English Open LIVE
Trump 1-2 Fan (4-0)
Fan misses a long red into the green pocket and looks to have left nothing easy on but Trump pulls out a delightful long red into the yellow bag and is up and running.
Trump 1-2 Fan (0-0)
We’re underway here in the fourth frame. Fan will be desperate to make this early momentum count and not allow Trump to get going.
On table two
Over on table two, Ishpreet Chadha has blown a 3-0 against He Guoqiang with the players still going in their decider.
Selby gives thoughts on win
‘Got away with one’ – Selby admits ‘fortunate’ escape against ‘great talent’ Si
Trump 1-2 Fan
The Chinese youngster takes this third frame to restore his lead with a break of 52. Some really tidy stuff from Fan early on, perhaps giving Trump something to be concerned about.
Trump 1-1 Fan (13-72)
Some nice touches in and around the black see Fan cross the finishing line in this frame with snookers now required for Trump.
Trump 1-1 Fan (13-41)
Fan takes on an acute pot into the right centre and it’s so close to dropping but wobbles out. Trump follows this up with a miss of his own into the same pocket. Fan seizes on this with a great long plant into the right corner pocket. Can he make this visit count?
Trump 1-1 Fan (13-34)
Despite having a touching ball, Fan decides to put the black safe and Trump punishes the shot choice with a great strike at speed into the left middle pocket.
Moments later, a canon on the pink goes wrong as the cue ball sticks to it. Trump is in quite an awkward position now with a red in the top half of the table preventing an easy safety shot into baulk. He instead looks to go off two cushions and hit the black but gives away the foul.
Fan doesn’t have it put back and again finds a great pot into the right centre. An unfortunate kiss on the blue sees the cue ball stray to the right cushion. He keeps it going with a good pot on the yellow and is soon in a good position.
Trump 1-1 Fan (4-16)
Judd Trump gets things underway in this third frame. An early foul hands the Englishman four points but does no damage.
A sloppy safety shot from Trump hands Fan a chance to get his hand on the table and he dispatches a long red with a wonderful strike. It looks like he’ll have to go into the reds early on here, will he have more luck this time? The answer is no. The white sticks to the pack with the reds staying close together. End of break.
On table two
Over on table two, Ishpreet Chadha has blown a 3-0 against He Guoqiang with the Chinese player taking things into a decider.
Trump 1-1 Fan
After being put under some considerable pressure there, Trump does level proceedings.
Trump 0-1 Fan (60-28)
A missed pot from Trump allows Fan to take the upper hand in the safety exchange once again. The Englishman pushes the red over the right corner pocket but Fan misses it as he looks to drill it in and get position on the colour. Trump is able to take the red and surely this second frame.
Trump 0-1 Fan (59-28)
Fan plays a wonderful safety shot to get Trump snookered and it pays off as he is presented a pot into the left middle. He looks to push the pink into play as he pots the red and in doing so has pushed the brown safe.
He lands just on the low side of the black meaning he won’t be able to get position on the last red but he is able to get Trump snookered once again, behind the black this time. A good contact from Trump lands a snooker of his own.
Trump 0-1 Fan (59-20)
Trump produces another two tremendous long reds, landing on the black on the second after putting the brown safe following the first. He misses the crucial red to seal the frame though and Fan is not out of it just yet.
A great opening red into the middle gets the 23-year-old up and running. He backs it up with a phenomenal red down the right cushion. He plays safe forcing Trump to disturb the final two reds on the bottom cushion but the Englishman responds with a wonderful thin snick as he pushes the pink safe.
Trump 0-1 Fan (50-11)
With just one more loose red, Fan will need to go into the reds off his next colour. He lands a little low on the black and fails to get a good split as he nearly plants a red into the green pocket. He lands on nothing and it’s a safety shot next for the youngster.
It has been a theme at this tournament of players struggling to split the pack with many blaming the warm and humid conditions. Fan is presented a chance into the left centre and after a great pot he is incredibly unlucky to canon into the green and knock it into its pocket.
Trump 0-1 Fan (46-1)
After four reds and four blacks Trump is forced to play for the blue. That will relieve Fan who made a maximum in qualifying. But more importantly, Trump is looking sharp here.
