Welsh Open Snooker 2016: Updated Scores, Draw, Schedule After Thursday's Results
Ronnie O'Sullivan reached the quarter-finals of the 2016 Welsh Open by beating Yu Delu 4-1 on Thursday, a day when reigning champion John Higgins was sensationally knocked out after he was hammered 4-1 by Michael White.
O'Sullivan has now set up a meeting with Mark Selby after the latter beat Mark Williams thanks to some impressive late scoring.
Neil Robertson and Ben Woollaston are also in the quarter-finals of this year’s tournament, as they secured comfortable wins at Motorpoint Arena.
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Woollaston, a runner-up in this tournament 12 months ago, was far too strong for Martin Gould, as he raced to a 4-1 triumph. Robertson got the better of Marco Fu in what many expected to be a very closely fought contest, turning on the style to notch two century breaks and win 4-2.
Meanwhile, Mark Allen needed a deciding frame to edge past Barry Hawkins and cap the afternoon session.
There was one more mild upset when Judd Trump was eliminated by Joe Perry after another deciding frame was needed. China's Ding Junhui joined Perry in the quarter-finals.
Live Snooker detailed the full draw for the last eight:
Here is a look at the results so far, along with a recap of the action from the Welsh capital.
| Neil Robertson | 4-2 | Marco Fu |
| Ben Woollaston | 4-1 | Martin Gould |
| John Higgins | 1-4 | Michael White |
| Yu Delu | 1-4 | Ronnie O'Sullivan |
| Mark Selby | 4-2 | Mark Williams |
| Mark Allen | 4-3 | Barry Hawkins |
| Luca Brecel | 2-4 | Ding Junhui |
| Judd Trump | 3-4 | Joe Perry |
You can find the full tournament draw and schedule by clicking here.
Evening Recap
Perry went to a deciding frame before getting the better of Trump. With the score tied at three frames apiece, a very costly error from Trump finally gave Perry the chance to reach the last eight.
World Snooker detailed the crucial late gaffe from the world No. 6:
Perry's reward for surviving late on is a tough quarter-final meeting with Woollaston.
Finally, Luca Brecel couldn't get past Ding in the day's final match. The latter ran up some impressive scoring, per Live Snooker:
As Matt of the ProSnookerBlog noted, Ding was grateful for the support he received:
Afternoon Recap
O'Sullivan saw off China's Delu despite dropping the opening frame. But O'Sullivan hit back with 96, before a 132 score in the third frame gave him a lead he never relinquished.
With a 2-1 advantage, only modest scoring of 70 and 66 was needed for O'Sullivan to seal passage to the last eight.
Afterwards, he noted how he'd made a slow start, but insisted nothing comes easy at this tournament, referencing Higgins' shock exit as proof, per BBC Sport:
"I'm pleased to still be in the tournament. No matches here are a gimme.
John Higgins, the second greatest player I have ever seen, has been beaten. It takes a top player to have a slightly off day and you are going out.
Yu Delu is a brilliant player so I was a bit nervous at the start.
"
A steady and comfortable victory can act as the perfect reprieve for O'Sullivan following the controversy he has generated earlier in the tournament. In particular, his decision to pass up a 147-break was described by the Guardian's Ewan Murray as the player's "latest act of arrogance."
O'Sullivan turned down the maximum break in his match with Barry Pinches because he felt the prize money on offer was "too cheap," according to BBC Wales (h/t Press Association, per the Guardian).
The Rocket is still a major talent, albeit a mercurial one. But he needs to dazzle the crowds more with his work at the table rather than with the words from his mouth.
An enticing last-eight meeting with Selby should provide ample opportunity.
Selby had to hit a 128 against Williams to level the scores at two frames each, but the Jester soon took control after that. A 115 score made it 4-2 and moved the marquee player into the quarter-finals.
Next up was Allen and Hawkins' thrilling match. The former built a 3-1 lead but had to withstand a valiant comeback, before rallying to take the decisive frame.
Earlier, the afternoon session got off to a blistering start, as Higgins was left stunned by home-crowd favourite White.
The Scot was seeking to make it back-to-back titles in Cardiff, having triumphed 12 months ago, but he had no answer for the brilliant play of White, who coasted to an impressive 4-1 win.
Afterward, as noted by Matt from ProSnookerBlog, the former winner admitted his opponent was a deserving winner on the day:
Morning Recap
Robertson is one of the big favourites to win this tournament, and he showed his quality with two outstanding breaks in a 4-2 win over the dangerous Fu.
The Aussie rarely looked flustered in this one and put together a pair of brilliant sequences to thrill the gathered spectators. Robertson did lose the opening frame but got back on track immediately with a wonderful break of 126 before moving 2-1 in front.
However, the best was yet to come from the 2010 world champion, as he put together a sensational clearance, racking up 141 in the process. Here’s a look at this superb effort, which looked set to be a maximum 147 break at one point:
Fu did rally to take the fifth frame, but Robertson kept his cool to move into the final eight. This tournament holds great memories for the left-hander, having won his second-ever ranking event here nine years ago; he looks in fine shape to clinch this championship for the second time in his distinguished career.
As Matt of ProSnookerBlog noted afterwards, the Aussie was pleased with his efforts, and a little hungry, too:
Another player with positive memories of this tournament is Woollaston, and he continued his love affair with the Welsh Open by hammering Gould 4-1.
Only Higgins stood between Woollaston and his first ranking title in Cardiff last year, but having gone through that experience, the 28-year-old will feel confident of going one better having progressed into the quarters.
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