On January 14, 2025, the Snooker Masters continued with all five members of the "80s Tigers" advancing to the quarter-finals without any dropouts. At the same time, Ding Junhui's second-round opponent was revealed as Judd Trump, who defeated Barry Hawkins 6-1 to compete against the Chinese star for a semi-final spot, setting the stage for another peak confrontation. The 35-year-old Trump is the cream of the crop among post-80s players, ranked No. 1 in the world. He has won 30 ranking titles and 5 major titles (1 World Championship, 2 UK Championships, 2 Masters). Although his major tournament results are not as impressive as those of Selby and Robertson, in terms of championship numbers, Trump is undoubtedly the top player of his peers. Moreover, he is currently at the peak of his career, winning titles every year. His opponent is the 45-year-old Hawkins, ranked No. 12 in the world, who has won four ranking titles in his career, with the best result in the three major events being runner-up. As a frequent semi-finalist, Hawkins' results are very stable; it's just that he always falls short at critical moments. Last year, Trump and Hawkins competed for the UK Championship title, with Trump winning the final 10-8. Looking at their playing styles, Hawkins is quite balanced without any obvious weaknesses. After the match began, both sides made mistakes in the first game, with no state and low long-range success rates. Trump took the lead several times and started with a score of 59-14. In the second game, Hawkins missed a shot, and…

In the recently concluded first round of the Snooker Masters, Ding Junhui narrowly defeated Williams with a slim margin of 6-5. This victory not only showcased his abilities in a critical moment but also bolstered his confidence for future important events. However, it is noteworthy that Ding mentioned a sense of "侥幸" (lucky) victory in his post-match interview, reflecting his psychological changes and deep contemplation of his own state during this high-pressure confrontation. During the crucial moments of the match, Ding found himself trailing 4-5, facing immense pressure and challenges. At that time, he did not overly consider winning or losing but instead focused on his technique and mindset. As he stated, he has been watching videos of his younger self playing, trying to recapture that feeling of fluidity and ease. This process of self-reflection is often overlooked by many athletes when facing tough times. Ding's approach undoubtedly provided him with psychological support, allowing him to remain calm under pressure. In the final stages of the game, Ding's performance was commendable yet filled with twists and turns. He made mistakes on several difficult red balls but managed to avoid giving his opponent any opportunities each time. This was not just a competition of skill but also a battle of psychology. Although Williams had the lead at one point, his few critical errors cost him the chance to secure the win. Ding's lucky moment came when he seized the opportunity during his opponent's mistake and successfully overtook. In the post-match interview, Ding admitted that there was still an element of luck…

The 2025 Snooker Masters has begun. The Masters is the second of the three major events this season and the only invitational event among them. The total prize money for the event is £1.015 million, equivalent to 9.12 million yuan in RMB, with the champion receiving £350,000, the runner-up £140,000, the semi-finalists £75,000, the quarter-finalists £40,000, the last 16 £25,000, and the highest break awarding £15,000. There is also a participation award of £25,000, equivalent to 230,000 yuan. Only the top 16 players in the world rankings are eligible to participate in the Masters. The participants this time are John Higgins, Mark Williams, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, Si Jiahui, Gary Wilson, Ali Carter, Barry Hawkins, Mark Allen, Kyren Wilson, Luca Brecel, and Chris Wakelin. The final will be played over a best-of-19 frames format, while the rest will be best-of-11 frames. Ronnie O'Sullivan withdrew from the Masters at the last minute, with Neil Robertson stepping in as a substitute to face Higgins in the opening match. Neil Robertson, ranked 20th, is an outstanding player from the 80s generation, having won 24 ranking titles and is the only non-British Isles player to complete the Grand Slam. His most recent victory was in the English Open this season against Wu Yize. Higgins, ranked 14th in the world, has won a total of 31 ranking titles in his career, achieving the double circle Grand Slam feat. The two have faced each other 31 times before, with Neil Robertson winning 16 and Higgins 15, making it…