He does break down on 46 though with a failed cross-double and he has left the red on for Fan.
Trump 0-1 Fan (8-0)
Trump thunders in a long red following Fan’s break to start this second frame. What a response from the world number one who already finds himself in a great position to make a contribution.
Selby progresses in decider
On table two
Over on table two, Ishpreet Chadha is 3-1 up against He Guoqiang. He needs just needs one more frame to progress to the quarter-finals.
Trump 0-1 Fan
An easy pink takes Fan to snookers required before he goes on to make a break of 74 to take this opening frame in convincing fashion. A great start for the world number 54.
Trump 0-0 Fan (0-49)
This is a great chance now for Fan to get a frame on the board early on. After needing to go in and out of baulk he is now in a good position and has four reds in play that will take him over the winning line without needing the two tied up reds on the bottom cushion.
Trump 0-0 Fan (0-27)
The frame has already become a cagey one with two reds in baulk and containing safety shots being played in and around the bottom cushion.
A mistake from Fan though as he leaves one of the reds on for Trump into the green pocket. It’s a surprise as the Englishman misses it before nearly fluking it in the same pocket as the red collided with the white. It’s an easy starter for Fan.
Trump 0-0 Fan (0-21)
Fan lands high on the blue to go into the pack. He plays it well but he appears to have been unfortunate to not land on a red. He takes on an audacious cut into the right corner pocket and misses but does no damage.
Trump 0-0 Fan (0-10)
Judd Trump kicks off this next match against Fan Zhengyi who flukes a red on his opening shot. An immediate chance for the Chinese player!
Lucky moment in defeat for Si
‘That’s just not right!’ – Si flukes incredible plant from tricky snooker
Today’s last 16 action
Mark Selby 4-3 Si JiahuiWu Yize 4-2 Ben WoollastonIshpreet Chadha 3-0 He GuoqiangJudd Trump v Zhengyi Fan (Del)Mark Allen v John HigginsNeil Robertson v Ross MuirBarry Hawkins v Kyren WilsonChris Wakelin v Junxu PangHow to watch
Stream the English Open live on Eurosport and discovery+
Up next
Our coverage now turns to world number one Judd Trump, who is looking to book his place in the quarter-finals as he takes on Fan Zhengyi of China. The defending champion eased past Matthew Selt with a clinical 4-1 win in the second round after being taken to a decider by China’s Hongyu Liu in his first tie.
The Englishman is no stranger to winning deciding frames as of late, having won three of them during his five matches throughout his triumph at the Saudi Arabia Masters at the start of the month. This title, which secured the 35-year-old £500,000, was his second of the season after winning the Shanghai Masters in July and has cemented his status as the man to beat this campaign.
Fan has enjoyed a relatively comfortable route to the last 16 having beaten Ryan Day 4-1 in the opening round before clinching a 4-2 victory over Oliver Lines in round two. The Chinese youngster has gained momentum in this tournament with the 4-2 win over Liam Pullen in qualifying, which included the first maximum break of his career, meaning it is now three on the spin for the 23-year-old.
The pair last met in the round-of-32 of the 2024 World Open where Trump ran out 5-3 winner, before going on to win the tournament.
Mark Selby on the challenging conditions
A lot of players have spoken on the difficulty of the conditions with the warmer temperatures potentially making the tables heavier to play on.
After his win, Mark Selby said: “The conditions were tough more than anything else, anything over distance where you’ve got to try and float it or put a stroke on it, everything was like a hit.
“I don’t feel like I play like that most of the time so it was tough you know. It’s the same for everyone but I know a lot of people having been saying about it.”
On table two
Over on table two, Ishpreet Chadha has raced into a 3-0 lead against He Guoqiang and now just needs one more frame to progress to the quarter-finals.
Selby 4-3 Si
Mark Selby held off a comeback from Si Jiahui to win 4-3 and progress to the quarter-finals off the English Open.
After losing the opening frame, the 42-year-old established a 3-1 lead before the Chinese youngster clawed things back to force the decider.
