World Snooker Championship LIVE: Scores and updates as Trump and O’Sullivan in quarter-final action
LIVE – Updated at 20:54
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 the same position Judd Trump finds himself in against Jak Jones after their opening session with those two returning to the table this evening.
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.
World Snooker Championship 2024: Latest scores and updates
- World Snooker Championship quarter-finals underway at Crucible
- Judd Trump back in action against Jak Jones after being level at 4-4 after opening session of quarter-finals
- Ronnie O’Sullivan fights back against Stuart Bingham and draws level at 4-4 ahead of tomorrow’s play
- Kyren Wilson leads John Higgins 5-3 in their quarter-final
- Latest score (best of 25): Judd Trump 5-6 Jak Jones
- Latest score (best of 25): David Gilbert 9-3 Stephen Maguire
Judd Trump 5-6 Jak Jones
20:54 , Luke Baker
Frame 12 – the final one before the mid-session interval. And an early mistake from Trump as he leaves Jones a pot into the corner. However, the Welshman can only make 8 before missing a tricky red to the left corner, bridging over the pack.
He gets luck though as the black runs safe and he doesn’t leave a pottable red on.
FRAME! Judd Trump 5-6 Jak Jones
20:49 , Luke Baker
Good, gutsy stuff from Trump there. Took three visits, with the final one being a break of 32, but he wins frame 11 to narrow his deficit to a single frame at 6-5. A good response after losing that marathon last frame.
Judd Trump 4-6 Jak Jones
20:48 , Luke Baker
Trump looking to finally get this frame won. The table has never been easy for him but he’s knuckled down and made some good pots. Pulls out a nice pink to left middle and his lead is beyond 50 points now.
He should get it won from here.
Judd Trump 4-6 Jak Jones
20:46 , Luke Baker
Trump could do with winning this frame quickly and making a nice, confidence-building break. He’s having to move the cueball up to the baulk end for the moment but pots the blue into the green pocket to get it back on its spot.
Lands awkwardly on the next red though… The run of the balls not going for him at the moment. Has to play safe off a red after a break of 11 – he leads 34-0 but Jones has a look at a long red. He misses the pot and the red cannons the pink back into play. Trump has a tricky cut on a red to get back in and he makes it. Another chance for the 2019 champion.
Judd Trump 4-6 Jak Jones
20:43 , Luke Baker
The high value colours weren’t well placed and Trump eventually runs too far out of position on 23, so tucks in behind the yellow. He was a bit unlucky that the pack didn’t split better.
But Jones is too pacey with the roll-up into the reds and Trump is back in with a red to the right corner.
Judd Trump 4-6 Jak Jones
20:42 , Luke Baker
Big shot for Trump as he decides to crash into the main pack of reds off the blue when moving the break to 17. Connects well but a bit unlucky as he’s only left with a thin cut on a red into the left middle pocket. He makes it! Great pot and cannons into the blue which stops the cueball running too far away, so he’s on the brown.
The break moves beyond 20 although blue is now off its spot and the pink and black are tied up.
Judd Trump 4-6 Jak Jones
20:40 , Luke Baker
Right, both players left the arena for a quick break after that last frame and I’m not surprised. 90-odd minutes for two frames, let’s hope they start speeding things along slightly…
That’s better from Trump! Pulls out a stunning long red and follows it up with the green. Black is out of commission and when he plays the pink, it too is spotted somewhere it can’t be potted so he’ll be using the blue for now.
Judd Trump 4-6 Jak Jones
20:36 , Luke Baker
Jones digs out a nice pot on the yellow and then tidies up green and brown as well. Misses the long blue but Trump has no interest in playing on for snookers.
A marathon, 55-minute frame but Jones comes out on top and now leads 6-4. That’s a huge blow for Trump.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:34 , Luke Baker
Four more penalty points to Jones and then finally he pots the red! Great bit of cueing from mid-range going around the brown.
Then pots brown to middle and just needs a mid-range yellow followed by green and brown to leave Trump needing a snooker…
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:30 , Luke Baker
Still fighting away on this final red – whoever pots it will likely go on to win the frame. Jones has a go into the green pocket but misses.
Trump then put in a snooker and he gives away 12 points as Jones goes back ahead 53-46 but when he does hit it, he puts his opponent back in a snooker. This is pretty compelling stuff if you’re a fan of safety play.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:21 , Luke Baker
Four more penalty points from a similar position for Trump and every time Jones comes to the table now, he’s in a snooker. We pass the 40-minute mark in this frame. Trump leads 46-41
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:18 , Luke Baker
Jones gives away four penalty points when he hits the brown while trying to swerve to hit the red and Trump then puts him in another devilish snooker but he does brilliantly to come off the top cushion and connect with the red.
