the frame.
Selby 2-1 Ford
A 74 from Selby, with 59 remaining as he misses a pink to the bottom left, is enough to put him in the lead.
Selby 1-1 Ford (52-0)
Selby's done very well to fashion a half-ton here, as it's needed some intricate positional play. It's getting harder, as four reds are out of commission, but there's enough to play on to win the frame.
Selby 1-1 Ford (29-0)
Ford tries to pot his way out of trouble at the start of the third after a good safety from Selby, but he can't find a way back to baulk and Selby is left in the middle of the table with choice of reds. Slowly but surely he starts cobbling a break together, which isn't easy as this table is awkward with reds bunched in the bottom right quarter. Shot by shot though, it's opening up.
Selby 1-1 Ford
Selby breaks the impasse by cracking a long red into the bottom left, meaning Ford now needs a snooker to win. He's soon in one, from which he can't escape, and doubles the requirement on four-pointers. Ford carries on for a few shots, but turns it in when he leaves a red on over the right middle.
Selby 0-1 Ford (58-13)
The load reaches 58, but with four reds to go Selby misses a thin cut on one to the bottom left. Ford picks it off, but with the other three reds in awkward positions he decides to play a safety. We're now locked in a tactical battle with a potential 51 points left on the table.
Selby 0-1 Ford (22-12)
Ford's in again in the second, but with an inviting table to go at he loses position early, and his break judders to a halt on 11. He's soon back in though, only to miss a shocker of a yellow after his red and he's left Selby right in here. Ford's meagre lead is soon toast, and Selby is in for a load here.
Selby 0-1 Ford
It is routine! An 86 sorts frame one for Tom.
Selby 0-0 Ford (37-59)
The half-ton is in the bag, and Ford is going up for the colours. They're virtually on their spots, so this should be routine.
Selby 0-0 Ford (37-23)
Two long reds go down. Selby's doesn't bring with it a colour, but Ford's to follow does as he lands on the yellow. He's quickly into the pack and it's great split, opening the window to winning the frame. It's 23 and counting, and all five remaining reds are there for the taking.
Selby 0-0 Ford (36-0)
Selby's off first, cutting a red into the bottom left, and he's on the brown. He's not hanging about, rapidly accumulating 36, but his split of the reds after potting the black hasn't worked out and he plays a containing safety instead.
Here we go!
Boys are baized, and we're off. It's best of nine for a place in the semi-finals.
Heads up
It's 6-2 to Selby overall, and these two great friends have previously met in a ranking event final. Selby won that too, with a 4-2 win in the final of the Paul Hunter Classic in 2016.
Good evening
It’s a cold, harsh world right now; come and warm your battered soul with an evening on the baize. We’ve reached quarter-final night at the World Grand Prix, and who’s that I spy heading for our feature match this evening? Why, it’s only Mark Selby, the reigning world champion, and Tom Ford, slayer of John Higgins and Judd Trump in the earlier rounds, that’s who!
Settle yourself in pals, this one’s going to be a !goodie.
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So we will be back for the opening quarter-final matches tonight with Neil Roberson facing Yan Bingtao and Mark Selby meeting Tom Ford from 7pm. Best-of-nine frame matches in the last eight. See you then.
Bingham 3-3 Carter
They are into a deciding frame for the final place in the last 16.
Lisowski 3-4 Maguire
Three superb frames from Maguire to close out the win. He will face Ali Carter or Stuart Bingham in the last eight. A classy finish of 77 from the Scot. He wins 4-3. "Garbage," says Lisowski. "I fudged it and another one bites the dust. I've got to figure out how to get these things tucked away...figure it out I guess."
Lisowski 3-3 Maguire (1-53)
The 2004 UK champion only a few balls away from victory out there. Doesn't need any difficult shots.
Lisowski 3-3 Maguire (1-18)
Horrible safety shot by Lisowski and this is a great chance for Maguire to push on here in the deciding frame. Plenty of reds in the open and pink and black both freed up.
Lisowski 3-3 Maguire (0-1)
First chance to Maguire, but he can't slot a yellow after the opening red. Almost fluked the yellow. Lisowski then misses tricky red to a centre pocket. Might be a nervy finale to this match.
Lisowski 3-3 Maguire (0-0)
Looked like a 4-1 victory for Lisowski, but in the past 20 minutes or so, Maguire has excelled. It all comes down to the final frame for a place in the last eight.
Lisowski 3-2 Maguire (0-62)
A real mood change in this match. One bad miss on the black by Jackpot and the whole momentum has altered. We are heading for a deciding frame unless there is a heroic recovery in this frame.
Bingham 2-2 Carter
Carter with a 93 to restore parity at 2-2 having trailed 2-1 on the other main table.
