Wu Yize
World Champion Wu Yize made a triumphant first appearance of the season with a 6-2 defeat of Chinese compatriot Si Jiahui in front of a packed crowd at the Shanghai Masters.
Yize made it back-to-back Chinese Crucible winners back in May after defeating Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a dramatic world final. He followed in the footsteps of Zhao Xintong, who became his country’s first World Champion just a year earlier.
That victory saw the 22-year-old star become the second youngest World Champion, trailing only Stephen Hendry who was 21 in 1990. Yize’s win today means he sets up a repeat clash with Murphy, who overcame Zhou Yuelong 6-4 to earn his quarter-final slot.
With Yize leading 3-2 this evening, consecutive centuries of 108 and back-to-back 140s saw him burst over the line. He was given a rapturous ovation after depositing the final black one-handed.
Yize said: “It was great to feel the enthusiasm from the crowd. It’s been quite a while since I last played in front of fans like this. I also haven’t really had the chance to practise properly recently, so when I got back out there I felt a little rusty at first. Fortunately, I managed to find my own rhythm and I think that was the key to winning today’s match.
“Seeing more and more people in China enjoying snooker, coming to watch the matches and getting involved in the sport, is a really wonderful feeling for us as players. I hope we’ll have even more tournaments in the future and see even more people taking part in the game.
“I’ve definitely been feeling tired. Mentally, I don’t think I’ve been in the best place. Even now, I’m still trying to rediscover that competitive feeling and get myself back into the right frame of mind. I took on too many commitments over the summer, and that did affect my form. Hopefully I can make the necessary adjustments as quickly as possible.”
Four-time Crucible king John Higgins held off a Jack Lisowski fightback to edge a thrilling 6-5 win on the black and set up a quarter-final showdown with rival and world number one Judd Trump.
Scotland’s Higgins is making a first appearance since his tremendous World Championship run was ended with a thrilling 17-15 defeat to Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals back in May. Higgins beat Ali Carter, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson along the way at the Theatre of Dreams.
The match saw Higgins take control of proceedings, making breaks of 53, 83, 56 and 57 en route to a 5-3 advantage. At that moment world number 17 Lisowski, who is only competing this week due to Mark Allen not entering, burst into life. Back-to-back century runs of 123 and 109 set up a nerve-shredding deciding frame.
Higgins appeared to be in control at 60-30 ahead on the last red. Lisowski eventually fluked it, but needed a colour to keep his hopes alive. He deposited a tremendous green and took the frame to the final black. The Englishman chanced his arm at a tricky last ball, but it rattled in the yellow pocket and went beside the opposite corner. Higgins took his chance and emerged the victor.
The Glaswegian has beaten his next opponent Trump in their last two meetings, both 6-5 at the Masters and the Players Championship. He believes that will help heading into the blockbuster tie.
“It gives you a little boost, making you realise you can beat him. I think I’d lost so many matches in a row against him before that. I maybe could have nicked a couple of those, but he will maybe be feeling he should have nicked the last two. He is still big favourite to win. I need to play at the top of my game to have a chance,” said world number five Higgins.
“It filled me with some sort of pride that I went there (to the Crucible) and had some great wins. I ran Shaun really close and he was hitting the ball amazing all tournament. It should give me confidence that I can still compete. That is the main thing.”
2025 Crucible winner Zhao Xintong was victorious by a 6-2 scoreline against fellow Chinese legend Ding Junhui, who he’s now beaten in their last five meetings.
Xintong made breaks of 112, 100 and 101 en route to today’s win. He now faces off against Australia’s Neil Robertson.