On January 14, 2025, four of the top eight players have emerged in the Snooker Masters, coincidentally being four of the "Five Tigers" from the 80s: Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui, and Selby have advanced in order, with only Trump remaining. Selby won a big victory 6-1, eliminating last year's runner-up Carter. Born in 1983, Selby is the first person to win major tournaments among those born in the 80s, ranked 5th in the world, with a career record of 23 ranking tournament titles, including a total of 9 major tournament championships (World Championship 4 times, UK Championship 2 times, Masters 3 times). His last championship was at last year's British Open. Selby's playing style requires high personal concentration, and his results are not very stable due to aging, with average overall performance during this period. Carter, born in 1979, is ranked 11th in the world, with six ranking tournament victories in his career, many runners-up in the three major events. What stands out in the memory of fans is that Carter lost 7-10 to O'Sullivan in last year's Masters, ultimately finishing as the runner-up. Now, in the first round against Selby, although both are top players, there is a significant gap in personal achievements, and Carter was not favored by everyone for this match. After the start of the game, Selby made a single shot of 62 points in the first game, taking the lead with a score of 95-24. In the second game, both sides made mistakes, but Selby seized the opportunity to narrowly win 63-59. In the…

This morning, the second day of the Snooker Masters competition concluded. Upon waking up, all three legends from the '75 era were eliminated! Selby defeated Carter 6-1, setting two major records. Ding Junhui played a full 11 rounds, defeating Mark Williams 6-5 in a thrilling match, breaking through to the second round for the first time in the last four Masters tournaments. He may face world number one Trump in the quarter-finals. This Masters tournament has not been kind to the '75 trio. First, defending champion O'Sullivan withdrew on a whim. Then Higgins, who was leading 5-1 on the first day, suddenly lost his touch and was defeated by Robertson with a streak of five wins, ending his run at 5-6. Mark Williams had bad luck, facing Ding Junhui in the first round, against whom he had previously lost more than won. The two were evenly matched until the decisive round, where Ding Junhui secured victory with a single shot of 90 points, eliminating all three legends from the '75 era. Selby, a four-time world champion, has returned to peak form this season. He defeated Higgins in the final of the British Open to claim his 23rd ranking title, and in the previous event, he emerged from Group 4 of the Champions League to enter the winners' group. In the Masters, Selby faced his former opponent Carter and played brilliantly, scoring two century breaks and three 50+ shots, easily advancing with a score of 6-1 and setting two records: one being a five-match winning streak against the Captain, and the…

At 1 a.m. on January 14th, Beijing time, the 2025 Snooker Masters continued. On the second day of the first round, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui staged a major comeback, eliminating three-time world champion "Golden Left Hand" Mark Williams with a total score of 6-5. In the opening match, "Melbourne Machine" Neil Robertson also made a comeback with a 6-5 victory over four-time world champion "Wizard" John Higgins. The Snooker Masters is one of the top three snooker events and is highly regarded by all players. Last season, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui achieved a maximum break of 147 points in the competition but unfortunately lost to his old rival, seven-time world champion "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan, missing out on the chance to compete for the final championship. After defeating Ding Junhui, O'Sullivan went on to win the championship after reaching the final. Unfortunately, O'Sullivan's form has been very poor this season, suffering consecutive losses and multiple withdrawals, even pulling out of this year's Masters. After O'Sullivan's withdrawal, Robertson, the first Grand Slam winner from the 80s, stepped in to participate and made a comeback against Higgins with a 6-5 victory. On the second day of the first round, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui made a strong appearance, facing off against three-time world champion "Golden Left Hand" Williams. For Ding Junhui, who has already won the National Championship this season, coming to one of the top three events, the Masters, he hopes to launch an assault on his second championship of the season. The specific matchups for the second day of…

Ding Junhui's Championship Bid + $3.12 Million, Scores 147-0 Yet Loses, Returns to Masters: Eliminates "Golden Left Hand" 6-5 At 1:14 am Beijing time on January 14th, the 2025 Snooker Masters continued. On the second day of the first round, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui staged a great comeback, defeating three-time World Champion "Golden Left Hand" Mark Williams with a total score of 6-5. Last season's Masters, Ding Junhui scored a single maximum of 147 points but lost to "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan. The Snooker Masters is one of the top three snooker events and is highly regarded by all players. Last season, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui scored a single maximum of 147 points in the competition, but unfortunately, he still lost to his old rival, the seven-time World Champion "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan, which was very regrettable. Compared to facing "Rocket" O'Sullivan, one of the "Three Musketeers," where every confrontation between the two is considered to have a very small chance of victory before the match even begins, facing another member of the "Three Musketeers," "Golden Left Hand" Williams, Director Ding seems unafraid. Ding Junhui last faced Mark Williams at the UK Championship, one of the top three snooker events in 2023. In the quarter-finals at that time, after the ninth game, Ding Junhui once trailed 4-5 behind his opponent and was given match point. In desperate circumstances, Ding Junhui launched a desperate counterattack, winning two consecutive games under very difficult conditions, reversing and eliminating this three-time World Champion with a total score of 6-5. Among them, in the decisive…

