World Open snooker quarter-finals recap: Neil Robertson defeats Barry Hawkins after Judd Trump battles past Kyren Wilson

ByDesmond Kane

Updated 22/03/2024 at 14:07 GMT

It is quarter-final day at the World Open in Yushan and defending champion Judd Trump will be eyeing a place in the final four when he takes on Kyren Wilson. Meanwhile, Neil Roberston faces Barry Hawkins as Ronnie O'Sullivan's conqueror Hossein Vafaei takes on Ding Junhui. Jackson Page and Elliot Slessor are also in action. Watch and stream all the action live on Eurosport and discovery+.

'Have you ever seen two more outrageous flukes back-to-back?' - Trump pulls off the extraordinary

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Allen confirmed as new world No. 1 after O'Sullivan and Trump crash out at Crucible

02/05/2024 at 06:15

We will be back at 6am GMT tomorrow morning for the first World Open semi-final between Judd Trump and Jackson Page in Yushan before DIng and Robertson face each other at 11:30am. First player to six frames in each semi-final advance to Sunday's final.

Friday's quarter-final results

0630 GMT

Judd Trump 5-2 Kyren Wilson
Jackson Page 5-2 Elliot Slessor

1130 GMT

Hossein Vafaei 0-5 Ding Junhui
Neil Robertson 5-2 Barry Hawkins

Hawkins 2-4 Robertson (15-79)

Form is temporary, class is permanent. As they say. Robbo almost over the winning line. In goes the black to leave Hawkins needing two snookers. And he drops in red and black to finish with a 79 break. He defeats Hawkins 5-2 to secure a meeting with Ding on Saturday.

Hawkins 2-4 Robertson (15-44)

Robbo trying to finalise victory with another heavy break. Just taking his time to make sure of these balls. Surely he won't break down here. Frame at his mercy.

Hawkins 2-4 Robertson (15-13)

Neil with another fabulous plant on reds to earn another scoring opportunity. Is this the moment for Robertson to reach a first ranking event semi-final since December 2022?

Hawkins 2-4 Robertson (15-0)

A couple of misses creeping into the Robertson game that weren't seen earlier. But Bazza can't crack open reds off the black. So no big one-visit hit to apply some pressure.

Hawkins 1-4 Robertson (65-41)

Little cameo run late in the frame of 37 from Hawkins, and he is back to 4-2 behind. The Ditton player fighting the good fight in Yushan. Robbo still needs a frame, Hawkins three.

Hawkins 1-4 Robertson (35-41)

Down to the final three reds in the frame. Hawkins plays a dump safety shot after Robbo narrowly misses a double on red. Chance for Neil with red to right middle, but stays out and the Hawk has chance to claim another frame.

Hawkins 1-4 Robertson (22-41)

Looked all over when Robertson unearthed a fantastic plant on two reds to continue break, but he then misses a black off spot to leave door ajar for Barry.

Hawkins 1-4 Robertson (7-28)

They used to say that you should never split the reds off a red. Not sure who made that one up back in the day. Brilliant split on reds off a red and this looks like it could soon be game, set and match to the 'Thunder from Down Under'.

Hawkins 1-4 Robertson (7-13)

Just not happening for Barry in this match today as a red to yellow bag stays up. Of course, still time to change all that, but he needs to win four straight frames. Which looks like a long shot at moment.

Hawkins 1-3 Robertson (17-116)

Another brilliant break of 115 from Robertson, his second century of the match, to establish a 4-1 lead in this quarter-final. Heavy scoring all the rage in Yushan.

Hawkins wows crowd with majestic cross-double against Robertson

Result: Vafaei 0-5 Ding

Ding is going to finish off his match with another century of 102 after his earlier 135. He is through to meet Neil Robertson or Barry Hawkins.

Hawkins 1-3 Robertson (17-51)

If Robbo minds his white ball here, this is surely heading for a 4-1 lead. Won't need the final tricky red near a side rail. Not getting bogged down on this table. Not really a table for tactical battles. So suits the Aussie break-builder.

