“Live Blog Ian Tuckey, Digital sport journalist Updated: 19:35, 29 Nov 2024 WE have reached the quarter-final stage of the 2024 UK Championship – and the evening sessions are underway now! World No 1 Judd Trump has beaten Chinese ace Zhang Anda in an afternoon clash while Barry Hawkins defeated Shaun Murphy in an all-English”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
- Ian Tuckey, Digital sport journalist
- Updated: 19:35, 29 Nov 2024
World No 1 Judd Trump has beaten Chinese ace Zhang Anda in an afternoon clash while Barry Hawkins defeated Shaun Murphy in an all-English encounter.
Michael Holt’s evening session sees him taking on world champ Kyren Wilson, and Jack Lisowski is going head-to-head with Mark Allen on the other table.
Reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered a shock first-round exit at the hands of Hawkins.
- Start times: 1pm/7pm GMT
- Live streams: BBC iPlayer/discovery+
- TV channels: BBC/Eurosport
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- Latest scoresLisowski has moved 3-1 up against Allen – a huge shock.
Both matches are now at the interval stage.
- Kyren Wilson 3-1 Michael Holt
- Jack Lisowski 3-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Holt cuts deficitHolt’s brilliant half-century has put him back in the match.
Wilson gave him half a chance – and he took it fluently.
- Kyren Wilson 3-1 Michael Holt
- Jack Lisowski 2-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Holt eyeing his first frameHolt is into his 30s with this visit to the table – following an opening break of 41.
And he’s moving round the table quickly – now onto just the colours
- Kyren Wilson 3-0 Michael Holt (16-99)
- Jack Lisowski 2-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Holt bags 41 but lets Wilson inHolt got to 41 smoothly enough – but will be disappointed with his ensuing miss.
So now, from 41-0 down, Wilson has an inviting table
Meanwhile, Lisowski has come from behind to lead Allen 2-1.
- Kyren Wilson 3-0 Michael Holt (16-41)
- Jack Lisowski 2-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – crowd roar on HoltWilson once again had a strong early opportunity.
But he missed a red and left it by the pocket.
And there’s a roar of “Come on, Michael!” from the crowd as it’s left Holt with a BIG chance.
So far he’s building steadily – helped by a well-crafted red tot he middle pocket that put him back on the black.
- Kyren Wilson 3-0 Michael Holt (0-24)
- Jack Lisowski 1-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Wilson extends leadWilson profited from a dire miss by Holt to compile a 46 clearance and move 3-0 up.
Holt had a couple of promising opportunities.
But he now surely needs the last frame before the interval to give himself hope of another comeback victory.
- Kyren Wilson 3-0 Michael Holt
- Jack Lisowski 1-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Wilson extends leadWilson profited from a dire miss by Holt to compile a 46 clearance and move 3-0 up.
- Kyren Wilson 3-0 Michael Holt
- Jack Lisowski 1-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – another Wilson errorA second surprising miss from Wilson – at 38-38 – put Holt back in.
But he could only make eight as he cannoned a red off target.
Now Wilson has a great opportunity.
- Kyren Wilson 2-0 Michael Holt (38-46)
- Jack Lisowski 1-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – the rest is miss storyWilson’s normally so clinical with the rest.
But his early break bowed out in 38 when he missed a simple red at the baulk end.
It’s given Holt his first true glimpse at a decent score.
And he drifted in a long red to get him back on the black before continuing his break.
- Kyren Wilson 2-0 Michael Holt (38-16)
- Jack Lisowski 1-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Wilson eyeing another early leadWilson is looking good early on for a third frame in a row.
- Kyren Wilson 2-0 Michael Holt (29-0)
- Jack Lisowski 1-1 Mark Allen
Wilson is building early in the third frame
- Latest scores – Wilson doubles lead with 72 breakHolt conceded the second frame after Wilson’s fine break ended on 72.
That gave him the frame 72-1.
- Kyren Wilson 2-0 Michael Holt
- Jack Lisowski 1-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Wilson notches second half-ton of matchWilso has punished Holt for potting the cue ball – by making it two half-ton breaks in two frames.
A couple of the reds lie awkwardly against the side cushions.
But there’s still plenty of scope for a huge score here.
And a cracking red took him to the brink of leaving Holt needing snookers – a point he soon passed.
- Kyren Wilson 1-0 Michael Holt (68-1)
- Jack Lisowski 1-1 Mark Allen
Wilson pouched this red as he launched another sizeable break
- Latest scores – Holt pockets whiteHolt winced as the cue ball went in as he went for safety.
That’s given Wilson a chance he’s currently relishing to build a useful early break.
Meanwhile, Lisowski has quickly levelled his match with Allen.
- Kyren Wilson 1-0 Michael Holt (20-0)
- Jack Lisowski 0-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – scrapping for early breakthroughIn contrast to the first frame, the reds remain bunched together as Wilson and Holt swap safety shots.
Neither found an opening – until Wilson pouched a long red.
But he couldn’t build on it.
- Kyren Wilson 1-0 Michael Holt (1-0)
- Jack Lisowski 0-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Both favourites win opening frameA mini-break of 14 following his 52 helped Wilson comfortably take the opening frame against Holt.