Both players had their chances in the final frame but after a cagey encounter, it’s the Jester who progresses to face either Ishpreet Chadha or He Guoqiang in the last eight.
Selby 3-3 Si (71-30)
Selby plays a nice canon to free up two reds close to the top cushion and he is on the brink of victory now. One more red and a pink and Si now needs snookers.
Selby 3-3 Si (41-30)
Si places a loose safety off the top cushion allowing Selby to take a red into the right middle. He gets a helpful kiss on the yellow and now the game is at the mercy of the Englishman.
Selby 3-3 Si (38-30)
Si lands low on the blue though forcing him into taking a mid-distance red, which you would expect him to make still, but he misses it catching the red on the thick side.
A huge chance squandered for the Chinese player. Selby can pot a red but he loses the cue ball into baulk.
Selby 3-3 Si (37-9)
Si knocks a red near the left corner pocket and Selby plays a wonderful shot to land on the black. He doesn’t quite get the cue ball under control though and with it tight under the right cushion he misses a red into the left middle pocket catching the far jaw.
A chance now for Si who is in a great position to make a sizeable contribution.
Selby 3-3 Si (22-0)
Si looks to catch the red thin on his safety shot but misses it all together. Selby has it re-spotted and the youngster catches it far too thick on the second attempt.
Selby misses the red from mid-range though as it nearly flukes into the opposite corner pocket. The red runs slightly up the left cushion meaning Si somewhat surprisingly turns down the pot but he plays a telling safety.
Selby 3-3 Si (18-0)
It is Selby who gets the first chance of this decider as he floats an excellent red in from range. He now has an angle on the black to go into the reds. He looks to do so but they don’t budge a great deal as the cue ball is lost to the side cushion.
He takes on a tricky red to the right middle and hits the back of the pocket but he has slightly lost the cue ball which has finished on the baulk line. The Englishman pots the green to keep the break going but another good pot is required down into the yellow pocket. It was one too many for Selby as the red rattles the jaws. He leaves the red on into the left middle for Si but it’s an acute angle and he catches the near jaw. A tense start!
Selby 3-3 Si (6-0)
After the pair shake hands, Mark Selby breaks off for this final frame decider. Si gifts him an early six point lead as he hits the pink when looking to roll up onto the pack.
On table two
The second match of the afternoon is underway on table two and Ishpreet Chadha has taken the opening frame against He Guoqiang. A reminder that Judd Trump against Fan Zhengyi is on the way after the conclusion of this contest on table one.
Crucial frame early on
‘What a frame this is’ – Si and Selby involved in tense black-ball decider
Selby 3-3 Si
The Chinese youngster picks off the final three reds before taking all the colours up to the black and we are heading for a decider in this marathon contest! Si now has all the momentum but you would be a fool to bet against Selby in this kind of scenario.
Selby 3-2 Si (29-48)
An outrageous piece of luck from Selby as he plays a safety from the top cushion into baulk and narrowly avoids going in off while angling Si behind the jaw of the pocket.
He does well to make a good contact but he has left a chance for Selby. He misses it though into the green pocket and has left Si an easy starter. Selby flings his extension under the table in frustration. He was cautious of a red beneath him which may have put him off the pot.
Selby 3-2 Si (29-40)
After a lengthy safety exchange, it’s the Englishman who comes out on top, potting a long red into the left corner pocket before rolling the youngster up in behind the green. Advantage Selby.
Si does well though to come off two cushions to tuck up in behind a red on the top cushion.
Selby 3-2 Si (28-36)
With all the reds nicely positioned, Selby is definitely favourite for this frame now. He plays an awful shot though on the black that has seen him land in among the reds without a pot. End of break. Selby will be furious with that positional error.
Selby 3-2 Si (12-36)
Si plays a safety shot that sees a red go over the left corner and it’s Selby’s chance now in this frame. He takes a green really well while severely hampered and this is a great opportunity now for Selby to see off this match.
Selby 3-2 Si (0-36)
It all becomes slightly hard work though as Si loses the cue ball to the right cushion after a pink before needing to play down for green. A superb shot into the left centre pocket with position now on the black gets things back on track.