Hawkins 1-3 Robertson (17-28)

Well, Hawkins given a chance to close to within one frame, but he misses a red early in his visit to table using the rest. In the context of this match, that is a bad miss by Barry. Robertson with a spring in his step.

Vafaei 0-4 Ding

Another frame falls to Ding with Hossein being heavily punished for not putting away the chances that have come his way in the fourth frame. A 28 break to pink is good enough for the home hope. Needs one more frame to reach the semi-finals.

Hawkins 0-3 Robertson (73-39)

Chance for Robertson on brown, but he can't convert off the black spot and Barry puts away the three colours he needs to claim his first frame of the quarter-final.

Hawkins 0-3 Robertson (58-39)

Back double on a red by Hawkins is just the job, but he can't get position on the brown. And he doesn't look happy with his work. Brown is near the baulk cushion. Looks like a brown-ball frame.

Hawkins 0-3 Robertson (45-39)

Neil adding a red and blue to his points total, but no position on final red. So a bout of safety to sort out the destination of this frame.

Hawkins 0-3 Robertson (45-33)

A break of 44 from Barry as he reaches the final two reds, but he misses the red to yellow bag down the table. Wasn't a gimme, but expected it to drop. Nothing easy left for Robertson, but frame still very much a live issue.

Hawkins 0-3 Robertson (9-33)

Well, for once, Robertson comes up short as a tough black stays out. Was not easy cueing off side rail, and the Hawk has been handed a lifeline.

Hawkins 0-3 Robertson (1-32)

This match in danger of running away from Hawkins in double quick time. Hawkins misses another black off the spot. Which is pretty much asking for serious trouble at this level. Robbo missing an early prod at a long red, but it ain't going to cost him.

Hawkins 0-2 Robertson (43-87)

A frame-winning counter punch of 87 from Robertson to go with 127 and 87 in the first two frames. Unforced error from Barry is bad news in Yushan. Are we heading for a Robertson v Ding semi-final? Certainly looks that way. 45 minutes gone and both men dominating their opening three frames.

Hawkins 0-2 Robertson (43-62)

Meanwhile, on goes Robbo with his relaxed manner around the table providing a reassuring sort of vibe. Can't miss easy balls on these tables. Otherwise you lose frames. And Robertson is going to surge 3-0 ahead.

Vafaei 0-3 Ding

Ding suddenly 3-0 ahead of Hossein Vafaei on table 1 with a huge knock of 135 delighting the home fans in Yushan.

Hawkins 0-2 Robertson (43-9)

Chance for the Hawk to halt the bleeding here. Sinks a delightful long red and lands perfectly on the black. Looking to go to work around the black spot here. Balls seem to open with some ease on these tables. But he misses a sitter of a black when the frame looked in the bag. That is a horror miss. What a chance for Robertson to launch the counter.

Vafaei 0-2 Ding

The former UK and Masters champion adds a 74 break to go with his opening 73 for a 2-0 advantage on the other main showpiece table.

Hawkins 0-1 Robertson (0-87)

Red to left middle eludes him, but a break of 87 is just what the doctor ordered as he bounds 2-0 clear. Hawkins heads out the arena for a breather. He really needs to find some scoring form.

Hawkins 0-1 Robertson (0-72)

Balls disappearing with some regularity. Putting your foot down and then some so far. Getting first poke at these balls seems key to success at this particular event. With the scoring conditions so good, Robbo is a real threat.

Hawkins 0-1 Robertson (0-35)

Robertson enjoys great break-building success this week. Generous pockets, and the Aussie is filling his boots so far. On these tables, you would be surprised if Hawkins gets another go in this third frame of the day.

Hawkins 0-1 Robertson (0-8)

Attempt at a long red by Hawkins doesn't drop, but his opponent then jaws a red down the table to the green pocket. Didn't expect him to miss that, but Hawkins can't slide home a tricky cutback on red. Easy starter for Robbo,

Vafaei 0-1 Ding

Ding with an opening break of 73 to claim the first frame on the other main table.

