Snooker

First blood this evening goes to Wilson.

Murphy played a couple of really poor shots, the sort he wasn't playing this afternoon and he left Wilson in but Kyren still struggling to get frames won in one visit and broke down on 48 with a disappointing miss - especially as he was starting to look really good.

A little safety battle went on after that and Murphy still wasn't playing any decent shots until a lovely red down the cushion but snookered himself on the black, knocked in a belting brown to recover the situation but then missed a tricky red which left Wilson in to mop up and get the first frame of the evening over with.

Murphy 6-3.

Back to four in front for Murphy.

He played a wild shot that he got nowhere near, which left a red over the pocket. Kyren knocked that in then followed it up with a black but the cannon didn't work out nicely for Wilson who missed a tricky red into the middle.

I don't think it was the right choice, given how poor Murphy has played so far this evening. But the miss left Murphy in and he went onto make his third century of the final.

Murphy 7-3.

Back to three behind now.

And the common theme so far tonight has been poor safety shots from Murphy and Wilson playing to a higher standard than he was this afternoon.

A belting long red and screwing the cue ball back onto the green was the start of Kyren's break that claws him one closer.

Murphy 7-4

Murphy goes back to four ahead at the mid-session interval.

And, again, it comes from a very poor safety shot by Murphy who has tried to just roll up to the brown but has hit it far too hard. He left Wilson a long red which the World champ knocked it and screwed back perfectly for the blue. And with the reds spread the way they were you couldn't see anything but a Wilson clearance but then he misses a black into the middle.

And leaves them all there for Murphy to mop up.

Murphy 8-4.

Back to just three behind once more.

And it again comes from a loose safety from Murphy and then a lovely long red from Wilson, who goes on to score enough to clinch the frame.

Murphy 8-5.

For the first time in the match Kyren Wilson wins back to back frames and he's got himself to within two frames of Murphy.

It wasn't a one visit kill but it was a frame he won and at this point that's all that matters for Wilson. A nice break of 50 followed by a lovely snooker behind the yellow was the foundations for what won Kyren this frame.

Big frame coming up next.

Murphy 8-6.

A third frame on the spin for the World champ and now he trails by just one.

More loose safety from Murphy and some pots that he's not getting anywhere near is giving Wilson enough chances to win frames and the Warrior is taking them now. A lovely split on the reds from the blue was the key to this break and the pressure is just starting to mount on Murphy.

Murphy 8-7.

Big miss from Wilson, not the easiest mind. It's what you'd call a 'sh*t or bust' pot. Blown wide open for Murphy who now has an opportunity re-establish control.

This time it's Kyren's poor safety and wild pots that leave the door open for Shaun Murphy.

And after being sat in his chair for the last few frames, it was a very well taken 50 odd break from Murphy to move within one of the title.

Murphy 9-7.

Congratulations Shaun Murphy on winning the Masters

He's been the best player all week, so you can't begrudge him winning the title this year.

A maximum in the semis, another close attempt to a max in the quarters and was F***ing boss this afternoon, which has proven to be the catalyst for this victory. Leading 6-2 going into the final session was just too much for Wilson to claw back.

He's had a solid enough season without winning any titles yet so this will be very welcome. Reached the final in Shanghai, a further semi final and three other quarter finals.

Wilson deserves a mention to, he showed all his fighting ability throughout the tournament and again in the final by getting it back to 8-7. And he's showing that the crown of World champion isn't weighing too heavily on his head - he's been as good as player this season and getting to another major final here only confrms that.

Up next is the German Masters which starts on the 27th January and Judd Trump is defending his title from last year.

Well done Shaun Murphy, had a great week and was the deserving champion. Thought he spoke well at the end.

Congratulations Kyren Wilson on winning the German Masters

A really good display from the World champ as he took another crown this season and continues his pursuit of Judd Trump as World number one.

He showed all his battling qualities when he needed to but also his scoring prowess with eight centuries, the most in the tournament.

Was given a good game in the final by Barry Hawkins who took it to a decider but ultimately it was Wilson who got over the line.

Up next is the Welsh Open, which starts in a weeks time. Gary Wilson is the defending champ.

Congratulations Mark Selby on winning the Welsh Open

This victory comes on the heels of him winning the invitational Championship League as well earlier in the month - a tournament that saw three maximum 147 breaks including one from Selby himself. We also got one in the qualifying for the Welsh Open, scored by Xu S - second of the season, third of his career.

