China Open Snooker 2015: Daily Scores, Results, Draw Schedule and Prize Money
The 2015 China Open represented a fine chance for the world's finest snooker players to gear up for the World Championship and it was Mark Selby savoured glory after a dominant 10-2 win over Gary Wilson in the final.
Ronnie O'Sullivan was forced to withdraw from the tournament for health reasons ahead of the start of play, per BBC Sport.
Read on to see how the action played out in Beijing.
China Open Draw
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For the latest draw and schedule for the 2015 China Open, follow the link to the World Snooker website.
Day 7: Selby Notches Title with Emphatic Win
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Mark Selby (Eng) 10-2 Gary Wilson (Eng)
Mark Selby was totally dominant in the final of the China Open as the World No.1 crushed Gary Wilson 10-2 to take the title.
The “Jester from Leicester” was in magnificent fettle during the showpiece, putting together some stunning breaks in front of the Beijing crowd. In the seventh frame the reigning world champion constructed a complete clearance, totting up an astonishing 145-point break.
Here’s a look at that magnificent effort, courtesy of SnookerRoom:
"Mark Selby 145 v Gary Wilson Frame 7 Final China Open: http://t.co/fP2fCquGdr на @YouTube
— SnookerRoom (@SnookerRoom) April 5, 2015"
By that point Selby had this match sewn up. Wilson had done magnificently in the semi-final of the competition to knock out Ding Junhui in a thrilling encounter and despite being ranked 56th in the world, he would have fancied his chances of springing a surprise in the final with momentum firmly behind him.
But as noted by Matt of ProSnookerBlog, the former taxi-driver was unable to capitalise during some early frames that could have feasibly gone either:
"Mark Selby is 3-1 up on Gary Wilson early in Beijing, three relatively scrappy frames going to Mark, before Gary got off the mark with. 91.
— Matt (@ProSnookerBlog) April 5, 2015"
Once he got out in front, there was no stopping Selby. He showcased his superior class and familiarity with the big stage with some forensically accurate potting and by the time he rattled in that stunning 145 in the seventh frame of the match, the world champion had settled into a confident groove.
After the end of the first session Selby was 8-1 ahead and when play resumed it was only going to be a matter of time before he wrapped up the match. While Wilson did get one back with a fine 101 break, the favourite finished the match in ruthless fashion to take an easy 10-2 win.
With Selby’s maiden defence of his world title approaching, he’s looking in terrific form. Granted, Wilson did crumble on the big stage, but after finding his rhythm the Leicester-born star looked irresistible. With the Crucible looming at the end of the month, the reigning world champion looks very much like the man to beat once again.
Day 6: Selby Books Final Spot
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Ding Junhui (Chn) 5-6 Gary Wilson (Eng)
Kurt Maflin (Nor) 3-6 Mark Selby (Eng)
Mark Selby is through to the final of the China Open after beating Kurt Maflin 6-3 in an entertaining semi-final showdown and will meet Gary Wilson on Sunday in an all-English crescendo.
The reigning world champion was pushed hard by the Norwegian—playing in just his second ever ranking semi-final—but eventually his class told over the course of the match.
As noted by Adam of snookerinfo.webs.com, the entire encounter was of an exceptionally high standard:
"Selby is the first player into the China Open final, he beat Kurt Maflin 6-3! The match included 4 centuries as well! Two each!
— Adam @SnookerInfo (@SnookerInfo147) April 4, 2015"
In truth, at one stage this game looked as though it could have easily gone either way. After seven frames played Selby had a one-leg lead at 4-3 against his less illustrious opponent and Maflin had chances to get in amongst the balls in the latter frames.
But ultimately, the pressure seemed to tell on the Norwegian. While he has done superbly to make it this far in the competition—the win over 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy being a particular highlight—he is a novice when it comes to the spotlight of these momentous occasions.
By contrast, Selby seems to flourish more the bigger the match and he rattled off the final two frames to book a spot in the semi-finals of this prestigious competition.
Eurosport’s snooker commentator Rolf Kalb paid tribute to both players in the aftermath:
"Great match! Congrats to @markjesterselby - but also thanks to @KurtMaflin147 #Snooker #ChinaOpen #147sf
— Rolf Kalb (@Rolf_Kalb) April 4, 2015"
Things are certainly looking up for the world No. 1. Selby was suffering with neck pains ahead of this competition and has come close to elimination on a couple of occasions on his run to the final.
