World Snooker Championship LIVE: Latest scores and results as Ronnie O’Sullivan returns for quarter-final


World Snooker Championship latest odds

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the favourite to win the 2023 World Snooker Championship according to SafeBettingSites. The latest odds have O’Sullivan as the 3/2 favourite ahead of World No. 2 Mark Selby at 7/2 and Mark Allen at 5/1.

Despite his impressive outing in the previous round 4x World Champion John Higgins is only the fifth favourite to lift the trophy though that may be down to a difficult quarter-final draw against Selby over the next couple of days.

Here are the latest odds for the World Snooker Championship Winner:

Ronnie O’Sullivan – 3/2

Mark Selby – 7/2

Mark Allen – 5/1

John Higgins – 6/1

Anthony McGill – 10/1

Si Jiahui – 14/1

Luca Brecel – 16/1

Jak Jones – 33/1

O’Sullivan has ‘nothing to lose’ in pursuit of eighth world title

“If that’s what you call box-office, then great,” said Ronnie O’Sullivan following his victory over Hossein Vafaei. “It was all right, workmanlike.

“I’ve played worse and won tournaments, and I’ve played a bit better and won this tournament – I don’t read anything into it.

“I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve got seven UKs, seven Masters, seven worlds. When you get to my stage you realise you don’t have anything to lose, and you’re only here because you’re enjoying it.

“The people who say I’ve got something to lose are the ones who have something to lose, because their own careers are just going by.”

What is snooker’s Chinese betting scandal?

This year’s World Snooker Championship at the Crucible could be overshadowed as 10 players face an independent disciplinary hearing after charges related to match fixing.

The players, which include former UK champion Zhao Xintong and ex-Masters champion Yan Bingtao, are currently suspended from the World Snooker Tour.

The WPBSA confirmed in a statement: “The players will remain suspended until the outcome of the Independent Disciplinary Hearing is published.

“They will therefore not participate in any remaining World Snooker Tour events during the 2022/23 season, including the 2023 World Snooker Championship.”

But what have the players been accused of, and what will happen at the hearing?

What is snooker’s Chinese betting scandal?

An independent disciplinary hearing is set to begin in the second week of the World Championship

Mark Selby stays on track for fifth world title with impressive Gary Wilson win

Mark Selby saw off Gary Wilson 13-7 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship and keep alive hopes of a fifth title.

Selby, who last lifted the trophy at the Crucible in 2021, resumed with a 10-6 advantage which was soon extended following a confident 109 clearance in the opening frame of Monday’s concluding evening session.

Two half-century breaks helped Wilson reduce the deficit to 11-7, before Selby, who sank a superb thinly-cut black with the extension, edged the next 73-45 after both men had spurned chances to put the frame to bed.

There were more nerves in the 20th frame, with Wilson unable to capitalise on a poor break from Selby, who then failed to build on a run of 35.

Mark Selby stays on track for fifth world title with impressive Gary Wilson win

Selby goes on to face fellow four-time champion John Higgins.

John Higgins thrashes Kyren Wilson to lay down World Snooker Championship marker

John Higgins produced a vintage display to book his place in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship with a session to spare after sweeping past Kyren Wilson 13-2 at the Crucible.

The four-time champion – who had endured a disappointing season with a string of early exits from ranking events – continued where he had left off after defeating David Grace 10-3 in his opening match.

The veteran 47-year-old Scot never looked back as he built a commanding 8-0 lead in Sunday’s opening session.

It was a clinical start from Higgins, who produced 136 and 137 total clearances, with two more half-centuries further extending his lead.

John Higgins thrashes Kyren Wilson to lay down World Snooker Championship marker

The four-time world champion won with a session to spare as he cruised into the quarter-finals

World Snooker Championship quarter-final draw

The eight quarter-finalists of the 2023 World Snooker Championship are now known with seven time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan kicking off the next knockout round when he takes on Belgium’s Luca Brecel this morning.

Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen and Wales’ Jak Jones have also been drawn against each other in the morning session before a couple of intriguing encounters this afternoon.

Debutant Si Jiahui of China faces Scotland’s Anthony McGill and there’s a blockbuster clash between four time World Champion John Higgins and four time World Champion Mark Selby.

Here’s the draw in full:

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Luca Brecel

Mark Allen vs Jak Jones

Anthony McGill vs Si Jiahui

John Higgins vs Mark Selby

Si enjoying Crucible experience

World No. 80 Si Jiahui advanced to the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship after completing a 13-7 win over Robert Milkins on Monday afternoon.

Si is the lowest-ranked player left in the tournament and will face Scotland’s Anthony McGill in the last eight on his debut tournament at the Crucible.

Si, who knocked out 2005 world champion Shan Murphy in round one, told the BBC: “I’m so surprised to get to the quarter-finals. I’ve even surprised myself. I’m just playing as if I am trying to learn from the other players.

“I’m very honoured to be in this position. I just wanted to play, perform and enjoy this Crucible experience.”

World Snooker Championship – Tuesday schedule and TV coverage

Quarter-finals (best of 25)

10:00

Match 25: Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Luca Brecel

Match 27: Mark Allen vs Jak Jones

14:30

Match 26: Anthony McGill vs Si Jiahui

Match 28: John Higgins vs Mark Selby

19:00

Match 25: Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Luca Brecel

Match 27: Mark Allen vs Jak Jones

Live coverage

10:00-12:15 – BBC Two

13:00-18:00 – BBC Two

19:00-20:00 – BBC Two

20:00-21:00 – BBC Four

Ronnie O’Sullivan: ‘I’ve got nothing to lose’

Ronnie O’Sullivan turned his so-called Crucible grudge match against Hossein Vafaei into a demolition job as he won their second round match at the World Championship 13-2 with a session to spare.

O’Sullivan reeled off six consecutive breaks of 50 or more, including his 1,200th and 1,201st career centuries, as he won all seven frames of their match on Saturday afternoon to wrap up what Stephen Hendry, commentating for the BBC, described as a “humiliation”.

Afterwards, O’Sullivan made a point of embracing his vanquished opponent, who had issued some extraordinary pre-match barbs then encountered a wave of criticism for playing a deliberately rash break-off shot in the second frame of the match.

‘I’ve got nothing to lose’ says Ronnie O’Sullivan after crushing Hossein Vafaei

The seven-time world champion was in a different class to his opponent and won with a session to spare.

Si Jiahui continues dream debut run to east past Robert Milkins

Si Jiahui picked up where he left off on Sunday to secure a spot in the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals with a 13-7 victory against Robert Milkins.

The world number 80 is the lowest ranked player left in the tournament and continued his fantastic debut at the Crucible despite a rocky start on Monday afternoon.

Si will now face Anthony McGill or Jack Lisowski in the quarter-finals later this week.

The 20-year-old started the afternoon 11-5 ahead needing just two frames to seal a spot in the last eight, but both players felt the pressure in the opening frame with Milkins missing plenty of chances to score.

Si sunk the final red and cleared up the remaining colours to go within one frame of victory, but a great start to the second was soured after he missed the match ball, allowing Milkins to steal the frame with a clearance of 69.

The Welsh Open champion gathered momentum as he took the third frame, but Si denied any chance of an incredible comeback after a dominant display in the fourth saw him finish with a stunning century break to reach the quarter-finals.

Si Jiahui reached the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championships

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