He again loses position though as he goes too far for the blue. He looks to force the pink, which was on the brown spot, but misses the pot and it’s end of break. The only silver lining was that he missed the pink by enough to see the cue ball run past position for Selby.
Selby 3-2 Si (0-16)
Selby misses from range and after it looked initially like there wasn’t a great deal of damage done with the cue ball on the top cushion, Si plays a fantastic red into the left centre pocket. A wonderful pot! After a good recovery shot on the second black this is a great chance now for the 22-year-old with the reds spread nicely.
Selby 3-2 Si (0-0)
The first chance falls to the Englishman who catches the near jaw with a long red into the left corner pocket. Selby’s long game has not been quite up to standard this afternoon.
Moments later Si has Selby snookered in behind the brown but the 41-year-old does well to escape off two cushions.
Selby 3-2 Si (0-0)
Si gets this sixth frame underway. Can he force a decider now after it looking like the match was heading Selby’s way?
On table two
In the other match taking place in this early-afternoon slot, Wu Yize has beaten Ben Woollaston 4-2. He will face either Judd Trump or Fan Zhengyi in the quarter-finals.
Selby 3-2 Si
Another nice canon from the blue frees up the three remaining reds completely now and Si is able to seal this fifth frame. There is definitely the feeling of a swing of momentum in favour of the 22-year-old after this one.
Selby 3-1 Si (17-54)
Selby catches a safety shot slightly too thick and is somewhat unlucky to see the red he played land right over the left centre pocket.
Some more run of the ball for Si as he leaves position on a colour to luck and has a nice canon to land on the brown. A couple of shots later and he plays a nice blue to clatter into the reds. He manages to free up one to take into the left centre but there is work still to do here for the youngster to take this frame.
Selby 3-1 Si (17-42)
This is by no means any easy chance with most of the reds now gathered on the top cushion. He lands just low on the black meaning he is unable to go easily into them. A poor positional shot as he looked to force a potting angle means it is end of break.
Selby 3-1 Si (17-10)
Selby misses a black into the left centre pocket though and it’s a chance all of a sudden for Si – can he capitalise on it?
Selby 3-1 Si (17-2)
Si looks to play a thin glancing safety shot but fails to make any contact and the cue ball runs back down the table leaving Selby a shot at a red over the left corner pocket. And after 25 minutes there is finally a scoring chance for one of the players.
You feel Si has really let Selby dictate the pace and style of this match, with the Chinese youngster naturally a much faster player than what we’re seeing today.
Selby 3-1 Si (8-2)
There’s a really nice target now with the brown, green and yellow all towards the left hand side of the baulk area. Selby hits the jackpot as he sees the white nestle behind the brown.
Si hits the most outrageous fluked plant to escape though. Rotten luck for Selby who should have been rewarded with an easy starter. No colour available for Si though so the safety battle resumes.
Selby 3-1 Si (8-1)
Selby fails to bring the cue ball back to baulk and leaves a half-chance for Si. The red he is eyeing up is right next to the pink though, making him unsure if the potting angle is on.
He turns it down and gets a delightful kiss off the yellow on the way back baulk that sees the cue ball roll up behind the brown.
Selby 3-1 Si (8-1)
Selby looks to get Si in behind the brown that is close to the baulk cushion. While he goes close, he leaves a pot on – a horribly straight pot having said that with the cue ball tight to the baulk cushion.
Si makes the pot and sees the cue ball flirt with the same left corner pocket but it stays out. No pot on though and he plays safe, hitting the black towards baulk as he targets that brown ball close to the baulk cushion.
Selby 3-1 Si (8-0)
It’s Si’s turn to play a couple of telling safety shots. Selby plays an excellent thin nick off a red to deal with them both. After an impressive exchange from both players it is the youngster who falters first catching his shot to thick and leaving the cue ball close to the blue spot.
Selby continues to turn the screw though and turns down the pot to play the safety shot once again.
Selby 3-1 Si (8-0)
Selby soon has Si in a lot of bother tucked up on the baulk cushion. He goes for the two-cushion glancing escape first time round but misses.