But with the maiden defence of his world title looming large, the “Jester from Leicester” seems to be back in the winning groove once again.
Selby will come up against Wilson in Sunday's climax after the world No. 56 upset the odds to clinch an underdog victory over Ding Junhui in Saturday's late fixture.
As BBC Snooker attests, Sunday will see Wilson contest his first-ever ranked final following a 6-5 triumph over defending China Open champions Junhui:
"What a shock at the China Open! @Gary_Wilson11 beats defending champion Ding Junhui 6-5 to reach first ranking final pic.twitter.com/iGzes5Brut
— BBC Snooker (@BBCSnooker) April 4, 2015"
The semi-final clash saw Junhui start off on the wrong foot and drop the first frame to his opponent, but it wasn't long before the Chinese representative found his stride to win the next three frames in a row.
Trailing 3-1, Wilson persevered to find his own rhythm, however, and recorded four successive breaks of 50 or more to hit back and assume a 5-3 lead in the race to reach six.
It was at this juncture that Junhui showed his class, however, notching a match-high break of 97 in the ninth frame, drawing level at 5-5 with a break of 72 in the tenth.
In what was almost a fate-like response, Wilson registered a 72 of his own in the next frame to book his place opposite Selby in Sunday's curtain call.
The former taxi driver was deservedly ecstatic with how his campaign has panned out in Beijing, per Hector Nunns of Inside Snooker, describing this as the biggest achievement of his career so far:
"Of course that is my best moment in the game by a mile, and it really hasn’t sunk in yet – but I know just getting to a first ranking final is a huge moment in my career. My heart was in my mouth as Ding started coming back at the end, he laid some incredible snookers, and I hit a good few even before I started missing them and then left a free ball.
I got a bit scared as it would have been horrible to lose from so far ahead – but I was proud of the way I rallied at 5-5 after seeing a 5-3 lead disappear in the biggest match of my life. I told myself before the match I would go for my shots if I got chances, and luckily most of them went in today.
I am going out to win tomorrow against Mark, but getting to the final is already an achievement in itself. The same as today, I will go out and try and enjoy it.
"
Wilson knows all too well the extent of the challenge lying ahead of him on Sunday and Selby will care not for the heartwarming dark horse tale that's unravelled around his foe.
However, having knocked out some big names en route to the China Open closer, Wallsend native Wilson can return to the felt with no pressure upon him, his opponent being the one with expectations aloft.
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Day 5: Maflin and Selby Triumph in Thrillers
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Robert Milkins (Eng) 4-5 Mark Selby (Eng)
Kurt Maflin (Nor) 5-4 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Ding Junhui (Chn) 5-4 John Higgins (Sco)
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 3-5 Gary Wilson (Eng)
There were thrills and spills aplenty on Day 4 at the China Open, as the quarter-finalists battled with a steely determination to secure their respective spots in the final four.
Early on, reigning world champion Mark Selby cut his match fine against Robert Milkins, but the Leicester-born star held his nerve in the style of a thoroughbred winner to take a deciding final set and a 5-4 victory.
After a difficult start to the tournament, Selby has rallied in his previous two matches. But the imperious form he’s showcased in wins over David Gilbert and Elliot Slessor was scarce in this quarter-final encounter, as the improving Milkins pushed him close.
But Selby upped it a level in the deciding frame and as noted here by Matt of Pro Snooker Blog, it’s a triumph that means the world No. 1 retains his position at the top of the rankings beyond this competition:
"It's all over, Selby wins 5-4 to move into the semi-finals, retain the number 1 ranking and guarantee Maguire's Crucible spot.
— Matt (@ProSnookerBlog) April 3, 2015"
Kurt Maflin was the other victor in the early session, as he rallied from behind twice again Shaun Murphy to take a thrilling 5-4 win and book his spot in just his second ever ranking event semi-final.
The 2005 world champion built up a two-leg buffer to lead at 3-1 before the interval, but the Norwegian bounced back with distinction in the second half of the contest. Down 4-3, he won both of the final frames to take victory and notch an unexpected semi-final spot.
As noted by snooker expert Michael Annison, it was a superb fightback from the unfancied Maflin:
"Just another look at Maflin post interval Vs Murphy in terms of breaks. 89, 103, 74 and 73. Excellent stuff again.
— Michael Annison (@CueActionBlog) April 3, 2015"
He’ll have nothing fear going into the last-four and after the dramatic fashion in which he sampled victory here, the Norwegian will be quietly be fancying his chances of notching his first ever victory in a ranking tournament event.
