SNUKER 2025 CPI: Summary 1/8 finals and quarterfinal Billiards

Sheffield has completed the 1/8 finals matches 2025 World Championship with Snukera. They gave many bright moments, dramatic situations, new records. If you do not consider the status of Zhao Sintoun, who is not formally a professional, only one higher rating player stopped fighting at this stage. However, everything in turn …

Chris Waykelin (20) – Mark Allen (8) – 13: 6

Who would have thought that the first quarter of the tournament would be Chris Waykelin, who has never won the current draw in Krusibib. But in the first round, he defeated Nila Robertson, winning the first session 6: 2 and then led the match to victory (10: 8). In Mark Allen’s game, the first session also ended with a score of 6: 2 in favor of the Englishman. It was already unexpected, but the second session Chris started with the four won Frames in a row! 10: 2-with such a score, the players went for a 15-minute break, and Allen went directly to the training table. And spent time with benefit!

Mark did not score the balls for 51 minutes of game time. But when he received a chance to attack the 13th party, he used it for 100%. He made a maximum and became the first player in history to make a series of 147 points in all the Triple Crown tournaments: before that Allen reached the maxima at Championship in 2016 and Master in 2024.

Now the representative of Northern Ireland will receive a bonus in the amount of 40 thousand pounds for the maximum break in « Krusibli », as well as a third of 15 thousand, which are paid for the best series at the World Cup (in the qualification of Jackson Page twice scored 147 points for approach).

Interestingly, one of the sponsors introduced a prize of £ 25,000 by a random viewer, which will be in the hall during the maximum. This time, the round amount went to the 75-year-old fan, to whom the son gave a ticket for the match and which for the first time in his life got to the Cruchl.

After that, the players exchanged frames and the second session was completed with a score of 12: 4 in favor of Wykelin. And the third turned out to be short. Allen won two parties (and in the 18th tried to make another maximum, but did not score the 12th black), but it was not enough. The 19th frame (and with it the match) remained behind Chris, which among the rest of the participants received the most time to rest in front of the quarterfinal-more than three days.

John Giggins (3) – Xiao Godun (14) – 13:12

The dramatic ten -hour match took a lot of strength (both physical and the main psychological) from both participants. Gingu Giggins and Xiao Godun did not have even three sessions to find stronger. After the first account it was equal – 4: 4, after the second – 8: 8.

The dramatic moment happened in the 14th party’s endshil, when Giggins pursued the opponent. He lacked 28 points to compare the score, and only three colored balls remained on the table. With all, the Scottish managed to put two sleeping sleeping on blue, forcing Xiao to « pay » 10 penalty points. Then he cleaned the table – 67:67, so the fate of the frame was decided on an additional black ball. And John scored her, but at the same time he drove into the pox and the bat – the party won Godun.

The third session was morning, and the players managed to spend only 7 frames, after which Giggins was leading – 12:11. Therefore, the end of the meeting was postponed to the evening, and the participants had to wait for one of the planned sessions. The Chinese leveled the score, but in the decisive, 25th party, the veteran was able to score 75 points for the approach and came out in the third round. We will remind, for Williams it is the 31st visit to « Crucils », and the quarterfinals of the World Cup will be 19th in his career!

Hossein Vafay (24) – Mark Williams (6) – 10:13

Mark Williams, who celebrated the 50th anniversary last month, became the oldest quarterfinalist of the World Cup over the last 15 years (in 2010, Stephen Davis got this stage at the age of 52). And once again he proved that age is not a obstacle to victory, since the match against Hossin Wafaya was quite exhausting for both players. Both, by the way, complained of health on the eve of the tournament: Welshi’s problems with vision, and the Iranian suffers from shoulder pain. But the solution of these problems was both postponed until the World Cup.