Hawkins 0-0 Robertson (6-127)

In goes the pink to bring up the century. And that is quite the way to begin a match. Hawkins missed a red, and has been forced to sit it out. Total clearance of 127, and he moves one ahead in the race to five.

Hawkins 0-0 Robertson (6-78)

What you would call vintage Robertson here. Sizing up these balls with some relish in his 79th ranking quarter-final. Chance to open up with a century.

Hawkins 0-0 Robertson (6-50)

This is excellent from the Aussie so far. Can see why he has made five centuries this week.

Hawkins 0-0 Robertson (6-28)

Robertson looking very relaxed from close range. Would like to put down an early marker by punishing the Hawk for missing that red.

Hawkins 0-0 Robertson (6-4)

And away we go for the first frame of the day. Early chance for Hawkins from long range. And he drops the red in with a superb effort. Got the angle spot on, but he then misses a mid-range red. Which looked easy enough. Robbo with hand on table as he returns to table.

HUGE MATCH FOR ROBERTSON

Elsewhere, 2010 world champion Neil Robertson hit three centuries in a 5-1 win over Chris Wakelin in the last 16, but is provisionally ranked 25th in the world and knows he needs the World Open title on Sunday otherwise he faces being forced to qualify for the Crucible next month. It feels like a long time since he defeated Hawkins 10-4 to claim the Masters title two years ago.

The moment Neil Robertson won the Masters

WATCH: 'OUTRAGEOUS' FLUKES HELP TRUMP REACH LAST FOUR

This really has to be seen to be believed. Might be a good idea for Judd to stick a lottery ticket on this weekend. You wouldn't be happy if it happened to you.

'Have you ever seen two more outrageous flukes back-to-back?' - Trump pulls off the extraordinary

Welcome back to the World Open

Two down, two to go. We already know that Judd Trump will meet Jackson Page in the first semi-final in Yushan on Saturday morning, but who will join them? We're about to find out as Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins collide, while Hossein Vafaei and Ding Junhui chase a last-four spot. It's all on the table at 11:30am.

Friday's quarter-final action

0630 GMT

Judd Trump 5-2 Kyren Wilson
Jackson Page 5-2 Elliot Slessor

1130 GMT

Hossein Vafaei v Ding Junhui
Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins

Result: Trump 5-2 Wilson

Thanks for joining us. Judd through to meet Jackson Page in the last four. We will be back at 11:20am with more live updates from the remaining World Open quarter-finals as Hossein Vafaei meets Ding Junhui with Neil Robertson facing Barry Hawkins.

Trump 4-2 Wilson (69-60)

And the match belongs to Judd as he produces a tough snooker for Kyren to negotiate. Wilson escapes from the snooker, but leaves the pink to right middle and he pops in the pink to see out the victory. A match that was really defined by two huge flukes in the fifth frame that changed the whole mood of the battle.

Trump 4-2 Wilson (63-60)

Another huge twist in the match as Judd misses match-ball pink. Wasn't easy, but didn't expect him to miss it trying to clip it into the green pocket. A 63 break from Judd in response to 60 from Kyren. Comes down to this battle on the pink. Didn't leave the pink for Kyren.

Trump 4-2 Wilson (51-60)

Road clear for Trump to see this out. Red to yellow is almost perfect. Closing in on victory.

Trump 4-2 Wilson (31-60)

Down to the final four reds. Nothing really safe on this table. Has Kyren played his final shot and match in this tournament? Will probably be fearing the worst now.

Trump 4-2 Wilson (0-60)

But he overcuts a red when he looked on cusp of winning frame and red stays up. So another 60 is decent, but a bad miss by Kyren, who is talking to himself.

Trump 4-2 Wilson (0-53)

Taking these balls very well so far. Every chance he might take out this frame in one hit as a mid-range red is powered into the bag. A superb clean strike of the white ball. Won't do his confidence any harm.