Lisowski 3-2 Maguire (0-0)
Maguire with a quite brilliant break of 54 to the pink that included a dashing double on the red and some meticulous positional shots. Lisowski paid a heavy price for the missed black when the winning post was in sight. Match still alive.
Lisowski 3-1 Maguire (47-37)
Ice-cool green from Maguire to a centre pocket. Really impressive from the Scotsman in the circumstances. Battling to stay alive in this contest.
Lisowski 3-1 Maguire (47-9)
Superb stuff from Jackpot in among the balls. Looks like this could be the winning run to the line until he misses a straight black off the spot. That really is a shocking miss that came from nowhere.
Lisowski 3-1 Maguire (36-0)
Lisowski back after a quick loo break and back at the table in the frame he needs for victory. Not straightforward, but enough points available to construct a sizeable lead.
Bingham 2-1 Carter
A repeat of the 2020 Masters that Bingham won 10-8. Bingham edging ahead in that match. Carter made 90 in the second frame with the 2015 world champion rolling in 53 in the third.
Lisowski 3-1 Maguire (0-0)
A dominant finish to that frame from Lisowski. He needs one more frame to secure his progress to the last eight and a meeting with Stuart Bingham or Ali Carter.
Lisowski 2-1 Maguire (51-39)
Maguire misses a red with the rest down a side cushion before escaping from a snooker at the third attempt. Wide open this frame with no colours safe and the red the key ball. Lisowski then strokes home the mid-range red. Superb shot that. Should be 3-1.
Lisowski 2-1 Maguire (42-33)
A break of 40 from Lisowski, but still two reds left on the table. Wide open this frame. Bit more safety to decide the destination of it.
Lisowski 2-1 Maguire (17-33)
Would you believe that? Maguire powers in 33, but then misses a black off the spot. He did not see that coming and neither do you suspect did Jackpot, who is quickly out of his chair and back at the table.
Lisowski 2-1 Maguire (2-17)
Lisowski misses a black off the spot in the fourth frame. Bad miss that. Chance to punish Jackpot for that bad error.
Lisowski 2-1 Maguire (0-0)
A brilliant knock of 128 from Lisowski to regain the lead. Needs two more frames to reach the last eight. Maguire forced to sit and enjoy that break.
Lisowski 1-1 Maguire (80-0)
Has taken these balls superbly well. Should make the century from here to lead 2-1.
Lisowski 1-1 Maguire (21-0)
Jackpot slots a brilliant plant at the outset of the third frame. Nice chance to set the agenda here.
Lisowski 1-1 Maguire (0-0)
Maguire in early with that 53 before a bit of solid match play sees him over the line to level at 1-1. Lisowski unfortunate to go in off potting a red, but Maguire back on level terms at 1-1.
Lisowski 1-0 Maguire (0-60)
A lead of 60 points, but plenty of points for Lisowski to recover with eight reds left on the table.
Lisowski 1-0 Maguire (0-53)
A break of 53 from the Scotsman. Ran out of position at the key moment. This frame still very much in the balance if Lisowski can fashion out a scoring chance.
Robertson 4-3 Brecel
Bit of a shock in that one. There won't be a third straight final for Brecel as he loses to the former European Masters champion in the last 16. Robertson to face O'Sullivan on Friday afternoon in the quarter-finals.
Lisowski 1-0 Maguire (0-0)
A 28-minute opening frame goes to Lisowski, who rolls in a lovely brown before dropping in blue and pink for a 1-0 lead. Classy finish after chances fell to both men.
Lisowski 0-0 Maguire (46-47)
Maguire can't slot the key brown and we are back involved in a safety battle to settle the frame. Both men have had chances to take this frame.
Lisowski 0-0 Maguire (46-37)
Final red along the top cushion fails to drop for Jackpot. Break breaks down on 46 and Maguire has chance to steal the opening frame.
Brecel 3-3 Robertson
Into a deciding frame on the other table. Has been a real close contest.
Lisowski 0-0 Maguire (0-36)
Maguire first to the punch in this opening frame of the day. Looks to be making good progress early on as the break quickly moves to 36 in this visit. But he declares on 36 after missing a pink to the green pocket and Lisowski is presented with a chance to launch the counter attack.
Lisowski 0-0 Maguire (0-0)
Second match of the afternoon has started. Liswoski lost 10-7 to Judd Trump in last year's Grand Prix final. Trump no longer involved this year. Nice early safety duel.
Brecel 3-2 Robertson
Brecel with a run of 56 to move one frame ahead of Robertson in the race to four. Winner faces O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals.