- Kyren Wilson 1-0 Michael Holt
- Jack Lisowski 0-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Allen moves in frontAllen took the opening frame against Lisowski.
Meanwhile, Holt is struggling to get a look-in against Wilson.
And Holt faces a tricky safety shot.
- Kyren Wilson 0-0 Michael Holt (56-1)
- Jack Lisowski 0-1 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Wilson bags 52 breakWilson rattled up a 52 break – ending with a surprise miss on the red.
But he got away with it – as the cue ball fell kindly.
And Holt faces a tricky safety shot.
- Kyren Wilson 0-0 Michael Holt (56-0)
- Jack Lisowski 0-0 Mark Allen
- Latest scores – Wilson in firstThe reds are incredibly spread – but Wilson has to go for safety.
Holt takes a long look at this unusual situation so early in the frame.
But it’s Wilson who is in first – and now has some red-and-black combos to assess.
- Kyren Wilson 0-0 Michael Holt (13-0)
- Jack Lisowski 0-0 Mark Allen
Wilson declined to take on any reds here
- Latest scores – both matches under way
- Kyren Wilson 0-0 Michael Holt
- Jack Lisowski 0-0 Mark Allen
- Wilson & Allen hunt semi placesReigning Crucible king Kyren Wilson and World No 3 Mark Allen hope to clinch semi-final spots this evening.
Wilson went into today with the shortest match odds for victory of anyone today.
He’s around 2/11 on to overcome last night’s giantkiller Michael Holt.
Meanwhile Allen is 3/4 on to overcome Ronnie O’Sullivan’s training partner Jack Lisowski.
Trump remains the tournament favourite at 6/5 – boosted by a brilliant win this afternoon.
- Beaten Murphy hails ‘phenomenal’ HawkinsShaun Murphy was left scratching his head to think of anything he had done wrong – after applauding victor Barry Hawkins out of the arena.
The world No 9 exited the UK Championship 6-2 to the man who had KO’d Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-4 in the first round.
Hawkins produced a display arguably better than his defeat of the RocketCredit: PAMurphy said: “I thought I played really well.
“I don’t remember making six frame losing mistakes in the match, I might have made a few but not six.”
Murphy added: “I thought Barry was phenomenal.
“Earlier in the week I said the player that beats Ronnie normally goes on and has a really good run in these majors because you have to be at the peak of your form to beat O’Sullivan.
“Unfortunately for me, I was right.”
Murphy reflects on a defeat in which he reckons he played wellCredit: PA
- Rocket reckons Wilson is snooker’s SchefflerRonnie O’Sullivan believes Kyren Wilson has the “temperament” to keep winning big – and plays like snooker’s version of world no 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler.
Wilson faces Michael Holt in the UK Snooker championships quarter-finals tonight.
Credit: PAAnd seven-time Crucible king O’Sullivan is impressed with how the Kettering cuer is coping with winning his maiden world title this year.
The Rocket told Eurosport: “It depends how good you are, some it can destroy their career and can’t handle the pressure.
“Some players who have the talent and have got the pedigree, they rise in stature and go on to win many, many things.
“I would definitely put Kyren in that bracket where [he] is going to win many, many more big tournaments.”
O’Sullivan added: “He reminds me of Scottie Scheffler, the golfer.
“You get a lot of people who drive the ball a long way, do this well, do that well. He [Wilson] does everything very well and when he is on it, he is a tough competitor.”
Scottie Scheffler is renowned for his all-round abilityCredit: Getty
- Judd doesn’t mind who he faces in semisJudd Trump says he has no preference over his last-four opponent – partly as he’s relieved to get that far.
The 6-2 conqueror of Zhang Anda will face either World No 2 Kyren Wilson or giantkiller Michael Holt.
Trump said: “I’m just happy to be in the semi-final.
“From where I was in those first two games, 3-0 down against Neil Robertson], being in this position, managed to score heavy in the quarter-finals.
“Don’t really care who it is. Obviously Kyren’s going to be the favourite but Michael has played some great snooker in this tournament. Whoever it is it’ll be a great game.”
- Trump so close to amazing Ronnie recordJudd Trump’s electric start in victory over Zhang Anda left himjust 29 points short of an incredible record held by Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Rocket Ronnie compiled 556 points without reply at one stage of the 2014 Masters in London.
And Trump put that tally under threat in York today – when he won the first four frames before the interval on his way to a 5-0 lead and 6-2 win.
Breaks of 126, 120 and 131 saw the world No 1 race 4-0 ahead in just 45 minutes – with 466 points unanswered.
He then took that to 527 – only to miss a red that Zhang promptly pocketed – to cheers from the crowd.
- Judd joy at incredible improvementDelighted Judd Trump “really stamped my authority” over Zhang Anda.
He hinted he believes he’s back in the form that makes him World No 1.
The English ace criticised himself earlier in the tournament – but delivered a dramatically different verdict after a 6-2 quarter-final win.
Credit: PAHe told Eurosport:” Much better performance, Started really well.
“Managed to get in the first frame which is the difference between the last two games.
“I managed to settle early on and after that really stamp my authority and didn’t miss much at all.
“I was very pleased I was able to knuckle down and find some form.”