Snooker World Cup Roundup: Selby Distracted, Murphy Dominates, and Williams Takes the Lead

2024-04-22 23:03:00

Selby entered the second session with a 2:7 score. The four-time world champion was already missing on Sunday. Although Selby improved as a result, he was no longer a real threat to the impressively confident O’Connor.

For Selby, it was the first loss in a World Cup since 2018. The 40-year-old then left it open whether he wanted to continue his career beyond the summer.

“I’m going to meet Vicky (Selby’s wife, Note d. Red.) together and see what the options are,” Selby said in an interview with Eurosport: “Maybe you’ll see me again next season, maybe not.”

He added: “Obviously it will be a big decision, but if I’m going to keep playing I need help – especially with the mental component. I just want to go out and have fun. I’ve always been a guy who puts too much into himself puts pressure on.”

Curious action! Selby causes laughter with an extended aria

Murphy makes the duel with Maguire perfect – Bingham beats Wilson

Shaun Murphy easily reached the round of 16, where he will face Stephen Maguire. Murphy beat Lyu Haotian 10-5. At the end of the first session, the former world champion had already extended his lead to 6:3 with 111.

In the second session, Murphy quickly advanced to 9:4. Lyu won the twelfth frame on black. In the 14th frame, Lyu shortened it again with a 117, the 100th break of his career. But in the next round, Murphy made it all clear with a quick 81.

Former world champion Stuart Bingham beat Gary Wilson 10:5. Bingham is now the fifth qualifier in the second round. He laid the foundations in the first session, after which he led 6:3. He missed a possible 7:2 when he missed the last black ball.

“Unbelievable!” Bingham responded on the last ball

Williams and Pang in front

In the evening Gary Wilson got off to a better start and got to 5:6. In the twelfth frame, he missed a light pink ball that tipped the match again. Bingham made it 7:5 and then took advantage of a short shot from Wilson to make it 8:5. Wilson’s resistance was broken.

Mark Williams leads 5:4 after the first session against Si Jiahui. Williams started with 142 and won the first two frames, but last year’s semi-finalist Si took the lead for the first time with 4:3. With strong nerves, the three-time Welsh world champion nevertheless took back the narrow lead with breaks of 57 and 63 points.

Pang Junxu won the first three frames against Robert Milkins and later led 5-3. However, Milkins dominated the ninth frame and kept the deficit at 4:5.