"I just potted everything" - Teenager Stan Moody reaches maiden ranking event quarter-final

Having previously lost in the last 16 of a ranking event on three occasions, Moody breaks new personal ground in making the last eight here.

This week in the Far East, the 18-year-old Englishman saw off Ding Junhui, 5-3, on centre stage in the round of 64 and followed that up with a 5-1 victory over Zhou Yuelong - ending the ‘Ding Curse’ that spanned three seasons, in the process.

Against four-time ranking event winner Hawkins, Moody took the opening frame with a break of 38 that sparked an incredible run of 431 points without reply.

Moody registered runs of 108, 87 and 54 as he strung off the next four frames for a statement win, leaving his experienced opponent pointless.

Winner of the 2023 World Snooker Federation Junior Championship that was held in Australia - his ticket to the sport’s top flight - Moody is only in his third season as a professional.

After a tricky debut season, Moody posted several fine results during his second term, including last 16 trips at the British and Northern Ireland Opens. His new-found consistency saw him break into the world’s top 64 rankings and keep his tour card - a brilliant achievement for someone so young.

Next up for Moody - who is now guaranteed at least £16,000 - is reigning and defending Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong on Thursday.

Speaking to the World Snooker Tour after his resounding triumph, Moody said: “It’s the best win of my career. I played very, very well. I was in the zone. I don’t know what happened really, I just potted everything. Hopefully it is the same in the next game.

“I thought I would have a run like this last season, but it just didn’t happen. I wasn’t experienced enough. This season I’m more relaxed and I’m enjoying competing. I love the pressure now.

“I put myself under a bit of pressure today to try and go one further. I think I’ve let it get to me before. Thankfully I got through and hopefully I can keep going.”

Title holder Xiao Guodong marches on in Wuhan

Xiao kept alive his hopes of back-to-back Wuhan Open crowns after he defeated Matthew Selt 5-2 in the last 16.

The 36-year-old - who recently won a gold medal at the World Games - posted breaks of 136, 66 and 57 as he stretched his winning streak in this competition to 11 matches.

In a meeting of two of the greatest players of all-time, Mark Williams denied Mark Selby, 5-3.

Three-time World Champion Williams took control at 3-0 up, but four-time World Champion Selby - who crafted a break of 137 in frame four - responded with a trio of frames himself to level up at 3-3.

However, momentum shifted again as 50-year-old Williams took the final two frames to advance to the 118th ranking event quarter-final of his long, illustrious career.

In the last eight, Williams will face another top 16 opponent, Zhang Anda, who ousted Ireland’s number one Aaron Hill, 5-4.

Youngster Hill deposited the first frame of the match with an effort of 134, but Zhang went to the mid-session interval 3-1 up.

On resumption, Hill won three frames in-a-row to move 4-3 ahead, but former International Championship winner Zhang turned things around for a deciding frame success.

The remaining round of 16 ties are scheduled to take place in the evening session in China.

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