Amidst the absence of favorites, who will secure the £170,000 prize in the Snooker World Open competition?
Shockers at the Snooker World Open
The recent days of the Snooker World Open have been filled with unexpected twists. Big names like Ronnie O'Sullivan, 48, Mark Selby, 40, and world champion Luca Brecel, 29, have been knocked out. As anticipated, Judd Trump, 34, is maintaining his form. However, it's Ding Junhui, 36, who's grabbing fans' attention with a chance to win the £170,000 (roughly €198,982) prize. Let's dive into the latest results.
Judd Trump Reaches the Final Four
The quarterfinals of the World Open have concluded with the first two matches:
- Jackson Page – Elliot Slessor: 5-2
- Judd Trump – Kyren Wilson: 5-2
Judd Trump bested Kyren Wilson, 32, in a nail-biting showdown to advance to the semifinals of the World Open. Trump started off strong, clinching the first frame with a century break. The match then became neck-and-neck, with numerous close frames.
The fifth frame, featuring Trump and Wilson snookering each other, proved challenging for both. Trump even commented about the challenge in a post-match interview [English video].
Matches to Watch in the Afternoon
The remaining quarterfinals will kick off at 12:30 PM German time. One match will air on Eurosport.
The following matches are set for the quarterfinals:
- Neil Robertson – Barry Hawkins
- Hossein Vafaei – Ding Junhui
Ding Junhui isn't just favored against Hossein Vafaei, 29. Junhui put on an impressive display in the tournament's fourth round, scoring centuries of 101 and 130 against Shaun Murphy, 41. He's already made six centuries in the tournament.
This afternoon, he'll face Hossein Vafaei in front of a hometown crowd. The bookies back Junhui with odds of 1.67, while Vafaei has odds of 2.38.
The Impact of World Open Surprises on the Snooker World Championship
The World Open in Yushan has seen a series of surprises. Eliminated players include Ronnie O'Sullivan, Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, and Mark Allen, 38. These players were seen as potential front-runners for the Snooker World Championship, taking place in Sheffield from April 20 to May 6.
The betting odds suggest a possible showdown between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump:
- Ronnie O'Sullivan: 3
- Judd Trump: 4
- Mark Selby: 7
- Neil Robertson: 12
- Mark Allen: 14
Mark Selby's Surprising Loss to Jackson Page
Yesterday, another favorite, Mark Selby, unexpectedly exited the World Open in Yushan. He fell to Jackson Page, 22, with a score of 2-5. Both players played exceptionally well: Page made centuries of 130, 120, and 100. Selby scored two centuries of 129 and 131.
The sheer surprise of this win is also evident in the current world rankings [English link] of the two players. Selby, a four-time world champion, is currently ranked fifth. Jackson Page currently ranks 52nd.
Jackson Page, in turn, has progressed to the semifinals by beating Elliot Slessor, 29, in his quarterfinal match. He'll be facing Judd Trump next in the World Open semifinals.
Who are the Favorites According to the Bookmakers?
The World Open in Yushan has been an entertaining tournament filled with many unexpected results. This mirrors the odds set by the bookmakers. Many favorites have already been eliminated.
The betting odds are tight for the £98,982 prize:
When are the Semifinals and the Final Scheduled?
All quarterfinal matches in the World Open are taking place today. The semifinals will occur tomorrow, Saturday, with a best-of-11 frames format:
- The first match starts at 7:00 AM CET and can only be viewed with a paid Eurosport 2 subscription. It features Judd Trump against Jackson Page.
- The second match will take place at 12:30 PM CET. It will be shown for free on Eurosport. Neil Robertson, 42, or Barry Hawkins, 44, will square off against Hossein Vafaei or Ding Junhui.
The Final starts on Sunday at 7:00 AM CET. It will follow a best-of-19 frames format, divided into two sessions. Only the second session will be aired on free TV on Eurosport. For those with a Eurosport 2 subscription, the entire final will be live. The winner's prize money amounts to 170,000 GBP (approximately 198,982 EUR).
The latest news in the Snooker World Open saw Judd Trump advance to the semifinals after a thrilling victory over Kyren Wilson. Meanwhile, Ding Junhui's impressive performance, including breaking century marks, has him favored against Hossein Vafaei in the upcoming quarterfinals.
Despite several big names like Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby exiting early, the betting odds suggest a potential showdown between O'Sullivan and Trump for the Snooker World Championship.
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