After a lean couple of years, since winning his fourth World Title, the titles seem to be coming back for Selby now. This is his second ranking title this season, after the British Open - which is one more than the solidarity title he'd won in the previous three seasons since the 2021 World Championship. Although this season has been a bit feast or famine for the Jester, with him making it beyound the quarter final stage of a ranking tournament once apart from the two tournaments he's won and that was in the Shoot Out.

But he looked a bit like himself during this tournament. Digging deep when he had to, surviving final frame deciders against both Slessor and Higgins. But also white-washing Jamie Jones and then in a real back-and-forth battle in the final with Stephen Maguire, he put on three frames in a row to run away a 9-6 winner.

All credit to Maguire though, who's always been one of my fave players so I was really pleased to see him back in a big final for the first time in a long time. And as I said above, he gave a good account of himself, he just never got his nose in front. He fell behind 3-1 early then won two on the spin to level the game up before they shared the rest of the frames to 6-6 before Selby's sprint for the line. This run may just Maguire qualify for the Grand Prix but losing in the qualifiers for the World Open won't help on that front.

It is the World Open next before the Grand Prix. If Trump decides to play he'll be the defending champ.

For the tenth time in his career, and second this calendar year, Shaun Murphy hit a maximum 147 in the World Open.

Congratulations John Higgins on winning the World Open

His first ranking event since the 2021 Players Championship. And for a man of his quality, that is far, far too long to go without a title. But I'm F***ing buzzing for him to be back in the winners circle.

He done most of the heavy lifting in the opening session, leading 7-1 at the break. And then despite a fight back from Joe O'Connor in the second session, Higgins was able to hold on and get that win he's deserved. This is also the right time to start finding top form with the Grand Prix, Players Championship and Tour Championship all coming up before the Worlds start next month.

Special mention to O'Connor as well. Was very much unfancied before the tournament, due to the fact that he's had an average season so far. And throughout his career, not really done too much either. But a good run here will give him confidence going into the business end of the season but because the cut off point for the Grand Prix comes before this tournament, O'Connor won't be playing in the Players Series.

Up next is the Grand Prix, which Ronnie is the defending champ but he's once again pulled out for medical reasons. So his place has been taken by Hossein Vafaei. I don't know what's happened with Eurosport over here in the UK but they're not showing the snooker anymore, it's been moved to TNT Sports who will be showing the Grand Prix.

Congratulations Neil Robertson on winning the Grand Prix

A 10-0 whitewash of Stuart Bingham looks a lot worse for Ballrun than it was, he was actually in a lot of the frames but couldn't kill them off and that left the Aussie the chance to steal them - which he duly did.

But however the frames were won, a clean victory like that over ten frames against a former World champion takes some doing from Robertson. As much as I'm not a fan in general of his, you can't help but take your hat off to him after today.

He'd looked alright throughout the tournament, without being as good as he has been in the past. He'd probably done enough to be in the Players and Tour Championships anyway but this victory cements his place in them. Should probably have enough points now as well to go to the Crucible as a top 16 seed. So plenty of reasons for him to be happy with victory out in Hong Kong.

As for Bingham, this run to the final has given him a place in the Players Championship and a good run there could see him make the Tour Championship as well. A top 16 place for the Crucible is still within reach as well, depending on how he goes in the next two tournaments. The fact that World number 15, Ali Carter, is ranked 17th on the one year list and therefore misses the last two tournaments of the Players Series means there's a real possibility that Bingham can get back into the top 16 before Sheffield.

Up next is the Players Championship and that starts of the 17th of March in Telford and as luck would have it, Bingham and Robertson play each other in the first round.

The draw is as follows;

Judd Trump v Lei Peifan
Barry Hawkins v Shaun Murphy
Xiao Guodong v Wu Yize
John Higgins v Chris Wakelin
Neil Robertson v Stuart Bingham
Mark Selby v Si Jiahui
Mark Williams v Ding Junhui
Kyren Wilson v Mark Allen

And I think I'm right in saying that ITV will have this live, which unfortunately means Ken Doherty back on commentary.

Very rare you get it but we have here in the Players Championship - the semi finals are the top four ranked players in the tournament.

Trump (1) v Higgins (4)
Robertson (3) v Wilson (2)

For the third time this season we’ve got a final of Kyren Wilson v Judd Trump.

And with the other two going the way of the Warrior, Judd will be hoping it’s third time lucky for him today.