Trump definitely on top in this safety exchange though and earns another four points from a snooker when Jones comes up short. Trump now leads 42-41.
MID-SESSION INTERVAL: David Gilbert 9-3 Stephen Maguire
20:15 , Luke Baker
It’s been much more free-flowing stuff on the other table and Stephan Maguire has made a century to win just his third frame of the match as he trails 9-3 at the mid-session interval.
Dave Gilbert will need to win all the remaining four frames after the interval to win with a session to spare.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:12 , Luke Baker
Was Trump going for that? He cross-doubles a red into the left corner pocket, although he had safety in mind. He’s not brilliantly on a colour and the final red is tied up near the black on the bottom cushion, so he just plays safe off the green and snookers Jones. 41-34 to the Welshman and it’s a battle on the final red again.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:11 , Luke Baker
Cracking long pot by Jones and a nice cannon. But again, it quickly goes wrong so the lead is only 41-33 with two reds left.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:08 , Luke Baker
Jones can indeed pot the red and then a black but then a poor positional shot ends his break at 8, leaving the points all square at 33-33 with four reds left on the table. Another tight frame
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:07 , Luke Baker
WOW! That’s some shot by Judd Trump. Incredibly gutsy shot as he attempts a three-ball plant tight along the bottom cushion and makes it! Roars from the crowd.
He was getting bogged down a bit and maybe that explains the super-attacking shot. It’s still a tough table though and he can only make 10 before running out of position. He leads 33-25 but Jones has a possible pot to get him started now.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
20:02 , Luke Baker
Trump gets to 23 with minimal fuss but then runs out of position, leaving himself a tricky cut red to the green pocket. Not really that close but he played to ensure the cueball was relatively safe. It’s 25-23 to Jones with seven reds still on the table.
On the other table, Dave Gilbert makes another 50+ break to move 9-2 up on Stephen Maguire, edging closer towards the finish line of 13 frames.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
19:58 , Luke Baker
Jones gets to work racking up the reds and blacks but then he misses a simple black off the spot – hits the far jaw. That’s a bad, bad miss really. A let-off for Trump as he returns to the table only 25-0 behind with plenty of reds awaiting.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
19:55 , Luke Baker
We’re approaching the 15-minute mark of this second frame and there’s still not a single ball been potted. The reds are congregating on the right this time as the table again looks awkward.
We do have some drama now though! Trump miscues the white as he digs down on it trying to screw back to baulk off a red. It leaves Jones a simple plant to get going and he has a chance to build a lead with a fair few reds available around the black spot.
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
19:50 , Luke Baker
This match is turning into a bit of a grind. An extended bout of safety before Trump takes a chance on a long red up to the yellow pocket but it catches the near jaw and rattles out. Still no pot on for Jones as we stay at 0-0 in this frame
David Gilbert 8-2 Stephen Maguire
19:48 , Luke Baker
Better from Stephen Maguire on the other table. A classy break of 84 sees him win the second frame of the evening. If he can get out of this session only 10-6 behind, he’d be just about still in this match. Any wider margin than that and you fear it may be over for him.
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
19:44 , Luke Baker
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
19:43 , Luke Baker
A 37-minute opening frame and mistakes from both men but Jones won’t care a jot as he retakes the lead.
Frame 10 underway and another bout of safety to start things off
FRAME! Judd Trump 4-5 Jak Jones
19:38 , Luke Baker
Jones lands nicely on the yellow along the top cushion and gets in good position on the green. Only needs up to and including the pink to win this frame and they’re sitting there for him.
No mistake! Jak Jones pinches the first frame of the evening with a break of 27 to win it 54-43 and take a 5-4 lead.
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:37 , Luke Baker
Mistake from Trump! Leaves Jones a pot to left middle on the red and the Welsham rolls it in. Beautiful cueing. Colours are off their spots but none are completely safe, so he can pinch this frame with a clearance.
David Gilbert 8-1 Stephen Maguire
19:36 , Luke Baker
Over on the other table, things going from bad to worse for Stephen Maguire. Both men had chances in the opening frame if the evening but a nice break from Dave Gilbert sees him nick it and he’s now 8-1 up. Five frames from victory…
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:35 , Luke Baker
Great tension in this opening frame of the second session. Neither man giving an inch in the safety battle but Trump probably just on top. Eventually he has a potting chance on the red but rattles it out of the jaws of the left corner from long range.