Defending champion Ding Junhui needed a decider—and a few lucky breaks—to qualify for the semi-finals, beating John Higgins in a thrilling 5-4 match. The hometown favourite started out slow before hitting breaks of 70, 105 and 68 and taking advantage of a few crucial mistakes from Higgins in the final frame.
Tied at 4-4, Ding accidentally potted the cue ball going for black, allowing Higgins back on the table when it looked as if he would clear it. Higgins instead opted to let Ding have a crack at the ensuing red from an impossible angle, and he proceeded to make one of the best shots we'll see all year, finding the side pocket off the cushion.
To watch the incredible shot, click here.
The match wasn't over yet, however. Ding needed to run yellow through blue to put Hawkins away and missed the green to the same side pocket. Hawkins walked up and missed on the green as well, failing to get the snooker in the process and allowing Ding to finish in style.
His semi-final opponent will be Gary Wilson, who continued his fine run in the tournament by beating Barry Hawkins 5-3. For the Englishman, it will be his first world ranking semi-final appearance, doing one better than his quarter-final exit at the Welsh Open.
Day 4: Selby Through as Big Names Thrive
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Ding Junhui (Chn) 5-2 Mark Williams (Wal)
John Higgins (Sco) 5-4 Judd Trump (Eng)
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 5-3 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Gary Wilson (Eng) 5-1 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)
Robin Hull (Fin) 1-5 Kurt Maflin (Nor)
Jamie Jones (Wal) 3-5 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Michael White (Wal) 1-5 Robert Milkins (Eng)
David Gilbert (Eng) 2-5 Mark Selby (Eng)
World No.1 Mark Selby battled into the quarter-finals of the China Open, notching a comfortable 5-2 victory over compatriot David Gilbert in Beijing.
As reported by BBC Sport, the Leicester-born star has been having trouble with neck pain at this tournament. But it didn’t hamper him in a 5-0 win over Elliot Slessor in the previous round and Gilbert was no match for Selby here either.
With no Ronnie O’Sullivan at this competition, Selby is the big favourite to take victory and he seems to be thriving under the pressure. Apart from a few struggles in his tournament opener against Mark Joyce, the reigning world champion looks in fine fettle and undeniably the man to beat at this competition.
Joining him in the last-eight will be Kurt Maflin and Robert Milkins after they each bagged 5-1 wins over Robin Hull and Michael White respectively.
The final winner in the morning session was Shaun Murphy, but he was pushed pretty close by Jamie Jones, with the 2005 world champion eventually emerging a 5-3 victor.
Later in the day, a nine-frame thriller ensued between former world champions John Higgins and Judd Trump, with the former clinching a 5-4 following a courageous fightback from his English opponent.
Scotsman Higgins led 4-2 after six sets, but back-to-back frames in Trump's favour—including a match-high break of 68—brought things level. Keeping his cool when it mattered most, Higgins edged into the final eight and earned the applause of World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson.
Compatriot Stephen Maguire wasn't as fortunate against Barry Hawkins and exited the competition on Thursday after a 5-3 defeat, which one would agree was fully deserved.
As Michael Annison of Cue Action Snooker Blog reports, Hawkins' win has a wider impact on matters and means Milkins must now reach the final in Beijing to take a seeding at Sheffield's Crucible.
Defending China Open champion Ding Junhui continued his run of good form with a 5-2 victory over Mark Williams, despite the Welshman managing to muster breaks of 91 and 81 in his only frame wins.
Junhui would top both of those scores with a 103 of his own, however, before Gary Wilson claimed the last quarter-final spot after blitzing past Dechawat Poomjaeng 5-1.
Day 3: Mark Selby Eases Through, Shaun Murphy Made to Work
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Barry Hawkins (Eng) 5-2 Dominic Dale (Wal)
Ryan Day (Wal) 4-5 Stephen Maguire (Sco)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 4-5 Michael White (Wal)
Zak Surety (Eng) 4-5 Robert Milkins (Eng)
David Gilbert (Eng) 5-2 Zuou Yuelong (Chn)
Elliot Slessor (Eng) 0-5 Mark Selby (Eng)
Mark Williams (Wal) 5-0 Michael Leslie (Sco)
Jack Lisowski (Eng) 0-5 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)
Robin Hull (Fin) 5-4 Mark King (Eng)
Mike Dunn (Eng) 3-5 Kurt Maflin (Eng)
Anthony McGill (Sco) 4-5 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Ding Junhui (Chn) 5-1 Mark Davis (Eng)
John Higgins (Sco) 5-2 Graeme Dott (Sco)
Peter Ebdon (Eng) 1-5 Judd Trump (Eng)
Ricky Walden (Eng) 5-2 Gary Wilson (Eng)
Marco Fu (HK) 4-5 Jamie Jones (Wal)
World No. 1 Mark Selby recovered from a difficult first round victory to blow Elliot Slessor away in the second round of the China Open with a 5-0 win on Wednesday.
