Weekly Round-up in Snooker

There has been a lot of action to follow this week in snooker with a lot of the different tours continuing with their campaigns.

Trump’s Triumph

Enough has been said already about Judd Trump’s superb victory in the International Championship in Daqing.

The world champion hammered Shaun Murphy in Sunday’s title decider, just a few days after guaranteeing his return to the number one spot in the world rankings.

Trump is looking every bit the best player in the world and everyone is wondering whether or not this will be a season of dominance for the 29 year-old.

China Championship Qualifying Begins

Thursday represented a busy day for this week in snooker with a lot of various action taking place in Sheffield and Barnsley.

First to the latter, where the qualifying action for the China Championship got under way at the Metrodome.

Like the International Championship, the China Championship has become one of the richest events on the calendar and one not to be missed.

The qualifiers will run until Sunday but a number of competitors have already managed to safeguard their progress through to the main draw.

Marks Williams and Allen secured respective 5-1 successes over Andy Lee and Eden Sharav while recent World Championship semi-finalist David Gilbert beat Peter Lines 5-2.

Former ranking event champions Ryan Day, Martin Gould, Joe Perry, and Anthony Hamilton all progressed with hard-fought victories – three of them in deciders.

Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, winner of last season’s Shoot Out, thrashed Soheil Vahedi 5-0 and there were easy routes through as well for Mark King, Kurt Maflin, and Luo Honghao.

Jimmy White’s fans faced agony again as the “Whirlwind” squandered a 4-2 lead in defeat to Hossein Vafaei but the ten times ranking event winner will have an opportunity for silverware in another event taking place this weekend.

Click here to view the China Championship draw (Times: CET)

World Seniors Championship

White is among the favourites for glory as the 2019 World Seniors Championship began at the Crucible Theatre on Thursday.

With a top prize of £25,000, this year’s edition is the biggest ever and features 20 players representing 13 different nations.

Round one and a couple of matches of the second round have already been completed as the action started in Sheffield yesterday.

James Wattana, undoubtedly a big threat in this tournament, scored a high break of 113 as he powered through to the quarter-finals with whitewash victories over Mohammed Abdel Kader and World Seniors Masters champion Joe Johnson.

China’s Chen Gang reached the same stage with closer 3-1 triumphs over Tony Knowles and Cliff Thorburn respectively.

Tony Drago edged Dene O’Kane 3-2 in a genuine blast from the past battle, while Darren Morgan also advanced with an easy defeat of Willie Thorne.

White, Stephen Hendry, John Parrott, and defending champion Aaron Canavan are among those entering the fray on Friday.

Click here to view the World Seniors Championship draw (Times: CET)

What’s Coming Up?

This week in snooker doesn’t let up as we can look forward to the conclusion of both the China Championship qualifiers and the World Seniors Championship this weekend.

The inaugural Women’s Tour Championship will take place at the Crucible on Saturday as well, with world champion Reanne Evans, Ng On Yee, Nutcharut Wongharuthai, and Rebecca Kenna participating.