English Open draw
Here is a breakdown of the draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the English Open.
Quarter-finals:
- Judd Trump v Wu Yize
- Mark Selby v Ishpreet Singh Chadha
- Mark Allen v Chris Wakelin
- Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins
Semi-finals:
- Trump/Wu v Selby/Singh Chadha
- Allen/Wakelin v Robertson/Hawkins
Today's action
The quarter-finals of the English Open get underway at 12pm today live from the Brentwood Centre in Essex.
Matches will be the best of nine frames for a place in the last four.
Here is what's coming up.
12pm:
- Judd Trump v Wu Yize
2pm:
- Mark Allen v Chris Wakelin
7pm:
- Mark Selby v Ishpreet Singh Chadha
- Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins
Rocket in love split... after 147 months
EXCLUSIVE: Legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has split from fiancée Laila Rouass — 147 months after they got together, writes ELLIE HENMAN.
Ronnie, 48, who has scored a record 15 maximum-147 breaks in a glittering career, has been playing abroad and barely seen the 53-year-old actress.
A friend said: “They have been going in different directions.”
Actress Laila was not wearing her diamond engagement ring when she appeared on This Morning last month.
Seven-times world champion Ronnie gave her the huge sparkler in 2013 — a year after they started dating.
However they never married and friends say they have now broken up — 147 months since they got together. The couple separated in 2022 before patching things up.
A friend said: “Ronnie and Laila really threw themselves back into their relationship after the split a couple of years ago.
“He kept posting pics of them online at home together and saying romantic things on special occasions, but that’s all come to a halt.
“They’ve tried so hard but they just can’t make it work.”
Gob-smackering fluke goes viral
John Higgins went viral with an unbelievable fluke during the English Open, writes KOSTAS LIANOS.
Higgins, 49, was pipped 4-3 by Mark Allen in the last 16 at Brentwood.
Both snooker stars have upped the ante with incredible shots during an absolute showdown of a clash. But it was one crazy stroke of luck from Higgins that fans will remember.
The Scot missed a long red into the corner pocket, with the ball crashing off both jaws and careering back towards baulk.
And Higgins couldn't believe his luck when it bounced off of the top cushion and straight into the loose cue ball. And the incredible double kiss saw the red somehow drop into the middle pocket.
The Eurosport commentator was left absolute stunned with what he just witnessed. The announcer gushed: "This is probably the greatest double kiss I've ever seen in my life."
And snooker fans were left in awe as they stormed social media.
One fan tweeted: "This John Higgins fluke was unbelievable!"
Another commented: "Wow." A third posted: "Wonderful scenes." This fan said: "I think we can call this match eventful."
Friday's full quarter-final line-up
Judd Trump spearheads the noon action - in one of the first two English Open quarter-finals.
The world No 1 takes on China's Yize Wu at the same time Mark Allen does battle with Chris Wakelin.
Then come the two 7pm matches.
Mark Selby faces Indian ace Ishpreet Singh Chadha.
And Aussie Neil Robertson takes on Kyren Wilson's surprise last-16 conqueror Barry Hawkins.
It's now the first to five frames - not to four as in the last 16.
Wu seeking first ever win over Trump
World No 1 Judd Trump takes on China's Yize Wu - ranked 39 places below him - in a noon quarter-final today.
Trump has won all their three previous clashes.
But last time out, in the Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this month, the Englishman only edged home 5-4.
Trump's first two victories, both last year, were far easier - 6-1 at the Wuhan Open in October and 4-1 in the WST Classic 18 months ago.