2024 International Championship Snooker: Mixed fortunes for big names as last eight line-up completed


World number one Judd Trump will not be collecting a record third International Championship crown this year as he was dismissed 6-4 by maximum man Xu Si.
Xu made his second 147 break in professional competition on Tuesday in round three and he continued his brilliant form against the tournament favourite.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Having seen Trump claim four of the previous five frames, world number 49 Xu registered runs of 104, 69 and 68 during a three-frame sequence to reach his second ranking event quarter-final of the season, and the third overall of his professional career, so far. It was Xu's first win over Trump at his fourth attempt.
Like Xu, Jackson Page - who began his match against Pang Junxu with a 117 in the opening frame - won the final three frames from 4-3 down to deny Ronnie O'Sullivan's conqueror from the previous round.
Welsh youngster Page is into the last eight of a ranking event for the third time in his top tier career - all of those instances have arrived since March this year.
There were differing fortunes for the two remaining members of the 'Class of 92' in the competition, as John Higgins squeezed through, but Mark Williams bowed out.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Williams was bested by the upwardly mobile Chris Wakelin, 6-4; former Snooker Shoot Out Champion Wakelin posted efforts of 72, 112, 98 and 88.
Higgins recovered from 3-1 down to Lyu Haotian, later forcing a decider after potting a re-spotted black in frame ten.
However, the match was then pulled off before the conclusion to make way for the evening session fixtures, and the players had to wait a few hours to return. When they did, it was Higgins who emerged as the victor with the aid of a 68 break.
World Champion Kyren Wilson wins ten consecutive matches on the pro tour
Reigning World Champion and newly minted Northern Ireland Open Champion Kyren Wilson is the most in-form player on the World Snooker Tour at present, and 'The Warrior' put on a clinic of heavy scoring in a very impressive 6-2 victory over Barry Hawkins during the evening's programme.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Wilson compiled breaks of 80, 127, 85, 101, 117 and 60 en route to progression. Following on from his heroics in Belfast last month, world number two Wilson has now won 10 consecutive matches on the professional circuit and is now surely the tournament favourite here this week.
Another cueist riding the crest of a wave is Wuhan Open Champion Xiao Guodong, who defeated Jack Lisowski, 6-3.
Snooker's latest first-time winner of a ranking trophy, Xiao won five frames in-a-row after relinquishing the opener; producing a 122 in frame six to go on the hill. Lisowski mini-rallied with the next two frames before Xiao sealed the deal with a 91.
Provisionally, that victory puts Xiao into the world's top 16 for the first time in his career, although he could be dislodged by Wakelin. The result sends Neil Robertson to the UK Champion qualifiers.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Ding Junhui needs prize money ranking points after a difficult start to the campaign, and China's biggest star is getting a fair chunk this week as he ended the run of world number 77 Jiang Jun, 6-3.
‘The Dragon’ went 3-0 up before Jiang (130 break) replied in kind with three successive frames of his own. However, Ding (109 break) took the next three to make the quarter-finals of a ranking event for the first time this season.
The final player to book a berth for Thursday's quarter-finals schedule was Gary Wilson as he ended the challenge of Mark Selby, 6-3.
Wilson top scored with a 123 as he stopped the only back-to-back winner of this title.
2024 International Championship Quarter-Finals:
- John Higgins v Chris Wakelin
- Jackson Page v Xiao Guodong
- Xu Si v Gary Wilson
- Ding Junhui v Kyren Wilson
Comment Guidelines
National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.