Deciding frame for the Players Championship.

Congratulations Kyren Wilson on winning the Players Championship

For the third time this season, Kyren Wilson beats Judd Trump in a major final.

A real topsy-turvy match that the loser will feel he should have won and the winner will feel he could have easily lost.

Judd took the initial lead by racing into a 2-0 lead before Kyren pulled him back going into the mid-session interval. And they ended the first session all square at four apiece.

A couple of flukes saw Trump take the opening frame of the evening session but then Wilson ran three on the spin, leading 7-5 at the interval, then took the first of the final session to lead 8-5. And the story of most of those frames was Trump getting in first but failing to kill the frame off and Kyren clearing the table to take the frame.

From 8-5 down, Trump started playing some of his best snooker of the match and clawed it back to nine all and into a decider we went.

Both had a chance to take victory but in the end it was a long red that Judd missed that left Wilson a golden chance to yet again beat his rival in a final.

Throughout the tournament, Trump was far and away the best player. Scoring twice as many centuries as anybody else but when it came to the crunch, Wilson just had that bit more about him.

Up next is the Tour Championship, which will be the last tournament before the World's.

The draw for that is;

Shaun Murphy v Barry Hawkins - winner to play Judd Trump in the quarter finals.
Xiao Guodong v Wu Yize - winner to play John Higgins in the quarter finals.
Mark Selby v Si Jiahui - winner to play Neil Robertson in the quarter finals.
Mark Williams v Ding Junhui - winner to play Kyren Wilson in the quarter finals.

Tour Championship starts today.

All matches throughout the tournament are best of 19s so all will be two session affairs.

So the first round is done and dusted now;

Shaun Murphy 1 v 10 Barry Hawkins
Xiao Guodong 10 v 8 Wu Yize
Mark Selby 10 v 6 Si Jiahui
Mark Williams 3 v 10 Ding Junhui

And that sets up

Hawkins v Trump
Guodong v Higgins
Selby v Robertson
Ding v Wilson

O'Sullivan To Make Late Decision On Crucible

Seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan will give himself "as much time as possible" to decide whether to compete at the World Snooker Championship.

The Englishman, 49, has been an ever-present at the Crucible since turning professional in 1992 and would be going for a record eighth world title in the modern era.

However, he has not played on the World Snooker Tour (WST) since January, when he withdrew from his Championship League group - and was so frustrated with his game that he snapped his cue after losing four of his five matches.

O'Sullivan subsequently pulled out of the Masters at Alexandra Palace on medical grounds, missed the German Masters in Berlin and apologised to fans after electing not to play at the Welsh Open.

He also withdrew from the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong in March, increasing speculation he may not return to action in Sheffield, where he is one of the seeds.

"I don't know yet. I haven't made my mind up, I'll probably make a decision on maybe 17 or 18 April," O'Sullivan said on TNT Sports.

"I don't know when I'm due to play my first match, so I'm going to try and leave myself as much time as possible.

"I'd love to be able to go there and play. I'd love to be able to have the confidence to be able to get my cue out and go and play snooker.

"I just need to give myself as much time as possible to see where I'm at with it, and see whether it's something I'm going to be able to do."

The World Championship, which is regarded as the sport's toughest test, begins on 19 April and runs for 17 days until 5 May.

Qualification for the event ends on 16 April and if 'The Rocket' were to withdraw on the eve of the tournament, it would mean a qualifier receiving a bye to the second round.

O'Sullivan memorably defended his world crown in 2013, despite only having played one competitive match prior to the showpiece event after taking an extended break from snooker that season.

He won five tournaments last term and reached the semi-finals at the Xi'an Grand Prix, Shanghai Masters and Riyadh Season Snooker Championship earlier in this campaign.

However, even though he is widely regarded as the game's greatest-ever player and has broken almost every record in the sport, he has repeatedly stressed that he has found things tough in recent years.

"It's been a real struggle," he added. "I've tried to play my way through. I've had moments and glimpses where I thought: 'OK, this is OK.'

"But on the whole, probably three-and-a-half years out of the last four have been pretty terrible for me and that's kind of took its toll.

"I kind of got a bit tired. It kind of ground me down to the point where I kind of lost the love for the game.

"That's why in January, I snapped my cue just in temper, in frustration. I don't really want to feel like that, so I've taken time out. I am just gonna try and fix what I think is the problem before I come back to play serious snooker again."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/articles/c5ypxn15z8qo