Three-time champion Neil Robertson might need to qualify for this season’s UK Championship after his progress on the Worldwide Championship led to Nanjing.
The Australian compiled 4 improbable century breaks in a convincing 6-0 drubbing of Fan Zhengyi within the spherical of 64.
However not for the primary time over the course of the previous few seasons, Robertson was unable to again up a powerful show with one other.
He duly suffered a one-sided 6-1 reverse towards Barry Hawkins within the final 32, a run that secures him simply £9,000 in prize cash.
That is sufficient to provisionally elevate his rating into the highest 16 of the world rankings, which as issues stand would see him seal an computerized berth on the Barbican Centre in York.
However a number of gamers, together with Hawkins, lead the chasing pack who’re nonetheless within the hunt at this week’s rating occasion and subsequently stay in rivalry to interrupt into the highest 16 at Robertson’s expense.
Latest Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong is the competitor in prime place to take action, with the Chinese language cueist standing one win away from usurping Robertson’s rolling two-year tally.
Hawkins wants two victories with a purpose to upset the order, and will each he and Xiao attain the Worldwide Championship semi-finals, they’ll not solely ship Robertson to the UK Championship qualifiers however Jak Jones as effectively.
An look within the remaining for both Jack Lisowski or Chris Wakelin would carry them into rivalry, whereas Chinese language duo Pang Junxu and Lyu Haotian would break into the highest 16 for the primary time of their careers by securing the £175,000 champion’s cheque and a maiden rating title.
Race to the UK Championship
| Provisional Rank | Participant | Provisional Factors | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Jak Jones | £352,900 | X |
| 16 | Neil Robertson | £350,550 | X |
| — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Xiao Guodong | £344,000 | At the least QF |
| 19 | Barry Hawkins | £336,550 | At the least SF |
| 20 | Jack Lisowski | £317,900 | At the least remaining |
| 21 | Chris Wakelin | £310,800 | At the least remaining |
| 26 | Pang Junxu | £262,400 | Title |
| 33 | Lyu Haotian | £187,300 | Title |
Jackson Web page, Xu Si, and Jiang Jun are different lower-ranked gamers nonetheless concerned in Nanjing, however they’re too far again to problem for a high 16 place in time for the UK Championship.
Each Neil Robertson, and to a considerably lesser extent Jak Jones, will probably be hoping that the higher-ranked gamers can dominate proceedings for the rest of this week’s motion.
Hawkins encounters world champion Kyren Wilson within the final 16, however Xiao has a extra presentable activity within the type of the unpredictable Lisowski.
By the tip of Wednesday’s play, the eight quarter-finalists on the 2024 Worldwide Championship will probably be identified.
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2024 Worldwide Championship
Wednesday, November sixth
Final 16 (bo11)
6:30am UTC
Lyu Haotian vs John Higgins
Chris Wakelin vs Mark Williams
Pang Junxu vs Jackson Web page
Judd Trump vs Xu Si
11:30am UTC
Jack Lisowski vs Xiao Guodong
Gary Wilson vs Mark Selby
Jiang Jun vs Ding Junhui
Barry Hawkins vs Kyren Wilson
Click on right here to view the complete draw
(snooker.org)
Featured photograph credit score: WST