Trump 4-2 Wilson (0-33)

Judd almost with another fluke early in this seventh frame, but red just runs out of legs heading for the yellow bag. Much to the relief of Kyren. Chance for Wilson to regain some momentum at this visit.

Trump 3-2 Wilson (62-25)

This has been much more like it from Judd. A 59 break from Trump to leave Wilson needing a snooker on the final red. Kyren escapes from a snooker, but leaves red over right centre and WIlson has seen enough. It is a 4-2 lead for Trump. Kyren probably should have been 3-2 up not so long ago, but somehow finds himself on the brink of defeat. What an odd match this has been.

Trump 3-2 Wilson (12-25)

Not exactly classic fare from either man in this contest so far. Both men with chances in the sixth frame, but can't cash in as breaks end prematurely. Judd returns to the table perhaps buoyed by that massive steal in the fifth frame. Would dearly love to move two ahead with a possible three to play.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (64-58)

Would you believe that finale to a frame? A taut 51-minute frame is won by Judd after two massive flukes on green and brown. Threw his cue at a green. Nowhere near the potting angle and the green dropped in the green pocket up and down the table. Was snookered on the brown behind blue, but got the escape and watched as the brown ended up dropping in the yellow bag. Wilson shaking his head as Judd then takes out blue, pink and black for the steal. A horror frame for Kyren to lose.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (39-58)

In goes the yellow from Judd, but no more at this visit. Kyren still chasing green and brown for this epic fifth frame. One for the purists. Don't forget. It was also a re-rack.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (37-58)

Decision time for Kyren as he is faced with chance of long yellow, but turns down the pot to focus on another safety shot. This frame running for well over 30 minutes so far. Wilson tries to clip home yellow, but it doesn't drop. Judd opts against attempting to slot yellow.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (37-58)

Mistake by Kyren on the red, but he ends up with a triple kiss on red and inadvertently knocks the yellow safe. So Trump knocks in red and blue to stay in the hunt before Kyren hands over another four points by missing a thin snick on the yellow. Getting very tense this frame.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (27-58)

Down to the final red. Wilson only needs the red to leave Judd needing snookers. A real safety joust on the final red. Frame looks wide open for whoever can snare the red.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (27-58)

But no winning thrust from Judd as he can't land on the final red and misses a pink at pace to left middle. A real reprieve for Kyren.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (19-58)

A massive blunder by Kyren. Has a dart at a long red. Red spins back out and splatters the pack of reds. Nothing safe on the table. Wilson shakes his head as he sits down. Not too many obstacles on this table.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (1-58)

Kyren making very good progress in this break. Safety mistake by Trump handed Wilson this chance, but he breaks down on 58 and is forced to run safe. 58 sounds a lot, but not so much on these table. Ripe for dishing up.

Result: Page 5-2 Slessor

A brilliant break of 87 to finish from Jackson after producing earlier knocks of 90, 140, 78 and 76. He is through to the last four at a ranking event for the first time and will face the winner of the Trump v Wilson match from 6am GMT on Saturday morning in Yushan.

Anything you can do...Wilson responds to Trump double with a peach of his own

Trump 2-2 Wilson (0-10)

Early opportunity for Wilson to continue his resurgence in this match, but he overcuts a red down a side rail. Well, that is unexpected. Disappointing outcome is sweetened by the fact he didn't leave Judd any sort of pot on a red. And the players quickly decide upon a re-rack. Page back among the balls on the other table. On a break of 46. On cusp of semi-finals.

Trump 2-2 Wilson (0-0)

Page moves 4-2 clear of Slessor courtesy of a 76 break as play resumes between Judd and Kyren. Both men chasing three more frames to reach the semi-finals.

Page 3-2 Slessor

Fair to say the other table isn't hanging about this morning as Page moves 3-2 clear with a 78 break in the fifth frame boosting his hopes against Slessor.