The red is near the middle pocket so Jones plays something of an exhibition shot, coming off the bottom cushion with the white to knock the red in but it just clips the jaw! Good effort. Still 43-27 to Trump as the battle on the final red continues.
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:30 , Luke Baker
This has been a good break by Jones in tough circumstances. He nearly develops the final red off the side cushion but he can’t quite see a potting angle, so plays safe. Actually makes a hash of the safety but gets away with it.
Trump leads 43-27 with one red left on the table. This opening frame is in the balance.
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:28 , Luke Baker
Jones tries to cannon the two reds on the cushion and makes a decent go of it but is unlucky to see one red go up into the baulk area. Pulls out a nice red to middle but this table is still looking pretty ugly.
A pink rattles both jaws but drops in! Tough pot along the bottom rail for the next red… Make it! Tries to develop another red on the side cushion but it doesn’t quite happen. Still going on this break though as he closes to within 20 points of Trump.
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:26 , Luke Baker
This is good stuff from Trump, negotiating some tricky pots but eventually he breaks down. Tries to power a black into the right corner and it rattles out!
Break ends at 35 and he leads 43-2 in the frame but Jones has a red to get him going and he can close that gap. Four more reds still on the table after that but two are tied up on the bottom cushion.
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:22 , Luke Baker
Jones puts absolutely everything behind a pot to the left corner but the red smashes off the jaws of the pocket and sends other balls careering everywhere. The cueball doesn’t get back to baulk, so Trump has a relatively nice starter red.
Table is a bit messy but Trump can build a lead here.
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:19 , Luke Baker
Bit of a fluke for Jones as a red rolls into the left corner when he plays a safety shot but doesn’t land on a colour, so just a roll-up behind the yellow. The reds have started to congregate towards the left side of the table during this safety exchange so we might not be out of this any time soon.
Currently 8-2 to Trump in the frame
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:14 , Luke Baker
Jak Jones finds an early long red but misses the black to leave Judd Trump in. Mid-range red for Trump to start and it’s not the cleanest cueing but sneaks in the side door of the pocket.
The break ends when he reaches 8 though as a cannon on the pink doesn’t come off, leaving him without a pot. We’re still at the feeling-out stage of this frame.
Evening session underway
19:08 , Luke Baker
The second session of two of the quarter-finals is about to get underway. Relentless MC Rob Walker is just introducing the players to the Crucible crowd now.
We’ll be focusing on Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones here but I’ll keep you updated on how Dave Gilbert is going as he tries to build on a 7-1 lead over Stephen Maguire on the other table as well.
Judd Trump 4-4 Jak Jones
19:00 , Luke Baker
It was tough sledding at points for Trump, who could face Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semi-finals if he wins, this morning but he battled back to tie Welshman Jak Jones – in the quarter-finals for the second straight year here – at 4-4.
Eight frames to come this evening
(Getty Images)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
World Championship evening session
18:53 , Luke Baker
We’re only a few minutes away from the evening session now, where Judd Trump resumes at 4-4 against Jak Jones in their quarter-final and David Gilbert will look to finish off Stepehn Maguire as he leads 7-1. Gilbert will win with a session to spare if he takes six of tonight’s eight frames with 13 the target for victory.
Ronnie O’Sullivan: I’d walk away from snooker if I felt under-valued
18:40 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan declared himself open to offers amid rumours of a rival snooker tour and warned he would walk away from the sport if he believed his talent was being under-valued.
Leading players, including O’Sullivan, are understood to have been approached by Far East backers about the prospect of establishing a breakaway circuit from as early as next season.
Ronnie O’Sullivan: I’d walk away from snooker if I felt under-valued
World Snooker Championship prize fund
18:32 , Mike Jones
The World Championship is the richest prize in snooker with players sharing a total prize fund of £2,395,000. The winner will receive £500,000, with the runner-up pocketing £200,000 and the losing semi-finalists netting £100,000 each.
An additional £15,000 is available to the player who compiles the highest break (including the qualifying stage), while two maximums made across any of the three triple crown events this season will be rewarded with a £147,000 bonus.
