The 2024 World Snooker Championship's top contender, initially Selby and Williams, no longer holds the title
The 2024 Snooker World Championship is in full swing, despite some matches still being ongoing, there have already been some major upsets. Several high-ranked players have been knocked out by lesser-known qualifiers, shaking up the tournament. Let's look at the latest developments.
Williams Surrenders to Jiahui's Strength
Last night, Mark Williams, 49, and Si Jiahui, 21, went head-to-head. Jiahui managed to edge out the three-time world champion Williams with a narrow 10:9 victory. This victory propels the young Jiahui, who made it to the semi-finals of the World Championship last year, into the quarter-finals. He will now face Jak Jones, 30.
The match was tight, with Williams leading 4:5 at the interval. Jiahui then took control, winning four frames in a row. However, Williams fought back, securing the next four frames to level the score at 9:9. In the decisive frame, Williams missed a red into the middle pocket, giving Jiahui an opportunity to take the frame and the match.
As seen on WST (@worldsnookertour)
Despite his young age, Jiahui showed great composure against the experienced Williams, who also won the Tour Championship recently. With this defeat, yet another favorite has been eliminated from this year's Snooker World Championship.
Selby's Career in Doubt
Joining Williams on the sidelines is another favorite, Mark Selby, 40. The four-time world champion seemed to be struggling with his form in recent months, leading to high anticipation for his performance at the World Championship.
Selby faced Joe O'Connor, 28, in the opening round. The first four frames were even, with the score at 2:2. O'Connor then stepped up his game, taking the next five frames and making two century breaks. The match was 2:7 in O'Connor's favor at the interval.
Selby tried his best in the second session but couldn't overcome O'Connor's lead. Selby lost the match 6:10, exiting the tournament. After the match, Selby looked disheartened and once again questioned his career:
I don't know, I'll definitely think about it over the summer. Because in that first session, I felt like I was holding myself back when I had my chances. I gave him too many easy opportunities. I need to change something, it can't go on like this. It's affecting me mentally.– Mark Selby, Snooker Player, BBC Sport
In addition to Selby and Williams, the reigning champion Luca Brecel and the dark horse Gary Wilson have also been eliminated from the tournament. A total of six top 16 seeded players have been knocked out so far.
Who's Impressing This Year?
Snooker enthusiasts are not only fascinated by the elimination of favorites but also intrigued by which players are performing well.
Judd Trump, 34, started the tournament as the favorite and has lived up to his billing so far. He defeated Hossein Vafaei, 29, 10:5 with a solid and focused performance. Trump will now face Tom Ford, 40, in the quarter-finals.
Bookmakers currently see Trump as the clear favorite for the World Championship title. Betting enthusiasts can snag a quote of 3.6 on his title win, making him one of the most favored players.
Many underdogs have also risen to the occasion, particularly Si Jiahui, who seems to be thriving at the Crucible Theatre. After reaching the semi-finals last year, snooker fans should keep a close eye on the 21-year-old this year. He could potentially emerge as the dark horse.
Wilson and Allen Start Strong
Yesterday also saw Kyren Wilson, 32, and Mark Allen, 38, begin their Snooker World Championship campaigns. Wilson has a commanding 8:1 lead over Dominic Dale, 52, the oldest participant in this year's tournament. Wilson needs only two more frames to secure his place in the quarter-finals.
Allen is also in a strong position, leading 7:2 against Robbie Williams, 37, at the break. Along with Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan, 48, Allen is considered one of the favorites to win the Snooker World Championship. Despite not making any high breaks, Allen has been playing with confidence in his match against Williams.
What's Next?
Snooker fans have four exciting matches to look forward to today:
- 11:00 AM: Wilson - Dale: 8:1
- 11:00 AM: Ding Junhui - Lisowski: 4:5
- 3:30 PM: Allen - Williams: 7:2
- 8:00 PM: Hawkins - Day: 4:5
The showdown between Ding Junhui, aged 37, and Jack Lisowski, 32, had an electrifying start in the initial segment, with both contenders delivering top-notch performances:
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Moreover, two additional encounters are scheduled for today, starring two prestigious world champions:
- 3:30 PM: Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on Jackson Page
- 8:00 PM: John Higgins clashes with Jamie Jones
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The Snooker World Championship has seen a surprising turn of events, with several high-ranked players falling to lesser-known qualifiers. Among these unexpected results, Mark Selby's defeat to Joe O'Connor was one of the most noteworthy, leaving many wondering if this setback might impact his career.
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