Two Match Points, 6-1 + 6-3: Four Players Have Locked in the Quarterfinals, World Championship 4-Crown King Wins Big, Chinese Veteran Shows Greatness Beijing time on January 14th at midnight, another focus match of the first round of the 2025 Snooker Masters ended, with four-time world champion Mark Selby winning 6-1 and advancing. Including Shaun Murphy's 6-3 victory over Gary Wilson, as well as the two match points from Ding Junhui and Neil Robertson, a total of four players have now secured their spots in the quarterfinals: Selby, Murphy, Ding Junhui, and Robertson.‌ Selby, a four-time world champion and the No. 4 seed for the tournament, faced "Captain" Carter, who is seeded 12th. Although they have had mixed results in previous encounters, Selby was in scorching form in this match. In the first half, Selby made a century break (108) and two 50+ breaks (62, 93), winning four consecutive frames to lead 4-0! After the intermission, Carter managed to pull one frame back, but Selby continued his dominance with breaks of 126 and 53 to win two more frames and easily defeat Carter 6-1, advancing smoothly to the quarterfinals.‌ Chinese veteran Ding Junhui exploded with brilliance, facing "Golden Left Hand" Mark Williams. Ding Junhui withstood the pressure, as the two players drew five times. In the decisive frame, Ding Junhui capitalized on Williams' mistake and won with a single stroke, securing a 6-5 victory! Throughout the match, Ding Junhui made six 50+ breaks, while Williams made one century break and two 50+ breaks.‌ Neil Robertson, who replaced O'Sullivan in the…

On January 13th, as the hands of the clock moved steadily in Beijing time, the second day of the first round of the Snooker Masters continued in an orderly fashion. In this match, Ding Junhui, known as the "Asian No. 1," faced off against Mark Williams, who is affectionately known as the "most accurate man in the world." This match was full of twists and turns, with both sides refusing to give ground, making each game a nail-biter. Ding Junhui, relying on his solid skills and tenacious fighting spirit, eventually won a thrilling victory over Mark Williams with a score of 6-5, securing his place in the quarter-finals without any major hiccups. It's worth noting that this victory holds significant meaning for Ding Junhui, as he had previously experienced the embarrassment of being eliminated in the first round in the 2020, 2021, and 2024 Masters tournaments. This successful advancement not only ended this string of misfortunes but also elicited cheers from many fans. After Ding Junhui's successful advancement, three spots in the quarter-finals of the Snooker Masters have been determined, with these three players being Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, and Ding Junhui. The Snooker Masters held this time is an invitational event. It's noteworthy that this tournament has a unique aspect: although the prize money is quite substantial, it does not award points. It only extends invitations to the top sixteen ranked players in the world, making it akin to a "red envelope competition" specifically prepared for these top sixteen players. Any player who secures a spot in the competition…

On January 12th, the 2025 Snooker Masters will officially kick off in London, an event that has already generated great anticipation among fans even before its commencement. Leading the charge for China are three players - Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, and Si Jiahui - who will participate in this top-tier snooker extravaganza. The Masters is one of the three major events in the snooker world, ranking alongside the UK Championship and the World Championship, garnering significant attention with each edition. For Ding Junhui, the significance of this tournament is self-evident, as his name is closely intertwined with the history of snooker. This year's Masters lineup can be described as luxurious. In addition to reigning champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and world champion Kyren Wilson, top-ranked players like Trump, Selby, Allen, and Murphy will also compete. While most fans' attention is focused on the clashes between these top players, Chinese fans are equally eager to see how Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, and Si Jiahui perform. Ding Junhui faces Williams in the first round, a match not to be missed. Williams, known as the "Golden Left Hand," has left an indelible mark on snooker history with his classic techniques and tactics. Despite some fluctuations in form in recent years, Ding Junhui still possesses the potential to defeat any opponent. He has proven his abilities multiple times in major tournaments such as the UK Championship and the World Championship. A strong performance in the Masters would not only acknowledge his past efforts but also significantly propel the future of Chinese snooker. In the same section…