The financial rewards of a breakaway snooker tour appeal to Ronnie O’Sullivan
18:25 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan joked that he would “love to see” a LIV Golf-style breakaway in snooker if someone was willing to offer him hundreds of millions of pounds, but was not interested in contributing to the noise around what a possible rival could mean for the World Snooker Tour.
Leading players, including O’Sullivan, are understood to have been approached by Far East backers about the prospect of establishing a breakaway circuit from as early as next season.
O’Sullivan has already effectively ruled himself out of any parallel tour by signing a deal to play in WST events in Saudi Arabia for the next three years.
The financial rewards of a breakaway snooker tour appeal to Ronnie O’Sullivan
What might be on the table for snooker’s future?
18:17 , Mike Jones
Who is likely to jump ship?
It’s perhaps more pertinent to point out those who won’t: O’Sullivan has effectively committed to the WST by signing up with the Saudis, while Judd Trump has dismissed the prospective rival event out of hand. Without O’Sullivan or Trump, unquestionably the sport’s two biggest stars, it is hard to see how any rival tour could carry any kind of legitimacy at all. Some players, including Kyren Wilson, have indicated their willingness to consider their options. But it would seem a remarkably self-destructive career move to quit the main tour – just as Saudi money begins to roll in – in favour of a series of glorified exhibitions on the other side of the world.
Fast forward to 2028 – what is the state of play?
Right now it’s all too easy to envisage a World Championship in Riyadh, and even the possibility of a rival event taking place in China. But one would hope the reality is rather different. Saudi involvement may not please everybody but it will probably satisfy most players’ financial demands, which in turn may make them more amenable to the idea of continuing at the Crucible. Even its biggest critics must admit that a World Championship away from its famous home would lose much of its lustre. With enough vocal backers to drown out the money men, all is not necessarily lost.
What might be on the table of snooker’s future?
18:10 , Mike Jones
Surely it’ll end up in Saudi Arabia?
The Saudis are becoming increasingly big players in snooker, having staged the World Masters of Snooker – complete with golden ball – last year, and preparing to stage the first ranking tournament in the kingdom in August. Ronnie O’Sullivan has also signed an ambassadorial deal with the Saudis. If Hearn holds true to his talk that money is all that matters, there is no doubt the Saudis carry the biggest clout of all.
Presumably the Saudis are behind this proposed rival tour?
Funnily enough, no. The Saudis have thrown their lot in with Hearn and the World Snooker Tour. The rival tour is understood to emanate from China. Exact details remain sketchy, but a number of top players have admitted having been approached. They have been offered guaranteed six-figure sums to sign up to a new circuit which would effectively preclude them from also competing on the existing tour – and thus their ability to compete in the prestigious ‘triple crown’ events.
What might be on the table for snooker’s future?
18:02 , Mike Jones
Besides Ronnie O’Sullivan’s seemingly unstoppable surge towards a record eighth title, two separate narratives have been dominating the headlines during the first week of the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield.
Comments by O’Sullivan and the sport’s predominant power-broker Barry Hearn have fuelled speculation that the tournament could be taken away from the Crucible – while in a separate development, details are emerging of a potential rival tour based in China.
Here the PA news agency takes a look at the two developing stories and what they might mean for the future of snooker.
So, is snooker leaving the Crucible?
The venue’s current deal expires in 2027 – coincidentally, its 50th anniversary of staging the World Championships. Hearn has effectively delivered an ultimatum to Sheffield City Council to improve or rebuild the venue, or see the tournament taken away. Whilst there is a growing feeling that the Crucible’s facilities and capacity are not compatible with the sport’s ambitious future plans, many maintain that such concerns are trumped by tradition.
What are the favoured options?
Money talks as far as Hearn is concerned, and he insists he would not think twice about signing a lucrative deal to stage the World Championship in Saudi Arabia or the Far East. Another mooted possibility is rotating the tournament around a series of global venues. But his comments caused a significant backlash, with former world champions Shaun Murphy and Ken Doherty calling criticism of the Crucible “sacrilege”, and insisting the tournament would lose much of its uniqueness if it was staged elsewhere.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-4 Stuart Bingham
17:55 , Mike Jones
Century! A second ton from John Higgins ends the afternoon session with the Scot closing the gap on Kyren Wilson to just two. He needed a good session like that but Wilson takes a 5-3 lead into tomorrow’s action.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-4 Stuart Bingham
17:52 , Mike Jones
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-4 Stuart Bingham
17:47 , Mike Jones
Stephen Hendry speaking on BBC Two:
“Both players will be pleased with the scoreline. Neither has been anywhere near the top of their game this afternoon so it’s a pretty fair result.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-4 Stuart Bingham
17:42 , Mike Jones
Over on the other table, Kyren Wilson has taken a 5-2 lead over John Higgins but the Scot is fighting back having won two of the three frames in the second part of this session.