After a long break as the referee replaces the balls, Si opts for a roll-up down the other side of the table onto a red on the top cushion but misses again and is now warned if he misses again he will lose the frame and match as he is not snookered.
He consequently goes for a different shot again playing off a red on the right cushion and it’s a good result all things considered.
Selby 3-1 Si (0-0)
Si takes on a long red and misses it by far, he looked formidable from range earlier in the match but the mistakes have started creeping in, in all aspects of his game.
Having said that, he produces a tidy safety shot to get Selby tucked in behind the yellow. It creates a chance for Si to get his hand on the table but he misses from range once again.
Selby 3-1 Si (0-0)
Selby kicks off the fifth and what he hopes will be the final frame.
On table two
In the other match taking place, Wu Yize has had his advantage over Ben Woollaston reduced to one and now leads 2-1.
Selby 3-1 Si
Selby’s shot appears to have created a plant but with the cue ball so close to the reds, it’s hard to see how Si would play the plant without playing a push shot. He still goes for it and misses, having potentially adjusted too much to avoid the foul. Selby pots the next red before playing safe and forcing Si to concede. Just one more pot needed for the Jester to reach the quarter-finals.
Selby 2-1 Si (64-0)
With 67 left on and a lead of 64, Selby appears to not have a pot on with one red tight to the right cushion and the other four in a tight cluster. He plays safe but leaves Si a chance to knock the red off the right cushion. Si does so while playing a fabulous shot to tuck Selby in behind the green close to the baulk cushion. Selby plays it well though to nudge the bottom of the cluster.
Selby 2-1 Si (37-0)
Si goes close with a plant but does no damage as he is able to swing the cue ball back into baulk. A really good safety from Selby leaves Si tight on the baulk cushion and he spends a while deliberating over the shot before leaving Selby a pot into the left corner.
It’s a really nice connection from the Englishman who does well to swing the cue ball round to land on the black. A great chance now for this fourth frame.
Selby 2-1 Si (29-0)
Another mistake from Si leaves Selby a straightforward red into the left centre pocket to get up and running. The 41-year-old gets to 27 before needing to split the pack and while he finds the bunch from the yellow it is not with enough pace to split them effectively. End of break at 29.
Selby 2-1 Si (0-0)
Si gets the fourth frame underway here and it’s a really important one for him to stop Selby form getting away from him. You still feel the Englishman is yet to get properly going despite taking the lead.
On table two
In the other match taking place, Wu Yize continues to lead Ben Woollaston 2-0.
Selby 2-1 Si
Si misses the second red into the green pocket though and leaves a pot on for Selby down the top cushion which he makes to take this third frame.
Selby 1-1 Si (60-9)
With 59 the lead and 59 left on, Selby leaves himself high on the black and catches the near jaw. A lifeline for Si who takes the first red well. The blue and a red are tight to cushions though giving Selby a bit of insurance here.
Selby 1-1 Si (52-1)
As Selby hits 40, he is forced to play down for the green before needing to disturb the cluster of six reds near the pink spot. He plays it excellently off the right cushion and is now in a great position to take this third frame.
Selby 1-1 Si (16-1)
A red on the left cushion causes Si problems on his safety shot but Selby is unable to punish the mistake as he misses a pot into the yellow pocket. A wayward long pot attempt from Si though allows the Englishman straight back in and he is immediately in a great position with a number of loose reds and the black free into both corner pockets. A break of 16 equals his highest of the day so far. You expect him to make a fair few more here though.
Selby 1-1 Si (0-1)
An outrageous fluke from Si as he cross trebles a red off the jaw off the left centre pocket into the right centre allows him to tuck Selby in behind the brown. It’s a good escape though from the Jester as is he is able to roll into the pack.
Selby 1-1 Si (0-0)
Selby kicks things off in this third frame. You feel the finale of that frame could be a turning point for both players.
On table two
In the other match taking place, Wu Yize has taken a two frame lead over Ben Woollaston.
Selby 1-1 Si
Si knocks the black close to the middle pocket but it travels just far enough to make it awkward for Selby. You still expect him to pot it but it just stays out. Huge drama at the end of this second frame.