Trump 2-1 Wilson (20-70)

A quickfire 70 from the man dubbed 'The Warrior' and Trump has seen enough. All square at 2-2 heading for a cuppa in Yushan.

Trump 2-1 Wilson (20-51)

Looks like that safety mistake by Trump is going to cost him the frame. These tables are playing in a manner in which safety errors are magnified. Kyren moves to 51 with more to come. Looks like we are heading to 2-2 at the mid-session interval.

Trump 2-1 Wilson (20-8)

Bit of a safety slog due to the black hanging over a top bag. Wilson so close to slotting red to right centre, but it somehow stays out. A spot of rolling up to red ensues. Blunder by Trump sees him clip a middle jaw trying to run white back to baulk and a glorious chance is presented to Kyren.

Trump 2-1 Wilson (20-0)

Judd with an excellent long red followed by a pinpoint pot on yellow to land on a single red down the table. Supreme positional sense there. Chance to reassert himself here then. But he can't drop in a thin cut on a black heading into the red. Black stays over hole. No damage done though as Kyren misses a tough cut on a red to left middle.

Page 2-2 Slessor

All level on the other main showpiece table as Slessor edges a tight fourth frame to restore parity at 2-2 from 2-0 behind.

Trump 2-0 Wilson (48-67)

Judd clears up to the blue in an attempt to get the snooker on pink, but he can't get the right angle and he quickly halts the white in making the concession. Kyren back to 2-1 behind.

Trump 2-0 Wilson (39-67)

A very timely break of 66 from Kyren. Misses the black off spot, but Judd needs two snookers on the remaining four colours otherwise this match is back to 2-1.

Trump 2-0 Wilson (34-52)

Break of 51 and counting as Kyren springs another red away from a side cushion. Looking very good here to win his first frame of the day.

Trump 2-0 Wilson (34-32)

Kyren back among the balls as he keeps break going with another excellent double on a red after getting in off a long red. Looks like a very nice chance to weigh in with a big break.

Trump 2-0 Wilson (34-1)

Little bit of timely check side on white by Trump to remain at the business end of the table after getting his latest visit to the table started with a lovely red to right centre. These pockets are certainly user friendly as he bangs in a black along the top cush. But no big break as he is forced to run safe again with a lead of 33 points.

Trump 2-0 Wilson (12-1)

Safety blunder by Kyren early in the third frame, but Judd someow sees the white miss pack of reds in slotting black. So the error by WIlson not costing him on that occasion.

Page 2-1 Slessor

The big breaks just keep coming in Yushan. Slessor is on the board next door with a break of 77 after watching Page bound to a 90 and 140.

Trump 1-0 Wilson (66-55)

Trump mops up green, brown, blue and pink. And that is a 2-0 lead for the 2019 world champion. Early days, but Wilson surely needs one of the next two frames before the mid-session break. Kyren could easily have led 2-0 in this quarter-final. School of hard knocks at this level.

Trump 1-0 Wilson (48-55)

Wilson with a swerve shot to hit the green, but he sticks it up over the yellow pocket. Golden chance for Judd to move 2-0 clear here surely.

Trump 1-0 Wilson (48-55)

Trump can't get the right potting angle on the yellow to land on green. Chance of double to right centre, but opts for the safety shot. A tactical battle on this green to decide this frame.

Trump 1-0 Wilson (46-55)

Down to the final red, and Judd clips home a red down a side rail with the rest. Those pockets have plenty of give on them. Just the green ball is the problem ball.

Trump 1-0 Wilson (7-55)

A tasty little plant by Kyren to keep break going, but he decides to cut his losses on 47 by knocking a green sort of safe-ish to a side cush. A safety blunder seconds later sticks up a red though and suddenly Judd has chance to launch the counter attack.

Page 2-0 Slessor

What a start to the day by Jackson. 90 and 140 in the first two frames. Huge early fluke on a yellow to get the break started, but didn't look back from the point onwards. Brimming with confidence clearly after his 5-2 win over Mark Selby yesterday.

