Recently, the quarter-finals of the Snooker Riyadh Championship have officially concluded, with the final four being revealed: O'Sullivan, Mark Allen, Brecel, and Mark Williams all advancing to the semi-finals!
Event Background: Top-tier Event, Heavyweight Benefits Sparking Enthusiasm
The Riyadh Championship, as an important stop on the WST World Snooker Tour, only invites the top 10 ranked players in the world to participate, along with two wildcard players, for a total of 12 competitors vying for the crown with a total prize pool of £785,000.
The champion will enjoy a £250,000 prize, while first-round losers will still receive a guaranteed reward of £5,000. The most eye-catching aspect of this event is undoubtedly the 167 welfare award - any player who completes a 147 maximum break and then hits the specially designated golden ball set up by the organizer can receive an additional $1 million in prize money!
O'Sullivan 4-0 Ding Junhui: Rocket's Dominance Sweeps China's No. 1
Ding Junhui performed outstandingly in this event, sweeping past wildcard player Seg in the first round with a 4-0 victory, and then sweeping world champion Shaun Murphy with two century breaks in the 10 into 8 matches. However, he once again faced "Rocket" O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals, which was their 35th encounter.
At the start of the match, O'Sullivan quickly entered his rhythm, taking the lead with a single shot of 85 points in the first game. In the second game, despite Ding Junhui's multiple attempts to counterattack, his poor form led to frequent mistakes, and O'Sullivan steadily played to win another game with a score of 67-49.
Subsequently, the rocket made single shots of 129 and 113 points, completing a four-game winning streak, sweeping Ding Junhui 4-0 and easily advancing to the semi-finals.
Mark Allen 4-2 Selby: A Clash of Stability and Precision
In the first game, Selby made a single shot of 88 points to take the lead. Allen then adjusted his state and tied the game with multiple shots totaling 69-21. The third game saw the beginning of a fierce battle, with Selby capitalizing on a mistake to make a single shot of 68 points and regain the lead after the mistake.
From the fourth game onwards, Mark Allen began to take control of the match, making single shots of 76 and 75 points to win three consecutive games, ultimately reversing Selby's lead to advance to the semi-finals with a 4-2 victory.
Brecel 4-3 Kyren Wilson: An Intense Showdown in the Deciding Game
Both Brecel and Kyren Wilson are outstanding snooker players from the 90s generation. Wilson started strong, making a single shot of 60 points to win two consecutive games. Brecel quickly retaliated, winning three straight games to overtake the score with single shots of 83 and 61 points.
In the sixth game, Wilson held on under pressure, making a single shot of 51 points to drag the match into a deciding game. Brecel showcased the stable mentality of a world championship winner in the deciding game, making multiple shots to secure victory with a single shot of 58 points, defeating Wilson 4-3 to successfully advance to the top four.
Mark Williams 4-3 Trump: A Classic Left-Handed Clash
Mark Williams and Trump, both left-handed players known for their accuracy, faced off in an ultimate battle. Williams started with a bang, making a single shot of 101 points. Trump quickly responded, overtaking the score with consecutive wins of single shots of 64 and 66 points. In the fourth game, Williams leveled the score again with a single shot of 64 points.
In the subsequent fifth game, Trump made a single shot of 107 points to take the match point first. Williams demonstrated his superb mental fortitude, making a single shot of 86 points in the sixth game to drag the match into a deciding game.
In the deciding game, Williams relied on a steady single shot of 68 points to ultimately defeat Trump 76-34, advancing to the top four with a total score of 4-3.
Semi-Final Matchups: A Clash of New and Old, Sparks Fly
With the conclusion of the quarter-finals, the top four have been fully revealed.
- O'Sullivan vs. Mark Allen
- Brecel vs. Mark Williams
Conclusion: The Feast Continues
This event has allowed snooker fans around the world to experience the unique charm of a top-tier invitational event! Who will ultimately reach the summit in the upcoming semi-finals and finals? We are very much looking forward to it!
