Robbie Williams eliminates world number two Kyren Wilson from English Open

World number 51 Williams had previously lost all five of his previous meetings with Wilson on the World Snooker Tour, but he put an end to that unwanted streak as he progressed in the £550,400 Home Nations Series event.

On the opening day of televised coverage for the tournament, Williams won a couple of scruffy frames to go 2-0 up before the action became more fluent.

Winner of the Shanghai Masters last month, Wilson got on the board with a break of 73 in frame three, but Williams responded with an 88 to reach the hill first at 3-1 up.

Back came 2024 World Champion Wilson with an effort of 108, but Williams crossed the finish line in frame six where he eventually potted what was essentially match ball on the final red having earlier compiled a 52.

Next up for Williams in his pursuit of a maiden ranking title and The Steve Davis Trophy is either Pang Junxu or Daniel Wells on Wednesday.

A three-time ranking event semi-finalist during his career, 38-year-old Williams has now won his last four matches on the sport’s top flight after a topsy-turvy start to the 2025/26 season.

Williams won a group at the Championship League, but he failed to qualify for the Wuhan and British Opens, and he lost his opening match at the Saudi Arabia Masters.

However, Williams has a 100% winning record this month, recording victories to qualify for the main venue stages of both the Xi’an Grand Prix and Northern Ireland Open, and two wins in Brentwood over recent days.

On the provisional end-of-season ranking list, Williams currently sits 61st, so he is under threat of tour relegation, but the prize money he has guaranteed himself over the past fortnight will help him big time in his bid to retain his professional status.

Elsewhere during Monday’s early sessions, Ding Junhui was in impressive form as he saw off youngster Liam Pullen, 4-1.

China’s original snooker superstar, three-time UK Champion Ding racked up breaks of 80, 92, 130 and 71 in the win.

Somewhat bizarrely, 15-time ranking event winner Ding has never reached a Home Nations Series event final, yet alone win one; the Series is in its tenth season.

Fellow top 16 members Si Jiahui and Barry Hawkins both advanced after respective 4-2 wins over Liu Hongyu and Louis Heathcote. In Si’s match, opponent Liu forfeited the fifth frame - despite being ahead on points - due to the three miss rule.

Fan Zhengyi and Matthew Selt were also winners from the opening two batches of matches on Monday.

Visit our 2025 English Open tournament information centre here for the draw, results, and details on the format, schedule, prize money, and how to watch.