Ronnie O’Sullivan’s bid to claim a record eight World Snooker Championship crown continues as the 48-year-old completed the first session of his best-of-25 clash with Stuart Bingham for a place in the semi-finals.
O’Sullivan defeated Ryan Day 13-7 in the second round on Monday before revealing that “intermittent fasting” was playing a key role in his Crucible bid and giving him energy for the 17-day marathon in Sheffield.
The seven-time champion fought back from 3-1 down against 2015 winner Bingham this afternoon and ended things on level terms at 4-4. It is a similar position that world No 2 Judd Trump finds himself in against scrappy Welshman Jak Jones after their opening two sessions finished dead level, meaning they will finish their race to 13 frames on Wednesday morning. locked at 8-8.
Last night, John Higgins won a thriller with Mark Allen to book his place in the quarter-finals. Higgins trailed for much of the match but managed to hang on and force a deciding frame, where he produced a stunning clearance – sparked by a do-or-die doubled red across the table – to edge out Allen and take the win. The consequences of that win seemed to be on display in the quarter-finals this afternoon as Kyren Wilson swept the first half of the opening session 4-0 but Higgins responded with two strong century breaks and heads into tomorrow’s play only trailing 5-3.
Follow all the action from the World Snooker Championship below.
FRAME! Judd Trump 8-8 Jak Jones
Lovely stuff from Jones as he keeps his composure to pot the final few reds and colours he needs to move to snookers required. And he then completes the century break with a 117 clearance to pink – superb!
JAK JONES LEVELS THE MATCH AT 8-8 – PERFECTLY POISED FOR THEIR FINAL SESSION AT 10AM TOMORROW.
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:56
Judd Trump 8-7 Jak Jones
At 42 points ahead, Jones powers a pink into the left corner and frees a couple of reds from the main cluster. But he’s only left with a tricky red along the bottom cushion. He’s got it! Great pot and nicely on the black.
The lead moves towards 60 points and he’s only a few pots away now.
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:51
Judd Trump 8-7 Jak Jones
When he reaches 31 points, Jones is left with a really thin black but it finds the heart of the pocket! He’s battling the cueball in this break but still hanging in there as he passes 40 points
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:49
Judd Trump 8-7 Jak Jones
Trump goes for a dead straight long red into the left corner but it clatters into the right jaw and stays out. Reds cannoned around and it leaves Jones a cut into the right corner, which he nails.
Jones is a gutsy, gutsy player for sure. Can he make a frame-winning contribution here and head into the final session all level?
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:47
Judd Trump 8-7 Jak Jones
One more frame this evening and Jak Jones begins it by floating a long red into the right corner. Stunning pot. But then he rolls the black in, clips another red and is thrown out of position.
Just 8 points from that superb opening red. He looks frustrated with himself.
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:45
FRAME! Judd Trump 8-7 Jak Jones
Again, it took a couple of visits but Judd Trump has ground out another frame and he moves 8-7 ahead – his first lead since 1-0 in this match. Great patience by Trump in this match to grind it out and we’ve got a big final frame of the session ahead of us.
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:42
Judd Trump 7-7 Jak Jones
Nice pot with the rest from Trump to cut in a red and he then tidies up the final few pots he needs to leave Jones needing snookers.
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:41
Judd Trump 7-7 Jak Jones
Jones is back from his comfort break, ready to engage in a bout of safety, but it’s Trump who carves out the first opportunity and cuts in a long red to the right corner. He can wrap the frame up here with a few more points, as he already has a 50-8 lead.
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:39
Judd Trump 7-7 Jak Jones
Another lovely cut into the corner by Trump – he’s pulling out a string of good pots. OOH THAT WAS CLOSE! A red wipes its feet, rattling in the jaws of the right corner before just dropping in.
But eventually his luck runs out. Another tough pot, a thin cut to the left corner which misses and he leaves the table at 49-8 ahead. In control of the frame but not over the line yet.
And Jak Jones has taken a mid-frame toilet break. It has been slow going to be fair.
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:34
Judd Trump 7-7 Jak Jones
Trump given half a chance when Jones messes up a safety and leaves the white embedded in the pack of reds. Judd pots a tricky black from close range and then cuts in a long red to the green pocket. Hard work at the start of this break but he’s still in control of the table.
Luke Baker30 April 2024 22:29