If he takes the last one as well then he’ll be more than pleased with his day.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-4 Stuart Bingham
17:40 , Mike Jones
This quarter-final is developing into a fine contest. The standard of play wasn’t anywhere near the levels both players are capable of but it was an intriguing battle nonetheless.
These two will return tomorrow morning for the next stage of this match.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-4 Stuart Bingham
17:38 , Mike Jones
This is Bingham’s frame to win from here. He scoots around the table with a bit of a skip and gets himself 67 points ahead. When the blue drops that should be that.
It is.
O’Sullivan concedes the frame and both players end the session on level terms. That’s a fair result on reflection.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Stuart Bingham
17:35 , Mike Jones
Bingham uses his smarts and patience. He helps himself to a lead of 45 but doesn’t manage to spread the remaining reds as well as he’d like.
He goes safe but O’Sullivan leaves a tricky long red to the bottom corner. Bingham knocks it in!
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Stuart Bingham
17:32 , Mike Jones
Very nice. Stuart Bingham lands a long pot and finds a gap for the cueball to dance around the table setting up the blue.
There’s still a long way to go in this frame but he’s been the more likely to score from it so far.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Stuart Bingham
17:28 , Mike Jones
Bingham’s break comes to an end at 17 and O’Sullivan decides to take on a long effort at a red just behind the blue. It doesn’t go in.
For the session, O’Sullivan’s potting success is just 85% yet he’s still leading this match.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Stuart Bingham
17:26 , Mike Jones
There were only a couple of loose read after the initial break and Bingham tidies them up nicely. He comes off the black and spins the cueball into the reds where it burries itself and doesn’t give Bingham a potting opportunity.
That was unfortunate.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Stuart Bingham
17:24 , Mike Jones
Oh yes! Stuart Bingham gets on the board first in this final frame with a lovely pot to the bottom left. The red bobbles around as it drops with the cueball spinning back to the middle of the table.
Bingham knocks in the blue and seemingly hasn’t left himself anything easy.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Stuart Bingham
17:20 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan was 3-1 down in this match and now leads after Stuart Bingham finally concedes the frame. There’s going to be one more frame to play this afternoon.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Stuart Bingham
17:16 , Mike Jones
Stuart Bingham must be trying to rediscover a bit of rhythm. He’s keep this frame going but isn’t troubling Ronnie O’Sullivan with his attempts at a snooker.
He still needs four of them, one pot would win it for O’Sullivan.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Stuart Bingham
17:07 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan said earlier in the week that he finds ways to win. He’s doing just that here. A break of 70 means that Bingham needs snookers to get back in the frame.
There are 35 points on the table with O’Sullivan leading by 50. Bingham is playing on for now.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Stuart Bingham
17:05 , Mike Jones
Bingham edges ahead with a 20 point lead but makes an unforced error to set O’Sullivan up for a comeback. The reds are spread out perfectly, almost like a practice session, and this is the time for Ronnie to capitalise.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Stuart Bingham
16:59 , Mike Jones
Good pot! Bingham leaves one red on to the bottom left corner and O’Sullivan takes it on. He nestles it home, takes out the brown and then misses a simple red which would have set him up perfectly on the black.
O’Sullivan is so frustrated with how he’s playing at the minute.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Stuart Bingham
16:55 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan is in control of this frame now.
He’s setting up snookers and waiting for Bingham to make an error. He does, and O’Sullivan knocks the red into the top right pocket. The colours quickly follow for Ronnie who manages to draw level at 3-3.
He’s won both frames in the second part of this session despite not playing all that well.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Stuart Bingham
16:55 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan is in control of this frame now.
He’s setting up snookers and waiting for Bingham to make an error. He does, and O’Sullivan knocks the red into the top right pocket. The colours quickly follow for Ronnie who manages to draw level at 3-3.
He’s won both frames in the second part of this session despite not playing all that well.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:52 , Mike Jones
Mistake!
O’Sullivan fouls again by potting the cueball and Bingham’s opportunity to win has increased. He comes down the table and pots the red into the bottom left before quickly following up with the black.
Bingham then misses the final red to the middle right. This frame is still alive!
