“Live Blog Ian Tuckey, Digital sport journalist Updated: 8:00, 16 Nov 2024 THE Champion of Champions is heading towards an unwanted end with semi-final action continuing TONIGHT! Xiao Guodong got the better of reigning champion Mark Allen with a 6-3 win on Friday night. And he’ll be taking on the winner of Neil Robertson and”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
- Ian Tuckey, Digital sport journalist
- Updated: 8:00, 16 Nov 2024
Xiao Guodong got the better of reigning champion Mark Allen with a 6-3 win on Friday night.
And he’ll be taking on the winner of Neil Robertson and Mark Williams who face of from 7pm.
- Start time: From 7pm GMT
- TV channel: ITV4
- FREE live stream: ITVX
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- Legendary apologyGiantkiller Xiao Guodong has said sorry to legends Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby for dumping them out with incredible comebacks on the same day
Xiao now goes into tonight’s clash with Mark Williams as only the narrow outsider.
It was an unusual four-and-a-half hour clash between the two usually fluent, heavy scorers, with prolonged frames and safety exchanges.
An irked Trump told ITV 4: “I thought I was very unlucky.
“To be honest I think Neil knows that he didn’t deserve to win like that, but that happens.
“He put in a good spell to go 3-1 up, then after that he had quite a few chances, missed quite a few long balls and got safe every time. It’s just one of those days.”
- Cue boss kudos with new dealThe UK Championship has announced a new partnership with LP Cues to become a sponsor of the tournament.
It is the first time in the 35-year history of LP Cues that they have gone into a sponsorship agreement for the event, which will run from November 23 to December 1 in York.
The World Snooker Tour’s CCO, Peter Wright, said: “We are delighted to join forces with LP Cues, we know is it a very prestigious brand and we look forward to working with their team.”
Founder & Board Director of LP Cues, Xipei Luo, added: “I am delighted that LP Cues can be involved in this Triple Crown event.
“I hope we can establish great communication with all the billiards sports fans across the world throughout the event, making the world aware of our Chinese brands, culture and technology.”
Victorian Plumbing and All British Casino were previously announced as sponsorship deals.
- Prize moneyAs we close in on the final, here’s a reminder of the prize money.
The total prize pot for the Champion of Champions snooker 2024 is a whopping £440,000.
And the winner will receive a £150,000 reward while the runner-up is set to bank £60,000.
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-up: £60,000
- Losing semi-finalists: £30,000
- Losing quarter-finalists: £17,500
- Losers in the last 16: £12,500
- Total: £440,000
- Tonight’s semi-final tipped to be crackerMark Williams vs Neil Robertson should be a gripping second semi-final tonight.
Judd Trump’s conqueror Neil Robertson has been in resurgent form in recent weeks.
And three-time world champion Williams, 49, has shown flickers of his best this year.
Robertson, the 2010 Crucible king, is now the tournament favourite at around 2/1, with his Welsh rival coming in third at about 3/1.
Schedule:
7pm – Mark Williams vs Neil Robertson. - Allen hails worthy winner XiaoMark Allen became Xiao Guodong’s third big scalp in 24 hours – and has “no complaints.
The former world No 1 battled back from 3-1 to level at 3-3 before his Chinese rival triumphed 6-3 in last night’s semi-final.
The Northern Irishman told ITV added: “No complaints. The right player won.”
And Allen appeared to be happier going on the attack more, with bolder play.
He even claimed: “I enjoyed that match more than I did on Monday, even though I won.
“It was good to experiment with some big tournaments coming up.”
Xiao had notched amazing turnaround victories over Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby on Thursday.
- Guodong vows to ‘just enjoy’ his biggest finalXiao Guodong doesn’t care who he faces in tomorrow’s final after a third straight stunning victory.
The Chinese star followed comeback victories over Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby by reeling off the last three frames for a 6-3 triumph over a third big name in Mark Allen.
A jaw-dropping long yellow helped Xiao edge a tight ninth frame to clinch victory after 11pm..
Now he’ll face either Mark Williams or Neil Robertson – with his biggest title yet at stake.
Xiao told ITV: “I just tell myself to play every shot, telling myself I could do it when it went to 3-3.
“I don’t care if I play Mark or Neil because they’re both good – legends. I will just enjoy. That’s it.”
- Selby and Allen among big shots at Shoot OutThree-time world champ and ex-world No1 Mark Selby and Mark Allen are in the line-up for the Shoot Out tournament at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena from December 4-7.
The Shoot Out is a quicker form of snooker due to the fact that matches last a maximum of just 10 MINUTES with a 15-second shot clock for the first half and 10 seconds for the second.
Allen won the title for the first time last year and will be looking to make history by becoming the first player to win the tournament twice.
Neil Robertson will be making his competition debut in the 128-player event.