O'Sullivan 4-1 Vafaei (81-0)
No century, but a fine 81 is enough to get the job done. Finished very strongly. He will face Luca Brecel or Jimmy Robertson in the last 16.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Vafaei (62-0)
Balls at his mercy out there. Could be another century on the way. Fantastic level of play suddenly from the GOAT.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Vafaei (25-0)
A superb double from O'Sullivan is followed by a black, super long red and another tidy little red to a centre pocket. The Rocket is off and running again. This has look of frame and match right here.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Vafaei (110-11)
Could be a century coming up. This has been a stunning break. A work of art really in sporting terms. In goes the blue and the pink and that is the ton. 107 break from O'Sullivan. Quite majestic play. A 3-1 lead.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Vafaei (57-11)
This is much more like it from Rocket Ronnie. Really has clicked into gear in this frame. Could be a big break here.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Vafaei (3-4)
O'Sullivan bidding to reach his 131st ranking event quarter-final today. That is some record since turning professional in 1992.
Brecel 2-2 Robertson
High paced and quality play on the other showpiece table. Robertson with breaks of 69 and 82 to level up the match with his opponent running in a 69 of his own.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Vafaei (59-15)
Vafaei can't slot a long red and O'Sullivan has chance to get over the line. Some brilliant shots in this little break and this should be a 2-1 lead coming up. Worked very hard to get over the line in this frame.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Vafaei (30-10)
Just 26 from the Rocket there as he misses a pink to a centre pocket. Didn't see that one coming. This match being played in fits and starts.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Vafaei (15-9)
O'Sullivan rams home a blistering red from distance to get the party started in this frame. Be interesting to see what he scores here. Black not in a favourable position at the moment.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei (62-13)
O'Sullivan far from at his best out there, but gets the job done at the second attempt after Vafaei was very unfortunate to go in off. So unlucky that, but we are level at 1-1.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei (32-5)
Just 32 after running out of position and his opponent slams a long red into a pocket. O'Sullivan will be disappointed to make only 32.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Vafaei (6-4)
Magical mid-range red by O'Sullivan to carve open a chance. Real opportunity to put some points on the board after an indifferent opening frame.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Vafaei (26-67)
A tough red along the top cushion stays out, but O'Sullivan is snookered on the final red minutes later. 34 the difference with 35 in it, but the six-times world champion then misses the red by miles. Needs a snooker and this frame is over as Vafaei slams home the red. He leads 1-0.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Vafaei (25-56)
For the second time in this frame, O'Sullivan leaves a red hanging over a pocket. This is a chance for the Iran number one to win the opening frame at this visit.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Vafaei (12-13)
Poor safety from Vafaei, but the Rocket can only make four points with a green following a long red. Safety shot sticks a red up. Another chance for the world number 47, but he misses a brown. Chances for both men early on, but O'Sullivan is the man at the table.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Vafaei (0-12)
Cracking long red from Vafaei to get his day started in style. Chance to accumulate a few points at this visit early on.
Good afternoon
This should be a Christmas cracker today in the last 16 of the World Grand Prix in Coventry with former winner Ronnie O'Sullivan taking on Hossein Vafaei. The Iran potter destroyed O'Sullivan 5-0 in qualifying for the German Masters and also ousted Mark Selby 6-2 in the second round of the UK Championship. Scottish Open champion Luca Brecel faces Jimmy Robertson on the other table. Race to four. Winner of these matches meet in the last eight.
'I should have made it' – Brecel admits maximum disappointment over 147 failure
Luca Brecel produced another glorious display of attacking snooker in a 4-1 win over Welsh Open holder Jordan Brown at the World Grand Prix, but was disappointed he didn't make a 147.
The Scottish Open winner and UK Championship finalist was on for a second career maximum in the third frame, but lost position on the 12th red of the break as he was forced to settle for 88 and a 3-0 lead.
Brecel added a 105 break after earlier runs of 100 and 57 to secure a place in the last 16 on Thursday afternoon, but the likeable Belgian player was thinking about the 147 that got away.
"I really should have made that maximum," said Brecel, who made his first maximum at the Championship League three years ago. "The balls were so nice, I really should have made it.
I tried to cannon the red off a cushion. I maybe shouldn't have played that shot, but I was a bit unlucky to finish where I finished. I really should have made that maximum, I was so confident.
"But maybe next time in this tournament, you never know."
Read the full story here ahead of Brecel's return to action against Jimmy Robertson.
Order of play Thursday 16th December
1pm
- Ronnie O'Sullivan [7] v Hossein Vafaei [23]
- Jimmy Robertson [15] v Luca Brecel [2]
3pm
- Jack Lisowski [30] v Stephen Maguire [19]
- Stuart Bingham [22] v Allister Carter [27]
7pm
- Yan Bingtao [16] v Neil Robertson [8]
- Mark Selby [21] v Tom Ford [29]
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