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:50 , Mike Jones
A break of 43 from O’Sullivan leaves him one pot away from levelling the match but the red doesn’t drop. There are 43 points remaining on the table and Bingham trails by 41 after potting a red and the green.
The two remaining reds are tricky though, stuck over by the left hand cushion. Bingham goes safe. O’Sullivan leads 63-22.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:46 , Mike Jones
That’s a shocker!
Just as he looked to increase his advantage Bingham gets a red to lip out of the middle right and his break ends with him still trailing O’Sullivan by two.
O’Sullivan seems keen to take this table on now. His focus is almost overwhelming his frustration at the minute.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:43 , Mike Jones
More than any previous frame, there’s a bit of tension built up in this one. It’s been a battle against both the opponent and the table itself here for both men.
O’Sullivan is the one chipping away at the reds but he hasn’t managed to build up a break. He kisses the green off the pocket and lets Bingham in.
Bingham takes a red to the middle left then follows it up with a brilliant long yellow. This is a chance.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:37 , Mike Jones
It’s O’Sullivan who breaks the deadlock again after a slight error from Bingham. He leaves the cueball in the middle of the table and allows O’Sullivan to slip a red into the bottom left.
The yellow follows but the cueball finishes over by the right side cushion. All the reds are positioned over on the bottom left quarter of the table and there’s no clear colour to follow up.
O’Sullivan plays it safe and leaves the cueball at the top end of the table, right on the edge of the cushion.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:31 , Mike Jones
Bingham fouls in an attempts to just clip a red and get the cueball safe, he misses them all and nudges into the green making his next shot as difficult.
O’Sullivan decides to make him play and Bingham needs a couple of attempts to hit a red again meaning O’Sullivan leads 16-5.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:27 , Mike Jones
This is already a nasty frame. The black is up by the baulk cushion, the yellow down the other end.
Ronnie O’Sullivan ends the deadlock with a superb pot into the bottom left corner. He needs to hit it hard and manages to screw the cueball all the way back to play off the black.
Oh no! As good as that was, this is equally as bad. O’Sullivan is stuck with no colours to pot. He tries to play a safety but sends the cueball into the top left pocket for a foul.
Over to you Stuart Bingham.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:22 , Mike Jones
There’ll be a bit of confidence flowing in O’Sullivan now after that break but he leaves Bingham with a long pot off the break and watches as the red flies into the bottom right corner.
That’s a great shot!
The next one, not so much. Bingham hopes to cannon into the small pack of reds next to the black but fails to pot the colour. He gets away with one as there’s not much on for O’Sullivan who takes a bit of time to think about his next move.
He plays safe.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-3 Stuart Bingham
16:18 , Mike Jones
Century!
O’Sullivan tidies up the colours and goes above three figures with the blue. It’s a career 1263rd century for the Rocket who sweeps the entire table to win the frame and close the gap on Bingham.
Bingham will be annoyed at letting that one go. He was in control but let it slip.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-3 Stuart Bingham
16:16 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan has stepped up his play. He needed a chance to spend some time at the table and Bingham offered it up. Ronnie’s break goes above 50 when the black drops, again.
O’Sullivan deposits a red to the bottom left pocket and takes out the pink to move the frame beyond Bingham’s reach. This is just the start he needed for the next stage of this match.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-3 Stuart Bingham
16:12 , Mike Jones
Both Stuart Bingham and Ronnie O’Sullivan have picked up where they’ve left off. Little mistakes from O’Sullivan and Bingham taking advantage…
…or does he? Bingham bounces off the lip of the middle right pocket with a lead of only eight. The reds are available and O’Sullivan almost leaps out of his seat to take a crack at them.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-3 Stuart Bingham
16:05 , Mike Jones
A break of 71 from Kyren Wilson takes him into the mid session interval with a 4-0 lead over John Higgins. That could not have gone any better for a man who may just have enough momentum in this tournament to carry him through to the final.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-3 Stuart Bingham
16:03 , Mike Jones
2010 world champion, Neil Robertson, said:
“Stuart’s coach Chris Henry would have been having him think about all the positive memories he’s had in the World Championship.
“He’s very strong about the psychology aspect and he’d have had Stuart thinking about the positive experiences he had against Ronnie in 2015 [quarter-final win] and he would be drawing on that.
“He looks to be in a great frame of mind, Stuart.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-3 Stuart Bingham
15:58 , Mike Jones
Seven time world champion, Stephen Hendry, spoke about Stuart Bingham on BBC Two saying: “He’s got to steady the ship now, Stuart Bingham, and make sure he converts this chance.