Other major stars include Shaun Murphy, Gary Wilson, Jimmy White and Ali Carter. Each round features a random draw, adding to the uncertainty and excitement that comes with it.
- Xiao storming up rankingsFinalist Xiao Guodong is one of three remaining Champion of Champions competitors in the latest PDC Order of Merit top 10.
The conqueror of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and, last night, Mark Allen is fourth on the list.
Tonight’s second semi-final sees PDC No 3 Mark Williams take on sixth-ranked Neil Robertson.
PDC Order of Merit live top 10 (one year)
- Judd Trump
- Kyren Wilson
- Mark Williams
- Xiao Guodong
- Si Jiahui
- Neil Robertson
- Ding Junhui
- Shaun Murphy
- Chris Wakelin
- Mark Selby
- What’s at stake?The total prize pot for the Champion of Champions snooker 2024 is a whopping £440,000.
And the winner will receive a £150,000 reward while the runner-up is set to bank £60,000.
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-up: £60,000
- Losing semi-finalists: £30,000
- Losing quarter-finalists: £17,500
- Losers in the last 16: £12,500
- Total: £440,000
- Amazing footage of ‘scandal’ matchFootage has emerged from the snooker match that Mark King allegedly fixed.
The former Northern Ireland Open champ has been hit with a five-year ban for match fixing.
King was found guilty of “one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information on that match.”
He was initially suspended by the WPBSA in March 2023, a month after suspicious betting was reported on his 4-0 defeat by Joe Perry in the first round of the Welsh Open.
And now Eurosport footage of the match in question against Perry has resurfaced.
While it cannot be said that he purposefully misplaced these shots, the video shows King quickly working his way round the table.
- Xiao doesn’t care who’s next!Xiao Guodong insists he’ll be unfazed by whichever “legend” he faces in Sunday’s final after a third straight stunning victory.
The Chinese star followed comeback victories over Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby by reeling off the last three frames for a 6-3 triumph over a third big name in Mark Allen.
A jaw-dropping long yellow helped Xiao edge a tight ninth frame to clinch victory after 11pm..
Now he’ll face either Mark Williams or Neil Robertson – with his biggest title yet at stake.
Xiao told ITV: “I just tell myself to play every shot, telling myself I could do it when it went to 3-3.
“I don’t care if I play Mark or Neil because they’re both good – legends. I will just enjoy. That’s it.”
- XIAO WINS AGAIN! Allen 3-6 Xiao
- XIAO EXTENDS LEAD! Allen 3-5 Xiao (47-83)Xiao went on to cut home an exquisite pink – and move one frame from victory.
- Allen 3-4 Xiao (47-77)Allen needs two snookers now – after Xiao potted a brown.
- Allen 3-4 Xiao (47-49)Xiao must be the favourite now – reward for his positive play from behind in this frame.
And he brilliantly got out of a snooker – leaving Allen a tricky red that he declined to take on.
- Allen 3-4 Xiao (47-22)Xiao is carefully building a break that could decide the frame – one way or another.
- Allen 3-4 Xiao (47-8)Xiao missed what could possibly have been a crucial long red.
But Allen failed to take advantage – ratting the baulk pocket with a blue.
Now Xiao is back in.
- Allen 3-4 Xiao (46-7)Allen departed the table with a 39-point lead.
And Xiao can only respond with safety play.
Allen then drifted the cue ball onto the top cushion – but it was safe enough for Xiao to continue the defensive play and return the cue ball to the to the other end.
- Allen 3-4 Xiao (18-7)A sloppy shot from Xiao has let Allen in.
The balls are well placed, too.
- Allen 3-4 Xiao (6-7)Allen was off the mark first and Xiao was then a bit loose with a safety shot into the pack.
However, Allen then sportingly called a foul on himself as he leaned over the reds to line up a shot.
It cost him seven points – meaning he touched the black.
- GUODONG BACK IN FRONT! Allen 3-4 Xiao (39-66)Xiao settled for red and green – leaving Allen needing one snooker and a clearance to win.
He pocketed the yellow then went for safety – only to leave the green over a pocket.
That prompted Allen to concede the frame.
- Allen 3-3 Xiao (37-66)Xiao landed a breathtaking red- and is down to just the colours.
- Allen 3-3 Xiao (37-62)Allen has fought back brilliantly in this frame.
He halved the deficit with one visit to the table.
But Xiao got out of a tricky snooker.
Allen wobbled a baulk-end pocket with a red.
But the balls fell kindly for him – leaving Xiao only a hugely-difficult pot, which he took on and also narrowly missed.
- Allen 3-3 Xiao (0-62)Xiao crafted a break beyond 30.
It’s hard work but he’s nudging his way int a significant lead.
Xiao ten thundered the cue ball down into the reds via mid-pocket blue.
But he bowed out of the break with six reds left.
- Allen 3-3 Xiao (0-28)Xiao is back at the table – opening with a red and a brown but then down at the top end.