Champion of Champions Snooker 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O’Sullivan CRASHES OUT after letting 3-0 lead slip – updates

Mark bigs up XiaoMark Selby believes Xiao Guodong’s incredible 4-3 comeback win over Ronnie O’Sullivan shows the power of confidence.

The Rocket raced to a 3-0 lead and didn’t do too much wrong after that as his Chinese opponent reached jaw-dropping heights.

Selby now faces Xiao this evening in what should be an absorbing clash.

The English star said: “Xiao hasn’t just become a great player overnight, he’s always been a good player.”

The Asian ace won the Wuhan Open earlier this year but in many ways surpassed that achievement today.

Selby said of Xiao’s victory over O’Sullivan: “It shows what confidence does. He looks like he’s really believing in himself.”

Selby ‘feeling good’ with his game Mark Selby’s verdict on his 4-2 win over Shaun Murphy was almost as dynamic as his display.

The four-time world champion, 41, has grumbled about the state of his game at times over the past year or so.

Some even took that as a hint Selby might consider his future.

Credit: GettyBut he was a changed man this evening as he said: “I started a bit slow, nicked the second frame.

“I wasn’t really in the match until then.

“I scored alright once I got in. I tried to up the tempo and felt like I did.

“I feel good about my game. Overall I’m happy with the way I’m way I’ playing.”

Hendry hails scintillating SelbyStephen Hendry reckons Mark Selby was in stunning form to overcome Shaun Murphy – who himself did little wrong.

Selby notched breaks of 96, 132, 76 and finally 72 to triumph – with a 56-minute defensive marathon the only odd frame out.

ITV pundit Hendry said: “His long game was his bedrock. He was so impressive.”

And the Scot insisted having little rest before tonight’s clash with Xiao Guodong will have little affect on Selby.

MARK WINS! Selby 4-2 Murphy (115-0)Selby was brilliant for most of this match.

His third break 132 was the stunning highlight, interspersed with bouts of his trademark patient safety.

Selby finished Murphy off in the sixth frame with a 72 – missing the pink but already well assured of a place in the quarter-finals.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (91-0)Victory looks inevitable now for Selby.

He’s pulled off brilliant power pots and is in on the red-and-black combinations.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (66-0)Selby looks like he’s compiling a match-winning break.

He’s into his 20s with this meticulous break and Murphy needs snookers.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (46-0)Murphy finally got out of the snooker at the FOURTH attempt.

He went for an ambitious safety shot every time – and got a huge roar when he finally succeeded.

However, Selby pulled off an incredible pot that many players might not have even considered.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (35-0)Selby fluked another snooker – off the knuckle of the middle pocket – to leave both players giggling.

Poor Murphy took his time – and MISSED the reds.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (31-0)Selby returned to spot a red he could just squeeze in.

And when he did just that, he opted for a tricky snooker next shot.

That left Murphy with a shot that could define the frame.

But he judged it incredibly well, trickling the cue ball onto the reds.

Even Murphy couldn’t resist a smile bordering on a smirk!

Selby 3-2 Murphy (30-0)Selby had to settle for a break of 16.

But all the pressure is on Murphy, who has to win this frame to stay in the match.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (26-0)What a pot!

Selby took ages studying the possibilities of a red – sitting right next to a blue – to the top pocket.

He looked at all angles – before rifling it in.

And finally he’s into a break.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (14-0)Selby smacked in a full-table red – but was not in a position to profit.

And Selby likewise pulled off a stunning red to little avail.

Mostly it’s been efficient safety play.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (9-0)Murphy pocketed the yellow off a cue-ball ricochet.

But all he conceded was a foul as Selby had no chance of taking advantage.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (5-0)Murphy had a long look at a red – and wobbled it out of the pocket.

But fortunately for The Magician he didn’t leave Selby with much of a pot chance.

Instead Selby trickled the cue ball back up to the baulk cushion.

Selby 3-2 Murphy (4-0)Murphy was snookered right at the start – but got out of smoothly enough.

Now we’re into safety play.

MARK IN FRONT AGAIN! Selby 3-2 Murphy (76-0)Selby has produced three or four stunning pots as he racked up a 76 break to move in front in the match once again.

A ton looked very much on – but in the end he had to settle for a 3-2 lead.

Selby 2-2 Murphy (47-0)A dream of a red from Selby keeps his sizeable break ticking over.

There’ should be a fair bit of life yet in his vist to the oche.

Selby 2-2 Murphy (25-0)Now it’s Selby’s turn to reap the rewards from an error by his rival.

The balls are wonderfully placed as he builds a break into the 20s.

MURPHY LEVELS! Selby 2-2 Murphy (18-86)Murphy has really punished Selby for his misjudged red – with a frame-winning break of 74

A delightful red put him back on track mid-break.

And with the remaining balls easier placed he took the frame beyond Selby – who had looked so good until his miss at 18-12 up.

Selby 2-1 Murphy (18-19)Selby produced his second poor shot in a row to miss the inviting red that Murphy left for him.

And Murphy returned to start building what could be a frame-turning break.

A bold red to the middle pocket put him into the lead.

Selby 2-1 Murphy (18-12)Selby smacked in a power pot to underline his purple patch as he went 18-0 up in this fourth frame.

But he surprisingly failed to get out of a snooker when he had a half-pack of reds to aim at.

Murphy promptly picked off the only red NOT in that pack.

He then slammed home the black to open up those reds.

But Murphy could only make a break of 12 as he missed a tricky long red at the baulk end.

Ronnie’s verdict on retirementRonnie O’Sullivan gave fewer clues than usual on his future after his shock 4-3 loss to Xiao Guodong.

The Rocket was awesome in winning the first three frames before his Chinese opponent roared back to win.

O’Sullivan has often berated his form this year.

This time the 48-year-old said: “I have been on a roll for 30 years.

“It will end when I decide it ends. I’ve very rarely had an average season since turning pro.”

MARK TON DOES IT! Selby 2-1 Murphy (132-0)Selby’s scintillating 132 clearance put him in front in this match of contrasting frames.

Selby 1-1 Murphy (114-0)Selby won’t have produced many more fluent frames of brilliance than this – ever.

And he’s made it to a century break – the 847th of his career.

Selby 1-1 Murphy (79-0)What a contrast to the 55-minute second frame!

Selby’s produced some vintage shots in a half-ton break, noticeably the deftest of cut blacks.

And he cruised into his 70s with another sharp pot.