“Because if he doesn’t take chances like this, he’s not going to win the match, plain and simple.
“Over three sessions you’re not going to keep Ronnie quiet forever, he’s going to have his times where he’ll win three, four frames on the bounce. Which is why these opportunities are imperative for Stuart.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-3 Stuart Bingham
15:53 , Mike Jones
Over on the other table Kyren Wilson is putting on a masterclass against John Higgins. Twice he’s just fallen short of a century breaks but Higgins hasn’t had a sniff yet.
Wilson leads 3-0 already.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-3 Stuart Bingham
15:51 , Mike Jones
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
(Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-3 Stuart Bingham
15:49 , Mike Jones
Bingham has had a blinder of a mini session here. He should be 4-0 up but an error in the third frame gave O’Sullivan a chance to get on the board.
Despite a couple of positional errors in this one, he gets the job done and moves two frames in front. He’s been the best player in this quarter-final so far and O’Sullivan needs to reset during this upcoming interval.
A break of 79, the highest of the match so far, gives Bingham the frame and he looks in wonderful form.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-2 Stuart Bingham
15:43 , Mike Jones
Oh wow. Stuart Bingham misses a red and leaves Ronnie O’Sullivan with a decent opportunity to level the match. Instead O’Sullivan kisses the bottom right pocket with an attempt at pocketing the black handing the momentum back to Bingham.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-2 Stuart Bingham
15:34 , Mike Jones
A foul from Bingham gifts six more points to O’Sullivan but the frame goes on despite Bingham now needing two snookers. He makes O’Sullivan pot the pink, which he does, and the frame goes to the Rocket.
Good response after a tough opening two frames.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-2 Stuart Bingham
15:31 , Mike Jones
In no time at all O’Sullivan notches up a break of over 50 and moves into the lead with the colours remaining. He needs to get past the blue to secure the frame…
… and does! That was quite simple but O’Sullivan misses the pink and Bingham will have a go at forcing a snooker.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-2 Stuart Bingham
15:29 , Mike Jones
Chance! Bingham leaves a red bobbling from either side of the cushion after a break of 51 and there’s an opportunity for O’Sullivan to get going in the frame.
His first red drop hime and the black follows shortly afterwards. How high can he go now?
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-2 Stuart Bingham
15:25 , Mike Jones
Ronnie O’Sullivan isn’t at the races this afternoon at all. He kisses the cushion with another attempted long pot and let Stuart Bingham get on the board first in the frame once again.
A fine cut on the black keeps the Englishman at the table. It’s a tremendous shot and takes the break into the 20s.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-2 Stuart Bingham
15:18 , Mike Jones
Bingham almost cleans up the table but misses the final black yet that is enough to give him a 92-14 win and take him two frames up against O’Sullivan.
It’s been the Stuart Bingham show so far. Can O’Sullivan respond?
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Stuart Bingham
15:16 , Mike Jones
Bingham seems to be in a determined and focused mood. He polishes off a couple of reds, takes out the black hovering over the bottom right pocket and begins to move through the gears again.
Two reds have found their way up towards the baulk cushion. Bingham pots on and follows it up with the brown. The second red then drops and Bingham comes down the table to take out a displaced green.
He moves 50 points ahead before cleaning up the final red and a black. Just the colours to go now.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Stuart Bingham
15:09 , Mike Jones
Wonderful from O’Sullivan! A long pot across the table sees him roll home a red to the bottom left pocket. He follows with the blue and another red but then leaves the black hovering over a pocket.
It’s the kind of luck that’s summed up his afternoon so far.
Bingham leads 17-14 in the second frame.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Stuart Bingham
15:03 , Mike Jones
Despite the foul, O’Sullivan manages to chip away with a couple of reds and a blue to get up to seven points. He makes an error though missing a red when trying to clip it and play safe.
Bingham has a simple shot to the bottom left but he looks at the angles to see which colour his the best option to play for. He eventually goes for the pink.
That drops in and Bingham moves into the lead.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Stuart Bingham
14:58 , Mike Jones
O’Sullivan has broke the reds for the second frame with nothing to play for Bingham. He clips the right hand most red too thin and leaves an opportunity for O’Sullivan who doesn’t take it.
He doesn’t leave Bingham with a chance for a pot and this frame, like a good chunk of the previous one, could end up being decided by who gets in first.