The reigning world champion fought through neck pain to beat Mark Joyce 5-3 on Tuesday, but Selby breezed through to the third round in Beijing, giving nothing away to fellow Englishman Slessor.
Selby produced one century break—an impressive 126 in the fourth frame—and was never really troubled by the world No. 97 as he eased to a routine victory.
Selby will now face David Gilbert—who beat China's Zuou Yuelong 5-2 on Wednesday—in the third round.
Masters champion Shaun Murphy faced a tougher test as he was taken to a decider by Anthony McGill, but the Englishman eventually wrapped up a 5-4 win.
Murphy was impressive in the main, but the Scottish McGill made a couple of impressive visits—including a 97 break in the fourth frame—to take a 4-3 lead.
However, the first century break of the match from Murphy in the eighth frame forced a decider, and McGill was eventually ousted by the world No. 8.
Stephen Maguire and Michael White were also taken the distance, the former eventually beating Ryan Day, with the Welsh youngster overcoming Stuart Bingham.
Neil Robertson's first-round conqueror, Dechawat Poomjaeng, took on the momentum from his shock Monday win to triumph 5-0 in his second round against Jack Lisowski.
Meanwhile, the ever-consistent Barry Hawkins beat Dominic Dale 5-2—the world No. 5 produced a 138 break in the third frame—to set up a third round clash with Maguire.
Judd Trump continued his fine form, cruising past veteran Peter Ebdon 5-1 to book his spot in the next round. A high break of 127 highlighted an easy afternoon for the tournament favourite, and Ebdon needed a knock of 49 in the fourth frame to avoid the whitewash.
Trump will meet John Higgins in the next round.
Day 2: Joe Perry Out, Judd Trump and John Higgins Go Through
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John Higgins (Sco) 5-3 Yu De Lu (Chn)
Marco Fu (HK) 5-0 Ashley Carty (Eng)
Jamie Jones (Wal) 5-3 Matthew Stevens (Wal)
Joe Swail (NI) 4-5 Zak Surety (Eng)
Nigel Bond (Eng) 3-5 Robert Milkins (Eng)
Anthony Hamilton (Eng) 1-5 Zhou Yuelong (Chn)
Joe O'Connor (Eng) 1-5 Michael Leslie (Sco)
Stuart Bingham (Eng) 5-1 Peter Lines (Eng)
Ken Doherty (Ire) 4-5 Michael White (Wal)
Joe Perry (Eng) 3-5 David Gilbert (Eng)
Elliot Slessor (Eng) 5-3 Matthew Selt (Eng)
Mark Joyce (Eng) 3-5 Mark Selby (Eng)
Mark Williams (Wal) 5-2 Zhao Xintong (Chn)
Daniel Wells (Wal) v Graeme Dott (Sco)
Andrew Higginson (Eng) 3-5 Judd Trump (Eng)
Jamie Burnett (Sco) v Mark King (Eng)
Anthony McGill (Sco) 5-1 Alfie Burden (Eng)
Jamie Cope (Eng) 1-5 Shaun Murphy (Eng)
Graeme Dott (Sco) 5-3 Daniel Wells (Wal)
Mark King (Eng) 5-3 Jaime Burnett
Joe Perry fell at the first hurdle at the 2015 China Open on Tuesday, just days after winning the first ranking title of his career in the Players' Championship in Bangkok.
The English world No. 9 lost 5-3 to compatriot David Gilbert in the first round in Beijing, unable to reproduce the form that saw him triumph in Thailand.
Perry and Gilbert exchanged the first four frames for 2-2 before the 40-year-old edged in front as he took the fifth with a break of 55.
However, that was to be his last frame victory as world No. 35 Gilbert took the last three to engineer a comeback and move himself into the second round to face China's Zhou Yuelong, who downed Anthony Hamilton on Tuesday.