Si gambles on whether to take the tricky pot on into the right corner pocket. He does take it on but misses it and leaves it on into the same pocket for Selby to gobble up and clinch this second frame after 40 minutes. A real topsy turvy frame that Si will be kicking himself for not winning.
Selby 0-1 Si (62-58)
With the brown still down the table it goes wrong for Selby as he lands close to it but without a pot. A poor safety shot from Si moments later brings the pink into play and offers a chance for Selby on the brown.
He takes brown and blue but needs a deep screw from the pink into the green pocket to get down to the black. He makes the pot but nudges the black onto the top cushion. We have ourselves a black-ball game.
Selby 0-1 Si (44-58)
Another poor safety from Selby in uncharacteristic fashion presents Si with a red into the yellow pocket that he emphatically dispatches. From inches away from the black though, Si somehow fails to roll the cue ball up behind it to snooker Selby. He looks baffled himself. A lifeline for the Englishman who should have been in real trouble there. Another disastrous shot from the Chinese player though and he goes in off unforgivably into the left corner pocket. A gift for Selby.
Selby 0-1 Si (32-57)
Selby is presented a mid to long red into the green pocket but it doesn’t threaten. He is yet to get going so far. Moments later he has another chance into the right corner pocket and goes much closer this time but misses once again. He gets away with it though.
Selby 0-1 Si (32-57)
Selby catches his safety far too thick sending the red down the table with the cue ball but Si misses it into the right centre – the first real mistake by the Chinese player this afternoon. Selby looks to disturb the remaining two reds off the blue and while he canons into them, he is not on either.
Once again though he nudges the red over the right pocket. He looks to have got cover from the green but another surprisingly loose safety shot from the Jester. Si goes for the pot still with a lot of swerve and while he misses it he doesn’t leave a pot on.
Selby 0-1 Si (25-57)
After picking off the three loose reds, Si is forced to contend with the cluster close to the left cushion and takes the first down the cushion with his left hand – a great shot. He lands a little straight on the black to disturb the next three and plays safe. A good contribution from the youngster.
Selby 0-1 Si (25-26)
Selby allows Si to get his hand on the table and he once again finds the pot from distance while getting the cue ball back towards baulk. With the black now on the brown spot, Si is able to pot it and return it to its own spot.
A couple of pots later and there is work to do for Si to find his next pot with four reds and the brown in a cluster close to the left cushion and three together near the pink. He manages to disturb the latter bunch and the break continues.
Selby 0-1 Si (25-1)
An excellent safety from Selby blocking the right hand side of the table with the reds starting to gather towards the left pocket has Si in a bit of trouble.
The Chinese player is forced into trying to creep a red past the black but it’s not close and Selby can end this exchange and get the black away from the right pocket. Despite potting the black, Selby catches it much too thin and has to play safe off the next red. Disappointing for the Englishman not to make more of that.
Selby 0-1 Si (17-1)
A slightly loose containing safety shot from Si allows Selby to roll him up behind the black. He looks to play off the right cushion into the bunch and plays it well considering the number of loose reds.
But the 22-year-old catches the jaws of the right corner pocket on his next safety shot and Selby is in once again. The first red wasn’t clean though and the black is now missable. He does miss it, clipping the near jaw but played it at a pace to block the pocket so it doesn’t look like their is a pot on for Si. This could turn cagey now.
Selby 0-1 Si (16-1)
Selby loses the cue ball close to the left cushion meaning the next black has become difficult and while he strikes it beautifully to make the pot he doesn’t land on a red and that’s end of break.
Selby 0-1 Si (8-1)
Si gets us underway for the second frame. Selby takes on a long red and goes closer this time but still is yet to find his first pot. No immediate damage is done as he leaves nothing on but Si plays another good safety.
It pays off immediately as Selby knocks a red over the right corner pocket which the Chinese player once again dispatches. He didn’t have a great angle though on the brown meaning he tried to force it in to get down for the reds and rattled the jaws of the pocket. He did land on the red though, presenting Selby a chance to get some points on the board.
On table two
In the other match taking place, Wu Yize has taken a one frame lead over Ben Woollaston.