The game was tense, no one wanted to concede, and only once, at the beginning of the second session, one of the rivals (namely Williams) managed to take three frames in a row: usually no one could win more than two. Both players made two hundred series, in addition, Mark designed 4, and Hossein 3 fifty brothers. Three times during the frames (namely the 5th, 9th and 17th) there was a Patova situation on the table, and the players began the party again (Ri-Rake). In short, there was a flat struggle, and only at the expense of 11:10 Williams performed a finishing jerk and finished the duel spectacular, a break of 115 points.

13:10-Mark reached the quarterfinals 12 times, but Hossein was not possible to break through the second round for the first time. « It was a very difficult and intense meeting. None of us showed our best game. We are both tired. I am disappointed with my game because I gave a lot of frames to my opponent because of my mistakes. I need to work more if I want to get a trophy. Well, Mark will always be a heavy rival, » Vaafay summed up.

Li Paifan (39) – Zhao Sintun (a) – 10:13

Chinese derby became the only confrontation at this stage, both participants of the qualifying tournament to get into the Cruchl. Zhao Sintun spent the selection brilliantly, forming 12 Senchuri in four matches up to 10 wins. And Lii Peafan played two duels in qualification and made only two « 100+ » series. But in the eye meeting, the players seemed to change roles.

Lii Paifan and Zhao Cintun

Zhao took two starting frames, to which Lei responded with two fifty breaks and Senchuri – 3: 2. It encouraged the more experienced Sintoun (he was 28 years old, and only 21 peaked), he leveled the score, went out to the leaders and no longer allowed the opponent to even catch up with himself. At the same time, the best seriality showed lei: in his asset 6 series « 60+ » and 2 « hundreds ». But Zhao managed to decorate 7 fifty breaks and went without Senchuri.

However, the final account in its favor is 13:10. Sintoun became the first player in the history of « Crucifet » to play in the quarterfinals without having the status of a professional. We will remind, he served a 20-month disqualification for violation of the rules of play on the rates. However, the next season of Zhao will spend on a tour because he won this right to win in Q Tur tournaments. And peofan can be comforted by at least the fact that in his debut match in Krusibli defeated the current world champion. Well, a little rose in the rating: most likely, the next season Lei will start in the top 32.

Xi Xi (13) – Ben Wullastoton (44) – 13:10

Si Jiahi, who will only turn 22 years old in the summer, has not yet won a single title, but performances at the World Cups are surprisingly successful for him. Two years ago, the Chinese began with a qualification, made his debut in Krusiblibi and reached the semifinals, where he lost the future champion. A year ago, he defeated Mark Williams himself, and in 1/8 gave way to the future finalist. This year it will play at least in the quarterfinals. For Ben Wullastone, it was also the third visit to the Dream Theater, but only one victory remained in his asset.

The rivals were unyielding and more than two parties could win. There was a lot of struggle and few series. The first session was 5: 3. The second passed on an equal footing and ended with a score of 9: 7. And at the beginning of the third Englishman caught up with the opponent – 9: 9, then 10:10. After that, the finish jerk made Jiahi, taking three frames in a row – 13:10.

Xi Jiaeui

It should be noted that there were few series in the match. Ben’s account has two Senchuri and two 60+ breaks. Si had only three fifty series, but in the 22nd Freime he finally made a « hundred », which came out somewhat historical. It became the first for the Chinese in this tournament, and in general, taking into account the qualifying rounds-226 at the current championship. It became a record number of Senchuri for the tournament and, of course, not the last year.

Sean Murphy (15) – Judd Trump (2) – 10:13

Sean Murphy started a match against Judda Trumps from the point of view. In the first party, he scored 75 points for the approach, and the second won with a series of 49 points – it is his first at the tournament (!) Frame, won by a break of less than 50. Judd leveled the score, but Sean made Senchuri and went forward again – 3: 2. However, Trump managed to adjust to the game offered by the opponent and won the first session 5: 3, taking three final parties.