Judd Trump won his first round match with a 5-3 victory over Andrew Higginson in a highly entertaining encounter.
The 25-year-old opened up with a confident century to take the first frame and produced another ton visit in the fourth frame—Higginson producing his own 106 in the third in a high-quality clash.
From 3-3, Trump won the final two frames to take the match, and he will face Peter Ebdon in the next round after showing some good form against Higginson.
Stuart Bingham also booked himself a spot in the next round with an easy 5-1 victory over Peter Lines, the world No. 10 dropping only the second frame of the match in a convincing display.
The Englishman will face Michael White in the next round after the Welsh player edged a mightily tight encounter 5-4 over veteran Ken Doherty.
The youngster produced a vital break of 74 in the ninth frame after he and Doherty had matched each other blow for blow in the preceding eight to force a decider.
John Higgins came good at just the right time to finish off Yu De Lu 5-3, the legendary Scot producing his two highest breaks of the match—including one of 114—in the last two frames to seal victory.
Meanwhile, Marco Fu stormed through to the next round with a 5-0 thrashing of England's Ashley Carter, the highlight of which was his 133 break in the penultimate frame.
Day 1: Neil Robertson and Ali Carter Crash out in Opening Round
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Alex Davies (Eng) 0-5 Zhao Xintong (Chn)
Peter Lines (Eng) 5-3 Yuan SiJun (Chn)
Zhou Yuelong (Chn) 5-2 Zhang Yong (Chn)
Ricky Walden (Eng) 5-0 Cao Yupeng (Chn)
Gary Wilson (Eng) 5-3 Liang Wenbo (Chn)
Kurt Maflin (Eng) 5-4 Ali Carter (Eng)
Robin Hull (Fin) 5-1 Yan Bingtao (Chn)
Kyren Wilson (Eng) 3-5 Mark Davis (Eng)
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 5-2 Gerard Greene (NI)
Jimmy Robertson (Eng) 3-5 Dominic Dale (Wal)
Alan McManus (Sco) 4-5 Jack Lisowski (Eng)
Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha) 5-4 Neil Robertson (Aus)
Ding Junhui (Chn) 5-1 Marcus Campbell (Sco)
Peter Ebdon (Eng) 5-4 Zhang Anda (Chn)
Ryan Day (Wal) 5-1 Liam Highfield (Eng)
David Morris (Irl) 1-5 Stephen Maguire (Eng)
Neil Robertson, the 2013 champion and beaten finalist last year, crashed out of the China Open on Monday in the first round as he lost 5-4 to Thailand's Dechawat Poomjaeng.
The Australian led 3-1 in Beijing, but Poomjaeng fought back to take three consecutive frames for 4-3 before winning a very close decider to complete a shock victory.
It was not a contest of particularly high-scoring, without a century break between the pair, and the world No. 2 simply could not put together a winning performance.
The charismatic Poomjaeng held his nerve to deservedly take the victory in the end, and he should take huge momentum into the next round.
Another shock completed on the first day was Kurt Maflin's defeat of Ali Carter, also by just a single-frame margin.
A ding-dong battle of a match, the pair exchanged the opening four frames before Carter won the next two to move into a 4-2 lead.
However, as with Robertson, he was unable to administer the killer blow, and Maflin won three consecutive frames to move himself through and send Carter out of the competition.
There was no such trouble for Ricky Walden, as the Chester man thrashed China's Cao Yupeng 5-0, Zhao Xintong beating Alex Davies by the same margin.
Barry Hawkins also breezed through with relative ease, his final-frame break of 124 sealing a 5-2 victory over Northern Ireland's Gerard Greene.
Defending champion and hometown favourite Ding Junhui comfortably beat Marcus Campbell 5-1, despite struggling with his break-building. Ding managed only a 66 as highest break but did excellent work with his safeties, and Campbell's long pots let him down on Monday.
The Chinese star has struggled in the main events in 2015, and it will be a relief to get off to a good start in front of his own fans. With Robertson and Carter already out and Ronnie O'Sullivan not playing at the China Open, the opportunity is there for a deep run in the tournament.
Heading toward the Crucible, Ding needs all the momentum he can find, with this year's field for the World Championship looking as strong as ever.
Peter Ebdon escaped an upset loss in the first round, beating Zhang Anda 5-4 in a low-scoring affair. Stephen Maguire comfortably dispatched of David Morris, booking his spot in the next round with a 5-1 win.
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