Trump 1-0 Wilson (1-40)

Another fine double on a red by Wilson this time in baulk to right centre and that provides him with the impetus to get his scoring boots on here. Every chance to make a few points as he bids to level this match at 1-1. Just a case of keeping that cue ball under tight control.

Trump 1-0 Wilson (1-8)

Off we go then for the second frame of the day. Wilson giving an early warning that he can't afford to be missing easy pinks on these tables. Very generous pockets this week, it must be said. Meanwhile, Jackson Page opens with 90 break against Slessor on the other table and is on a 60 knock as we speak in the second. Made for heavy breaks these tables.

Trump 0-0 Wilson (105-4)

But Wilson missing a pink to left centre crashing into the reds is going to prove so costly. Judd racing through these balls like a knife through hot butter. A rapid knock of 67 and that is a 1-0 lead in the bag for the defending champ. Nice way to start his day.

Trump 0-0 Wilson (38-3)

A break of 38 from Judd before he breaks down. Retrieved the situation well on 30 with a fine double on a red, but not much more afterwards. A serious safety mistake by Judd then provides Kyren with his first scoring chance of the day.

Trump 0-0 Wilson (14-0)

Wilson tries to poke home a long red straight off the bat off the Trump break-off shot, but can't ram it home and easy starter for Judd in this first frame of a possible nine. Trump full of possibilities this season.

Trump 0-0 Wilson (0-0)

Almost ready to get this one up and running. Trump with an 11-8 lead on the career head-to-heads. They last met at the Masters in January with Trump winning a thriller 6-5 in the first round. First man to five frames reaches the last four today. Here is how he won that epic battle at Alexandra Palace.

'What a battle' - Trump completes clearance to win deciding frame against Wilson

Trump chasing fifth major title of season

The defending champion is bidding to add to victories at the English Open, Wuhan Open, Northern Ireland Open and German Masters.

'My story so far' - Trump on his life and times ahead of World Open title defence

Vafaei set for most important match of season

Hossein Vafaei is set to play his most important match of the season on Friday when he meets Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals of the World Open in Yushan. Buoyed by his glorious 5-4 win over world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan on the final black, Vafaei has arguably more riding on his meeting with Ding knowing a semi-final place will secure a coveted Tour Championship at the expense of John Higgins. Read more here

Welcome back to the World Open

We've reached the quarter-finals of the World Open in Yushan with the balls set to start rolling at 6:30am GMT in the race for the £170,000 first prize. Our featured match this morning sees Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson collide for a semi-final spot with Jackson Page battling Elliot Slessor on the other main showpiece table. Meanwhile, Neil Robertson and Barry Hawkins meet later this morning with Ding Junhui and Hossein Vafaei colliding from 11:30am. A fascinating few hours ahead.

'He thought he'd thrown it away' - Watch dramatic ending to O'Sullivan-Vafaei classic

Friday's action

0630 GMT

Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson
Jackson Page v Elliot Slessor

1130 GMT

Hossein Vafaei v Ding Junhui
Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins

Thursday recap - Vafaei stuns 'hero' O'Sullivan, Trump through, Inspired Ding downs Murphy, Selby falls to Page

Hossein Vafaei admitted he thought he "was going to lose" before stunning his "hero" Ronnie O’Sullivan with a 5-4 victory at the World Open that was decided by the black in the final frame.

The Iranian never fell behind in a famous victory that saw him march into the quarter-finals in Yushan, where he will face Ding Junhui.

“I’m very happy to get the victory. He [O'Sullivan] is my hero," said Vafaei.

"Just playing against Ronnie O’Sullivan is a dream come true, but what about winning?"

Top seed Judd Trump moved through with a 5-3 win over David Lilley to continue his bid for a fifth title of the season.

Ding Junhui delighted the home crowd in Yushan with an electric performance to beat Shaun Murphy in the last 16 of the World Open, while Mark Selby suffered a shock defeat to Jackson Page.

Read the full reports here and here.

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