A similar scenario was in the second session: a flat struggle, and three final frames were in favor of Judd, so the score was 10: 6. The 12th frame, by the way, was an anniversary, 1000 for Trump at World Championships. He won it in one series – 97: 0. And in the 15th party, Judd made his hundredth Senchuri in the season and will receive a bonus of 100 thousand pounds.

The third session began with two fifty series Judda: 12: 6, and everything in the match became clear. Trump relaxed, Sean was defeated, but still took four parties in a row and made the score more or less decent-12:10. Then Judd put a point – 13:10. It should be noted that the last 14 frames in this meeting were won with large series, 11 of which were larger than 70 points – a real holiday for series connoisseurs!

Ronnie O’Sallaw (5) – Mr. Junsyu (27) – 13: 4

Jubilee, 80th Victory of Ronnie O’Sllivana at the World Championships turned out to be quite casual. Mr. Junsyui won the last eye meeting, but here he could not oppose the English. Ronney continued to show some incredible shape. From 17 parties he won 13, drawing 12 series « 50+ », including two Senchuri!

A rather unusual moment arose in the seventh party. The gentleman had to perform a stroke on a colored ball when the bat was touched. The referee warned the player to voice the color of the sight ball. But whether the Chinese understand English badly, or for some reason Junsyu silently punched green. And, of course, I earned 7 penalties. In general, the advantage of O’Sllivan was undeniable: the first two sessions ended with the same score 6: 2. And the third came fast: Chinese scored 17 points, made a mistake – and Ronnie finished the match with a break in 95.

Ronnie O’Sallawan

We will remind, for O’Sllivana it is the 33rd in a row (!) Arrival to « Cruchliv », and he with such a game has a high chance of winning his eighth title here. Ronnie has reached the quarterfinals of the World Championships on the 23rd time-this is now a new record. The gentleman played for the third time in the tournament and this year he achieved his first victory. And two of the three defeats in Krusibli he suffered from Ronnie.

Luke Bresel (7) – Dean Junhui (10)

After Dean Junhii made a series of 141 points in the first party, it was unlikely that it could be expected in the first session. Because of the nine previous eye matches, Luke Bresel won only one. But now the Belgian reminded that two years ago it was not accidental to become the world champion.

He demonstrated a phenomenal game – not so much, which in his first meeting in the tournament, but no less effective. And the spectacular, what to say. Luke won 7 next frames, drawing four fifty series and two Senchuri and allowed the opponent to score only 15 points! At the same time he spent only 17.5 seconds on a blow – in the matches of the second stage at that time he was the fastest player.

And the second session Bresel began actively, winning four more parties. That is, he took 11 in a row (!) Frames in the game with the not weakest rival. In these parties, he designed 9 large series, including 2 Senchuri. Dean finally managed to create at least some visibility of the struggle, winning two more frames at the end of the session – 12: 4.

And the third session ended even faster than O’Sllivana with Junusya (they took place in parallel, at the next table). Luke made a 71 eye break, and with it the exit to the quarterfinals – 13: 4.

So, in the quarterfinals, they will play:

• Zhao Sintun (a) – Chris Waykelin (20)

• Ronnie O’Sallaw (5) – Xi Jiahi (13)

• John Giggins (3) – Mark Williams (6)

• Luke Bresel (7) – Judd Trump (2)

One of the features of the next round will be that in the quarter -finals, the trinity of O’Sallaw, Higgins and Williams made their way in synchronous. These are three players in 1975, and each of them is already a legend. It seems incredible, but for the first time they played at this stage in 1998! After that, the situation was repeated three times – in 1999, 2011 and 2022.

However, all matches promise to be interesting. Like the 1/8 finals duels, they will play up to 13 victories in three sessions. The first two will consist of eight parties, the third – how much will be required. 15-minute breaks will take place after the 4th, 12th and 20th frames.

The beginning of the morning sessions – at 12:00 in Kiev time, day – at 16:30, evening – at 21:00. Live broadcasts are scheduled for April 29 and 30 on the channels and services of « Euro Sports ».