O’Sullivan clips a red and skews the cueball into the bottom right pocket, that gives away four points to Bingham.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Stuart Bingham
14:54 , Mike Jones
Bingham takes the opening frame. He misses the final red with a shot down the cushion but O’Sullivan remains in his seat and prepares himself for the next frame.
Just the start Stuart Bingham wanted.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Stuart Bingham
14:52 , Mike Jones
Now then. Bingham gets in first and manages to build his score. He tidies up the reds close to the middle of the table before dropping down behind the black and slotting in another one.
He spins back up for the blue, knocks that in, and has a choice of six reds. Four of them are handily available and they don’t last long as Bingham’s lead moves above 50.
The frame should be secure now and Bingham confirms it by opening up the black and knocking it into the bottom right pocket…
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Stuart Bingham
14:46 , Mike Jones
The pockets are playing tight this week as O’Sullivan finds when a tricky half-chance to slide a red into the middle left boucing off the corner.
Bingham and O’Sullivan are caught in a battle of wills at the minute with neither player wanting to give the edge to the other.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Stuart Bingham
14:42 , Mike Jones
Bingham was wrestling with the cueball throughout his break and has to play safe with the black and pink hidden amongst the remaining reds. He leads 18-7 and both players are now engaging in a battle of safety play.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Stuart Bingham
14:39 , Mike Jones
Ah! O’Sullivan’s break finishes at 7 as he fails to slot home a relatively simple black. Bingham comes to the table and will have a strong opportunity to score highly.
Like the Rocket he starts off with a red-blue combo before executing a fine plant to the bottom right pocket. His positional play for the cueball isn’t great though and he’s left with an awkward shot to roll the blue into the top right pocket.
It drops! Crisis averted.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Stuart Bingham
14:36 , Mike Jones
Stuart Bingham gets the session started with his break and kisses the top left pocket with the cueball.
He leaves a long pot on for Ronnie O’Sullivan who takes a moment then rolls it into the pocket screwing the cueball over to the right, bouncing it off the cushion and leaving a perfect shot on the blue.
O’Sullivan gets the first points on the board.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Stuart Bingham
14:34 , Mike Jones
Here we go!
The afternoon session is about to begin with John Higgins, fresh off his remarkable win last night, is the first to be introduced and he strides out with a huge smile on his face.
His opponent today is Kyren Wilson who has reached the quarter-final stage in seven of the last nine years. Can he go further this year?
On the other table is the match we’ll be covering. Stuart Bingham is playing in his fifth quarter-final and looks relaxed as he makes his walk out.
Finally, a man who needs no introduction, Ronnie O’Sullivan completes the line-up.
Stephen Maguire 1-7 David Gilbert
14:30 , Mike Jones
Stephen Maguire, who defeated Shaun Murphy in the previous round, had a tough morning at the Crucible.
Facing off against David Gilbert, the Scot only managed to pick up one of the eight frames played and faces a mammoth task to get himself back in contention tonight.
The duo take to the tables once again in the evening session
The financial rewards of a breakaway snooker tour appeal to Ronnie O’Sullivan
14:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ronnie O’Sullivan joked that he would “love to see” a LIV Golf-style breakaway in snooker if someone was willing to offer him hundreds of millions of pounds, but was not interested in contributing to the noise around what a possible rival could mean for the World Snooker Tour.
Leading players, including O’Sullivan, are understood to have been approached by Far East backers about the prospect of establishing a breakaway circuit from as early as next season.
O’Sullivan has already effectively ruled himself out of any parallel tour by signing a deal to play in WST events in Saudi Arabia for the next three years.
The financial rewards of a breakaway snooker tour appeal to Ronnie O’Sullivan
How John Higgins booked his spot
14:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Action is not far away, but there’s still more than enough time to drink in last night’s magnificent clearance from John Higgins. Remarkable stuff.
Next up…
14:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Not long now until quarter-finals three and four are underway. Kyren Wilson vs John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Stuart Bingham will be best-of-25 frame affairs contested over three sessions today and tomorrow to determine who makes the final four at the Crucible.
World Snooker Championship prize fund
14:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The World Championship is the richest prize in snooker with players sharing a total prize fund of £2,395,000. The winner will receive £500,000, with the runner-up pocketing £200,000 and the losing semi-finalists netting £100,000 each.
An additional £15,000 is available to the player who compiles the highest break (including the qualifying stage), while two maximums made across any of the three triple crown events this season will be rewarded with a £147,000 bonus.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website