Champion of Champions Snooker 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O’Sullivan CRASHES OUT after letting 3-0 lead slip – updates
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has crashed out of the Champion of Champions tournament!
Xiao Guodong completed a stunning comeback from 3-0 to beat Rocket 4-3 in the last-16.
World No1 Judd Trump was also eliminated from the tournament at the last-8 stage following a 6-4 defeat to Neil Robertson.
- Start time: From 1pm GMT
- TV channel: ITV4
- Live stream: ITVX
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Snooker rankings
PDC Order of Merit live top 10 (one year)
- Judd Trump
- Kyren Wilson
- Mark Williams
- Xiao Guodong
- Si Jiahui
- Neil Robertson
- Ding Junhui
- Shaun Murphy
- Chris Wakelin
- Mark Selby
Footage emerges of snooker match fixed by banned Mark King
Footage has emerged from the snooker match that Mark King allegedly fixed.
The former Northern Ireland Open champ has been hit with a five-year ban for match fixing.
King was found guilty of "one count of match fixing and one count of providing inside information on that match."
He was initially suspended by the WPBSA in March 2023, a month after suspicious betting was reported on his 4-0 defeat by Joe Perry in the first round of the Welsh Open.
And now Eurosport footage of the match in question against Perry has .
While it cannot be said that he purposefully misplaced these shots, the video shows King quickly working his way round the table.
Click below to see the video.
Hendry left red faced after O'Sullivan exit
Ronnie O'Sullivan left snooker pundit and former pro Stephen Hendry red-faced after his shock exit from the Champion of Champions.
Hendry had described the tournament as "perfect" for O'Sullivan, only for the Rocket to go crashing out in his first game.
O'Sullivan, 48, collapsed to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of world No.16 Guodong Xiao after leading 3-0 earlier in the face-off.
The snooker Goat had even stopped Xiao from registering a single point in those first three frames, walking away from the table with breaks of 65, 95 and 125.
But the 35-year-old Chinese potter pulled off an astonishing comeback, stopping O'Sullivan from scoring any points in the following three frames and taking the game to a decisive seventh frame.
Xiao topped off his performance with a victory in the final frame to knock O'Sullivan out of the tournament and advance to the Champion of Champions semi-finals.
How can I watch the Champion of Champions snooker 2024?
- The entire tournament will be shown LIVE on ITV4 in the UK.
- Fans also have the option to stream the action for FREE on ITV X via any compatible mobile or tablet device.
- Alternatively, SunSport will provide daily coverage of the competition through our LIVE blog.
What is the Champion of Champions snooker 2024 prize money?
The total prize pot for the Champion of Champions snooker 2024 is a whopping £440,000.
And the winner will receive a £150,000 reward while the runner-up is set to bank £60,000.
- Winner: £150,000
- Runner-up: £60,000
- Losing semi-finalists: £30,000
- Losing quarter-finalists: £17,500
- Losers in the last 16: £12,500
- Total: £440,000
Xiao 'sorry' to O'Sullivan and Mark Selby
Comeback king Xiao Guodong has apologised to Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby after he produced remarkable victories over the world champions.
He firstly came from 3-0 down to beat O'Sullivan before coming from 4-1 down to beat Selby 6-5.
But speaking to ITV after his games, Xiao said: "I think this is my best ever win, and also against Ronnie.
"I didn't think I could win this match because in the first three frames I didn't pot one ball.
"I'm still can't believe I won against two legends.
"I'm very happy to win, but I'm so sorry to Ronnie and Mark Selby as they also played good, and the last frame I got some luck.
"You have to enjoy playing snooker. We practise and train a lot, but sometimes you don't enjoy when you lose. You feel so sad and are unhappy.
"But now I have changed. If I win or lose, it doesn't matter. Just enjoy [it] and be happy to enjoy your job.
"Sometimes in snooker you can play well and win, but sometimes you need a little bit of luck. It was like that for me."
Trump blasts rival who ‘didn’t deserve to win like that’
Judd Trump took a swipe at Neil Robertson who "didn't deserve to win like that" after he CRASHED OUT of Champion of Champions.
Underdog Roberton claimed a 6-4 win over world No.1 Trump to advance to a semi-final clash against Mark Williams on Saturday.
It was an unusual four-and-a-half hour clash between the two usually fluent, heavy scorers, with prolonged frames and safety exchanges.
Trump took the opener with a run of 69, but Robertson then reeled off three consecutive frames with breaks of 90, 84 and 59 to lead 3-1.
