Snooker Xi'an Grand Prix: O'Sullivan and Trump Shine Amidst Underwhelming Showings of Other Front-Runners
The Xi'an Grand Prix's opening round commenced this week, starting off with a lackluster vibe. However, yesterday saw several big names fall in the matches. Is there a possibility of another face-off between Ronnie O'Sullivan, 48, and Judd Trump, 35?
Wilson and O'Sullivan to Square Off in the Semis
Minutes ago, the first round-of-16 matches concluded. Kyren Wilson, 32, and Ronnie O'Sullivan have moved forward, making it to the semi-finals of the Xi'an Grand Prix. They will square off tomorrow, August 24, in an attempt to secure a spot in the finale.
Quarter-finals filled with Shocks
The quarter-finals of the Xi'an Grand Prix are ongoing today. Matches begin at 8:00 AM and 1:30 PM, German time:
- 8:00 AM: Kyren Wilson – Xu Si: 5-1
- 8:00 AM: Ronnie O'Sullivan – Matthew Selt: 5-4
- 1:30 PM: Daniel Wells – Barry Hawkins
- 1:30 PM: Judd Trump – David Gilbert
Both O'Sullivan and Trump, considered early front-runners for the title, are among the quarter-finalists. Unsurprisingly, Kyren Wilson, 32, the reigning champion, is also in the quarter-finals, having advanced to the semis.
On the flip side, some players have delivered impressive performances. Notably, Daniel Wells, 36, and Xu Si, 26. Wells is currently ranked 65th in the WST world rankings [English link] and has never won a ranking tournament. Xu's quarter-final appearance was a surprise, too. Currently ranked 58th in the world, Xu faced off against Wilson in the quarter-finals.
Allen, Selby, and Williams Among Early Casualties
The surprising representation in the quarter-finals can be attributed to these players' exceptional performances in the earlier rounds. Several favorites who many fans had pegged as potential tournament winners or finalists were eliminated early on.
World number one Mark Allen, 38, was defeated 3-5 by Barry Hawkins, 45. If Judd Trump takes home the Xi'an Grand Prix, he will assume the top spot in the world rankings. Alternatively, if Kyren Wilson emerges victorious, he will shift up to number one.
Mark Selby, 41, and Mark Williams, 49, also bid farewell in yesterday's last-16 matches. Shaun Murphy, 42, known for his top-notch recent form, was eliminated in the third round. Neil Robertson, 42, was ousted in the second round.
Saudi Arabia Masters Next on the schedule
The Xi'an Grand Prix finale will take place on August 25. Only five days later, the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will kick off in Riyadh on August 30. The players advancing to the Xi'an Grand Prix final will have just a few days to recover before participating in the Saudi Arabia Masters.
The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters has been the subject of buzz for weeks. The tournament revealed a prize pool of 500,000 GBP (approximately 590,056 EUR) – an amount equivalent to the Snooker World Championship winner's prize. Additionally, all 128 players from the main tour will travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in the qualifiers.
However, the competition will only last for eight days. Looking at the schedule, many matches will be played simultaneously, and players will have limited breaks. The top-rated players have already qualified for the fifth round of the tournament and will only join later on, starting September 3.
Bookmakers Anticipate O'Sullivan-Trump Rematch
The ouster of several favorites has affected sports betting odds, with bookmakers predicting a potential O'Sullivan – Trump rematch:
- Ronnie O'Sullivan: 2.25
- Judd Trump: 2.75
- Kyren Wilson: 7.50
- Barry Hawkins: 9.00
- David Gilbert: 12.00
- Daniel Wells: 40.00
- Matthew Selt: 100.00
Examining the tournament schedule, these two players could only meet in the final. O'Sullivan and Trump squared off in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters 2024 recently. Trump emerged victorious with a 10-3 score, leaving O'Sullivan with little room to fight back. A prospective rematch could generate excitement and provide captivating betting odds.
When Will the Semi-finals and Final Take Place?
The Xi'an Grand Prix follows a tight schedule without any rest days. This trend is likely to continue in the coming days.
All quarter-final matches are scheduled to be completed today. The two semi-final matches will take place on August 24, followed by the final on August 25. The remaining games might feature intriguing matchups.
In the semifinals, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Kyren Wilson will face off for the first time since 2022. In the final, there's a chance of a clash with Judd Trump.
After the conclusion of the first round-of-16 matches, Kyren Wilson and Ronnie O'Sullivan advanced, setting up a semi-final encounter between the two. Notably, both O'Sullivan and Trump, considered frontrunners for the title, have made it to the quarter-finals.
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