“Live Blog Ian Tuckey, Digital sport journalist Updated: 0:09, 26 Nov 2024 THE UK Championship is underway RIGHT NOW – with the biggest names in snooker competing in York. Reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is OUT after losing 6-4 to Barry Hawkins on opening day. While 2023 World Champ Luca Brecel has also been knocked out”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
- Ian Tuckey, Digital sport journalist
- Updated: 0:09, 26 Nov 2024
Reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan is OUT after losing 6-4 to Barry Hawkins on opening day.
While 2023 World Champ Luca Brecel has also been knocked out after losing a thriller to Jak Jones.
The competition marks the start of this season’s prestigious Triple Crown events.
- Start time: From 1pm GMT
- TV channel: Eurosport/BBC
- Live stream: discovery+/BBC iPlayer
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- JAK WINS! Luca Brecel 5-6 Jak Jones Jones has snatched a ding-dong victory – 22 minutes before midnight!
He maybe deserved it for having the edge in consistency – plus producing some incredible pots in a decisive break at the death.
- Luca Brecel 5-5 Jak Jones (42-66)An absolutely stunning pot from Jones – when he could have settled for safety – put him 24 ahead with 18 points on the table.
Surely he’ll see it out from here.
- Luca Brecel 5-5 Jak Jones (42-57)Jones is truly in his stride with a half-ton break – edging closer to a decisive lead.
- Luca Brecel 5-5 Jak Jones (42-3)Just when he was flowing, Brecel bowed out with a poor miss on 42.
Now Jones has a tricky opportunity.
And he launches it with a long red expertly cut into the corner pocket.
- Luca Brecel 5-5 Jak Jones (37-0)A superb red, like the Brecel of old, continues his march.
He looks far more relaxed than at any stage earlier in this match.
His break is into the 30s and could extend far…
- Luca Brecel 5-5 Jak Jones (13-0)Brecel went for a hugely-risky pot – and landed it.
Now he’s brilliantly placed in the final frame to build a decisive break.
- DONW TO THE WIRE! Luca Brecel 5-5 Jak Jones Jones’ break of 34 was enough to persuade Brecel to concede.
We’re into a final-frame decider…
- Luca Brecel 5-4 Jak Jones (0-77)Jones is into his 30s with a carefully-crafted break.
It’s not been a classic match in terms of quality.
But as for closeness, it’s often been a nailbiter.
- JACK HITS BACK! Luca Brecel 5-4 Jak JonesJones notched a 30 break to take the ninth frame away from Brecel.
He won’t be happy to have missed a simple black at the end – but the frame was long won by then.
- ONE FROM VICTORY! Luca Brecel 5-3 Jak JonesBrecel is one frame from victory now after controlling most of the eighth frame.
- SHOCK WIN! Gary Wilson 1-6 Michael HoltHolt duly wrapped up what’s his best win for years.
Pre-match it seemed him winning would be a shock – but that’s the opposite of how it turned out against World No 10 Wilson.
At 1-1, Holt won the next two frames on the black..
He then notched breaks of 69 and 95 to move one frame from victory.
Holt looked comfortable in the seventh frame – but snookered himself after potting the brown with just three balls left.
However, Wilson couldn’t exploit his glimmer of hope.
And his 46-yesr-old rival took out a bold long pink to clinch victory
But Wilson could not capitalise on the chances as Holt potted a long-range pink to secure a superb victory.
- JAK CUTS LEAD! Luca Brecel 4-3 Jak JonesFinally! Jones was made to grind out this frame after a surprising string of misses on the yellow.
He eventually downed it – and Brecel conceded.
But that moment took 24 minutes with the score virtually unchanged.
- Wilson on brink of shock winMichael Wilson is one frame from what, at 7pm, would have seen a shock win.
But he’s been the better player for much of the match, now leading 5-1..
And victory has long looked his for the taking.
- Luca Brecel 4-2 Jak Jones (39-69)Brecel has just pulled off a lovely snooker.
But Jones got out of it smoothly.
So it’s still tight as Brecel somehow hopes to battle back.
- Luca Brecel 4-2 Jak Jones (32-69)Brecel is trying to creep back into the frame.
But although he potted a red and back, he overhit the cue ball – meaning he had to settle for safety.
- Luca Brecel 4-2 Jak Jones (4-12)Brecel saw the cue ball fall kindly after a double kiss – seemingly a hue let-off.
But Jones squeezed home a red brilliantly.
And the green he followed up with took the white right back into the reds.
Now he looks in business…
- LUCA ON A ROLL! Luca Brecel 4-2 Jak Jones Brecel just missed a ton break as he doubled his frame lead.
But he’s in by far his best form of the match.
- Luca Brecel 3-2 Jak Jones (67-0)Jones has spluttered in the last couple of frames – especially after the interval.
And again Brecel is in early in the fourth frame.
He’s pocketed one or two brilliant ones – and has finally notched his first half-century of the match.
- LUCA BACK IN FRONT! Luca Brecel 3-2 Jak JonesBrecel duly saw out the fifth frame.
Meanwhile, Michael Holt is still looking good for an upset win over Gary Wilson – leading 4-1.
- Luca Brecel 2-2 Jak Jones (67-2)A long red from Brecel opened the frame up when he led 36-2 up
The pink followed easily enough – and his break continued to flow.
It should be a situation from which he clinches the frame – and the lead.
- Luca Brecel 2-2 Jak Jones (27-2)Brecel built what in the context of this bitty match could be an important lead.
At 27-0 down, Jones appeared to take on an ambitious long red – and was glad to see the cut fall safely.
Brecel then did the same at this cat ‘n mouse stage of the frame – before Jones pouched a stunning long red.
But surprisingly he left the black near the pocket.
Brecel then did even worse – nudging the red over the same pocket – to put Jones in once more.
However, the black on the cushion proved too tough.
- Luca Brecel 2-2 Jak Jones (70-24)Brecel eked out a match-equalling frame.
But this session has not been easy on the eye.
Both players seemed happy to go into the 15-minute interval.
meanwhile, Michael Holt has looked impressively solid in winning the last four frames as he leads Gary Wilson 4-1.
Credit: BBC
- Luca Brecel 1-2 Jak Jones (47-24)Jones has just missed a simple red – enabling Brecel to pounce.
The 2023 World Champ then managed to split the tricky two reds by the cushion.
But he had to settle for just a break of eight – leaving Jones the possibility of an incredibly unlikely red.
Unsurprisingly, he chose safety.
- Luca Brecel 1-2 Jak Jones (39-16)Jones gave himself chance of getting back into this frame at 39-1 down with a brilliant red – to open up a shot at the black that he gleefully took.
But two of the remaining four reds look tricky
Brecel continues to look inconsistent.
- Luca Brecel 1-2 Jak Jones (39-1)Brecel is piecing his way to a useful advantage in the fourth frame.
A risky blue to the middle pocket opened up tricky red opportunities.
And he had to stretch to keep his frame moving – with more awkward pots looming.
In fact, he then wobbled a black into the bottom corner – failing to pot it