Selby 0-1 Si
A break of 28 seals the first frame for Si in really impressive fashion. The 22-year-old demonstrated great potting along with smart shot choices and tactical nous with some tidy safety play. Flawless start from the Chinese youngster.
Selby 0-0 Si (0-78)
After a miss on the first attempt, Selby makes contact with a red but leaves Si on to seal the frame.
Selby 0-0 Si (0-0)
Selby misses a red from range by a long way but does no damage. The Englishman’s next shot is a better one as he ties Si up close to the baulk cushion.
But the Chinese youngster pulls out an outrageous pot into the right corner pocket and is then able to get Selby rolled up behind the brown while knocking the blue safe.
Selby 0-0 Si (0-59)
Si is able to pick off a few loose reds in and around the bunch before needing to go into the pack. When he does he gets stuck on the bottom of it but plays a remarkable recovery pot into the yellow pocket.
He sent the cue ball close to the top cushion though with safety in mind and as a result plays safe on his next shot knocking the yellow to the side cushion.
Selby 0-0 Si (0-35)
A few shots later and Si is forced to nudge off the pack as he looks to run through onto the black. He is left high on the black which causes him to hesitate as he evaluates how he will control the cue ball to land on a red. His hesitation was justified as the cue ball goes into the bottom of the pack leaving him without a pot.
Safety it is but what a good one Si plays. Selby looks to go off two cushions onto the red closest to the top cushion and misses by a long way leaving Si a chance to get back in. A well taken brown and red later and Si is back in a great position.
Selby 0-0 Si (0-4)
Selby knocks a red over the left corner pocket presenting the first chance to Si. The 22-year-old makes no mistakes and lands nicely on the green.
Selby 0-0 Si (0-0)
It’s Mark Selby who kicks things off with a near perfect break. Remember it’s a race to four for a place in the last eight.
Head to head
Mark Selby and Si Jiahui have met twice before and it’s the Englishman who has won both, with the two ties also taking a best of seven format, as today’s contest does.
How to watch
Stream the English Open live on Eurosport and discovery+
Selby century in round two
Selby knocks in sublime 137 to double advantage over O’Connor at English Open
On table two
The other game getting underway at 13:00 BST sees Wu Yize take on Ben Woollaston. The 20-year-old Chinese player has produced two really impressive results so far, coming through ties with Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter.
As for Woollaston, he also produced an opening round shock beating Mark Williams before getting the better of Zak Surety. A quarter-final place against either Judd Trump or Fan Zhengyi is at stake.
Up first
Our opening coverage today sees two-time English Open champion Mark Selby take on China’s Si Jiahui. The Jester cruised through his all-Leicester clash with Joe O’Connor in round two, inflicting a whitewash on his close friend after beating Ireland’s Aaron Hill 4-2 in the opening round.
Si faced a sterner test to reach the last 16 after needing a decider to get past his fellow countryman Jiang Jun. The 22-year-old had a more comfortable opening round, beating Andrew Pagett 4-1 to get his campaign up and running.
The Chinese youngster arrived in Brentwood in promising form having reached the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters only to be knocked out by Mark Williams. Si enjoyed an impressive run of five victories to reach the final four, including a 6-4 quarter-final win over Ronnie O’Sullivan.
As for Selby, it was an early exit in Riyadh, losing his opening match to Neil Robertson. But the world number five will feel this is a great opportunity for a 23rd ranking title with Judd Trump the only other top-ten player left on his side of the draw. A quarter-final with either Ishpreet Chadha or He Guoqiang awaits – players ranked 77th and 64th respectively.
Hello and welcome
Good afternoon and welcome along to LIVE coverage of the afternoon session of the last 16 at the English Open.
Schedule and results
(All UK times, schedule subject to change)
Mark Selby v Si JiahuiWu Yize v Ben WoollastonIshpreet Chadha v He GuoqiangJudd Trump v Zhengyi FanMark Allen v John HigginsNeil Robertson v Ross MuirBarry Hawkins v Kyren WilsonChris Wakelin v Junxu PangStream the English Open live on Eurosport and discovery+