Two half-centuries brought Trump level at 3-3 but the Australian took the next two frames, before Trump got a fourth.
But the eighth frame lasted almost AN HOUR before he sealed his victory with another just before midnight.
Full WPBSA statement
"The Disciplinary Committee’s findings as set out in its liability decision and its decision on sanction are that in relation to the Joe Perry match only, Mark King acted in breach of Part 2 Rule 2.1.2.1 and Rule 2.2 of the WPBSA Regulations as alleged in charge 3:
Charge 3: ‘That between about 1 January 2023 and 14 February 2023 in breach of Part 2 rule 2.1.2.1 and rule 2.2 [of the WPBSA Regulations] you fixed or contrived, or were a party to an effort to fix or contrive the result or score of [the Perry match]’; And Acted in breach of Part 2 Rule 2.1.3.1 of the WPBSA Regulations as alleged in Charge 4:
d) Charge 4: ‘That between about 1 January 2023 and 14 February 2023 in breach of Part 2 rule 2.1.3.1 [of the WPBSA Regulations] you provided information for [sic] to be used for betting purposes to another person or persons and that information included the fact that you would contrive the
score and/or outcome of the [Perry match]’.
The two other charges relating to his match with John Higgins played on 13 December 2022 were dismissed.
The WPBSA highlights that it was not part of the WPBSA’s case that any other player than Mr King was involved in the match-fixing, and Mr Perry and Mr Higgins were not accused of any misfeasance."
Full suspension dates/fine
Mark king will be banned from all snooker activities from 18 March 2023 to March 17 2028 (both dates inclusive).
This includes all activities organised by the WPBSA and includes, but is not limited to coaching, officiating, management, organisation, administration and/or promotion.
He has also been ordered to pay £68,299.50
More on snooker ban
A WPBSA statement said the match came against Joe Perry on February 13 2023.
King was suspended on March 18 2023 after suspicious betting was picked up.
After an investigation - supported by bet monitoring partner Sportradar and the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit at the Gambling Commission - the organisation also decided that King had a case to answer for fixing the match against Perry and a match against John Higgins on December 13 2022.
His case was referred to a disciplinary hearing on November 28 2023. King denied the charges, and his case was heard before an Independent Disciplinary Committee convened by Sport Resolutions.
This hearing commenced in London between May 7-9 2024 and was chaired by Graeme McPherson KC.
In the hearing, he was found guilty of match-fixing and providing insider information during his match against Perry, but the allegation for his match against Higgins were dismissed.
BREAKING: Snooker star given five-year ban for match fixing
Mark King has been banned from snooker for five years and ordered to pay more than £68,000 in costs by the WPBSA.
It comes after King was found guilty on one count of match-fixing and one count of providing inside information on that match.
‘We bullied him’
Seven-time Grand Slam of Darts star Vincent van der Voort, who is a good friend to three-time winner Michael van Gerwen, has revealed how the pair “bullied” referee George Noble during a game of snooker.
Speaking on podcast Darts Draait Door, Van der Voort explained how him and Van Gerwen had gone out to a snooker hall in Wolverhampton, before getting a game against Noble.
He said: “Michael and I often went snooker during the tournament. In one of those snooker halls. Well, those tend to look really nice in the Netherlands.
“But where we were in Wolverhampton was really a sight to behold. Really such a junkie den. There was a friend of mine, who could still play reasonably, but Michael and I really can’t do anything.”
On playing Noble, he added: “He can play really well, had even brought his own cue. (Laughing)We bullied him so much, he just threw his cue away, that’s how angry he was.
“We made comments all the time, so he didn’t hit a ball anymore. He also lost to us. Then he just walked away. Otherwise he was bad and couldn’t do anything.”
However, he finished the story by saying Noble was a “great guy” whom he has “experienced great things” with.
Schedule
A reminder of what is coming up over the next two days.
- Today, 7pm – Mark Allen vs Xiao Guodong
- Saturday, 7pm – Mark Williams vs Neil Robertson
You'll be able to follow the action frame-by-frame here.
Triple Crown tournament lands historic new sponsor
The UK Championship has announced a new partnership with LP Cues to become a sponsor of the tournament.
It is the first time in the 35-year history of LP Cues that they have gone into a sponsorship agreement for the event, which will run from November 23 to December 1 in York.
The World Snooker Tour's CCO, Peter Wright, said: "We are delighted to join forces with LP Cues, we know is it a very prestigious brand and we look forward to working with their team.”
