He snooker continues to advance in his second ‘major’ of the season, the UK Championship. Between this Saturday and this Tuesday, the first round of the tournament was played, also the first event of the traditional ‘Triple Crown’, and this has left several illustrious players defeated.
Read also
Read also
Read also
Ronnie O’Sullivan, defending champion, does not continue in the tournament because he was defeated in his first match against Barry Hawkins for a result of 6-4. Hawkins turned around a 2-4 deficit and is playing this Wednesday in the round of 16 against a David Gilbert who defeated one of the players of the moment, a Xiao Guodong whom he also defeated 6-4.
The top part of the draw also left two matches decided in the ‘decider’. Shaun Murphy defeated the 2021 champion Zhao Xintongwho after his sanction for the rigging scandal has had to return via the preliminary phase. Ding Junhui also advanced via ‘decider’ in front of Robert Milkins.
One of the great victories of the first round was achieved Jack Lisowski ante Mark Selby. Lisowski knew how to respond to the contrast of styles, with a good adaptation to the tactical game, to defeat Selby by 6-4. Awaits you in the second round Ali Carterwho won by the same result as Ryan Day.
Didn’t fail Mark Allenone of the great candidates for the final at the top of the table. He beat in the first round Jackson Page by 6-4 and was cited in the following with Wu Yize. In a great duel between Chinese talents, the latter beat the 2023 World Cup semi-finalist by the same score Si Jiahui.
To open the lower part of the draw, one of the explosive duels of the first round measured Judd Trumpnumber 1 in the world, with Neil Robertsonwho has recovered his sensations at the beginning of the season. Robertson was dominant at the beginning against a Trump who was blurred in the staging (1-3), but Judd who accelerated after the break with five consecutive frames for the 6-3. Awaits you in the second round John Higgins in another confrontation between legends after the great sensations exhibited by the Scotsman in his debut against Guoqiang He (6-0).
One of the great duels of the first round was won by Stuart Bingham by 6-5 after ‘deciding’ to Mark Williamswho went 2-5 up and gave up four consecutive tables. Williams arrived as one of the great contenders for the title after winning the Champion of Champions days before. Zhang You, who won 6-3 a Lei Peifanwill be Bingham’s next rival. In that victory, Anda achieved a maximum break of 147.
The confrontation between the 2023 world champion also shined with its own light Luca Brecel and the 2024 world runner-up Like Jones. Jones also took the win in the ‘decider’ in an exciting match to meet in the second round with Michael Holtwho did not give options to Gary Wilson (6-1).
Although the world champion who is very strong in the UK is the current one, Kyren Wilson. The Englishman closed the first round quadrant after overwhelmingly beating Stephen Maguire by 6-0. Awaits you in the round of 16 Chris Wakelinexecutioner of Matthew Selt by 6-4. That round of round of 16 will be played between this Wednesday and this Thursday.
