The 2019 World Open is reaching the business end in Yushan but let’s take a recap on everything snooker over the last seven days.
World Open
The focus this week has obviously revolved around the 2019 World Open, which is the fifth ranking event on the 2019/20 calendar.
Four players remain in contention in Yushan, including reigning world champion and world number one Judd Trump.
The Englishman, who is bidding for a second title this term following his success in the China Championship, will take on John Higgins in a repeat of their World Championship final showdown from May.
The other semi-final clash will see Kyren Wilson face Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
Un-Nooh is on a hot streak of form at present after etching his name onto the Haining Open trophy last weekend.
Jimmy White Ricoh Bound
Given that all four semi-finalists in the 2019 World Open have already guaranteed their spots in this year’s Champion of Champions, Jimmy White is now certain to be invited as the 16th competitor in the field.
It had been announced following his World Seniors Championship victory in August that the event would be added to the criteria for qualification in Coventry.
After Ronnie O’Sullivan claimed the Shanghai Masters crown, White was the next in line to seal his berth.
Shaun Murphy’s triumph in the International Championship and Mark Selby’s win in the English Open – two players who hadn’t previously qualified – suddenly put the 57 year-old’s place in doubt.
But the “Wind” will now definitely be blowing through the West Midlands when the action gets under way next week.
His opponent? Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Click here to view the draw (Times: CET)
Judge Rules the UK
It hasn’t been all good news for Jimmy White over the course of the last week or so, though.
The Londoner was bidding for a record sixth World Seniors Tour crown when he was participating in the UK Seniors Championship in Hull.
White reached the final last Friday evening but came up short in an entertaining and often high-quality battle with Michael Judge.
The Irishman compiled a tournament-high break of 114 in the final en route to a 4-2 triumph.
It was a successful weekend all-round for the Judge clan, with Michael’s sister Paula also getting in on the fun by winning the latest Republic of Ireland Ladies Snooker Association ranking event.
Death of Hong Kong Teen
Finally, there was a sad story on Wednesday as it was revealed that a promising teenager from Hong Kong had died while practicing at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.
Poon Ching-chiu, just 18 years old, passed out during a practice session and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The teenager was third in the Hong Kong Under-21 Championship earlier this year.
What’s Coming?
Immediate attention will remain on the climax to the 2019 World Open, with a top prize of £150,000 at stake.
Then, 16 proven winners from the last twelve months will compete against each other in the Champion of Champions from Monday.
The next event on the Challenge Tour is also this weekend at the Castle Snooker and Sports Bar in Brighton.