Founder & Board Director of LP Cues, Xipei Luo, added: “I am delighted that LP Cues can be involved in this Triple Crown event.
"I hope we can establish great communication with all the billiards sports fans across the world throughout the event, making the world aware of our Chinese brands, culture and technology."
Victorian Plumbing and All British Casino were previously announced as sponsorship deals.
Selby and Allen among stars to lead Shoot Out tournament
Mark Selby and Mark Allen are among the stars who will headline the Shoot Out tournament in Leicester next month.
The event, which first started in 2011, will be running from December 4 to December 7 at the Mattioli Arena.
The Shoot Out is a quicker form of snooker due to the fact that matches last a maximum of just 10 MINUTES with a 15-second shot clock for the first half and 10 seconds for the second.
Allen won the title for the first time last year and will be looking to make history by becoming the first player to win the tournament twice.
Neil Robertson will be making his competition debut in the 128-player event.
Other major stars include Shaun Murphy, Gary Wilson, Jimmy White and Ali Carter.
Each round features a random draw, adding to the uncertainty and excitement that comes with it.
Xiao's slow start... and rampant return
In both matches on Thursday Xiao endured a slow start and dropped multiple frames.
He was 3-0 down to O'Sullivan before storming back to win 4-3 and was trailing Mark Selby 4-1 before reeling off six of the next seven frames to earn his place in the semi.
The stats show that Xiao also had a superb pot rate of 77 per cent - 10 per cent higher than Selby, who missed some great opportunities.
'World class'
Xiao beating O'Sullivan and then Selby was the story of the day with Stephen Hendry left stunned by the Chinese star's performance in the match against the rocket.
While commentating on Eurosport, seven-time world champion Hendry described Xiao as "world class".
He added: "I knew he was good, but I didn’t know he was this good."
Can Xiao make it a tremendous triple?
He toppled two of the greats yesterday.
Now can Xiao Guodong make it a hat-trick against Mark Allen tonight?
The conqueror of Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby faces Northern Ireland's World No 3 Allen in the first Champion of Champions semi-final.
Tomorrow we have Mark Williams against resurgent Neil Robertson.
Schedule:
- Today, 7pm - Mark Allen vs Xiao Guodong
- Saturday, 7pm - Mark Williams vs Neil Robertson
Xiao reveals relaxing route to glory
Xiao Guodong has shared the laidback secret behind yesterday's extraordinary double dose of giantkilling.
The Chinese star had already hinted at his untapped potential by winning the 2024 Wuhan Open.
And on thursday he landed extraordinary comeback wins over two legends.
Point-less and frame-less at 3-0 down, Xiao toppled Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-3.
He was then equally outplayed at 3-0 and 4-1 behind against Mark Selby before powering back to win 6-5, albeit helped by a fluke in the decider.
After those two victories, Xiao explained he's eased up on his regime - both physically and emotionally.
His Wuhan joy was "more enjoyable, more relaxed" - with his "family my wife, my friends there - to play snooker you have to be happy".
He added: "Before that, training every day, always work hard... but sometimes lost, very sad.
"I changed my mind, changed my thinking - now I relax more."
Allen builds his perfect player!
Mark Allen has picked the attributes he would take from various snooker players in the history of the game.
See the full video below as he lists names such as John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins, Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Ronnie takes charge of his future
Ronnie O’Sullivan seems in no rush to decide his future after his shock 4-3 loss to Xiao Guodong.
Xiao went on to pull off another comeback triumph a few hours later - over Mark Selby last night.
But a bigger surprise was his defeat of The Rocket.
O'Sullivan was awesome in winning the first three frames before his Chinese opponent roared back to win.
He has often berated his form this year.
This time the 48-year-old said: “I have been on a roll for 30 years.
“It will end when I decide it ends. I’ve very rarely had an average season since turning pro.”
Guodong's double comeback joy
Xiao Guodong has landed two incredible comeback wins over snooker legends on the same day.
He toppled Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-3 after failing to score any points in trailing 3-0.
He then came back from 4-1 down to topple Mark Selby in a match that finished at 11.35pm.
And in the end his aggressive potting paid dividends in both matches.
XIAO WINS! Selby 5-6 Xiao (51-78)
Xiao expertly cut in the pink to ram home victory - having trailed 4-1 in frames.
Selby 5-5 Xiao (51-72)
The blue was thundered down - so Selby needs two snookers.