Halloween is on the horizon but the only thing moderately scary in snooker recently was the performances of a trio of Chinese out in Wuhan.
The winner, Xiao Guodong was magnificent all week – a first ranker in 17 years as professional. A first-time semi-finalist Long Zehuang emerged as a live contender in years to come but the World semi-finalist from last year, Si Jiahui caught my eye not for the first time (or last).
He put on a show coming runner-up. The way he tore through the player of the season so far Judd Trump in the semi-final was something seriously special. He wasn’t content with a tournament high break of 144 in frame two – he replied with a first career maximum 147 in frame four. Judd came out afterwards and said it was the best anyone bar John Higgins or Ronnie O’Sullivan has ever played against him.
There’s a changing of the guard in China and Si has the captain’s hat more than half on. He is the cleanest potter of a ball in the sport currently and I think most believe he’ll be a future world champion and world number one.
Going forward, I personally would love to see a China v Europe Ryder Cup type team match. It’s what the sport is screaming out for and would be a hell of a spectacle.
Back to the present, it’s just over 14 years since the passing of the irrepressible Alex Higgins, and the two-time World champion has his name on this weeks trophy for the ninth edition of the Northern Ireland Open.
Trump has owned this event for the last six years winning it four times including last year and the only man to stop the total monopoly in that period was ‘one of their own’ Mark Allen winning back-to-back in 2021 and 2022. Judd will be aiming to make a 15th quarter-final of the year in Belfast which is quite astonishing. Another eye catching stat is since the inaugural open in 2016, the event has only been won by left handers (Mark Williams and Mark King the other two).
It’s been a while since Shaun Murphy lifted one of these Home Nations events – over four years ago to be exact at the Welsh Open and I believe he’s firmly knocking down the door this season to go close next week.
A losing quarter-finalist here in 2019 and 2021, the Magician has been a very consistent sort this term making the final out in Shanghai then the semis in Saudi losing both times to Trump. Last time out, he was upended in the quarters out in Wuhan by eventual champion Xiao where it took a truly stunning effort to beat him 5-1. Murphy was seen on a few occasions clapping his opponent during the contest and not in a sarcastic way!
It wasn’t that long ago when Murphy was considering his future in the game. The 2005 World champion was a world away from winning the big titles but since having a gastric sleeve operation in May 2022, he’s made four ranking finals, winning three.
Murphy opens here with Jiang Jun, a talented player in his second season as pro. The openness of Jiang’s style of play should mean Murphy can pick his young opponent off at will.
Murphy is in Trump’s quarter here – he’s lost his last five meetings with the Bristolian so is due a win (last win came in the 2022 U.K. Championship). Trump is getting results, and titles this season but he’s certainly not performing anywhere close to the 2019/20 campaign.
With a slice of luck, I see no reason why Murphy can’t get an applause his way this week when he lifts the Alex Higgins trophy.
A player who has had a bit of renaissance in the last six months is David Gilbert. The owner of Potters club in Swadlincote had a semi-final run at the World Championship in the spring, five years on from his last visit to the one table set-up. It wasn’t quite as close to a first world final this time but he enjoyed a terrific few weeks beating the then reigning world champion Luca Brecel, Rob Milkins and Stephen Maguire before eventual champion Kyren Wilson halted his progress 17-11.
Gilbert has carried on this form into the current season making two quarter-finals and a last 16 – only losing four times, all to top 16 players; Trump, Higgins, Mark Selby, and Gary Wilson. The 5-4 quarter-final loss to Selby (Selby avenged a loss to Gilbert at the Xi’an Grand Prix) was given a strong boost of form as Selby went on to win the British Open.
He mentioned on the Talking Snooker Podcast how encouraged he’s been this season winning matches when he hasn’t played that well. That is a great habit to get into – ask any of the top players that, it’s a results business after all. He’s won four of his five matches that have gone to a decider too.
He also said how much he loves this event, even calling it one of his favourites on the roster. Maybe it’s no surprise then he’s made the quarter-final in four of his last six visits here. Let’s not forget he was runner-up in the 2019 English Open with exactly the same format to this.
He opens with the reigning Asian Pacific Amateur and Under 21 champion Lei Peifan who won’t be a pushover for the ‘Angry Farmer’ though he’s beaten his young opponent in both previous meetings.
Gilbert has had recent problems with his back and withdrew from travelling to Wuhan after a relapse. It might be a blessing in disguise he gave that almighty trek (22 hours!) a miss and comes here fresh.
He will be targeting this event, plus the upcoming International and U.K. Championships to make it two ranking titles and would therefore be in pole position to gatecrash the Masters in January. He’s currently £50,000 behind 16th place.
He has an air of confidence about him currently that I haven’t seen since the 2018/19 season where he made two ranking finals plus the World semi.
Form wise he’s bang in with a chance of continuing this fine run in Belfast and one of the best cueists in the game can become a Happy Farmer not an angry one in Bonny Belfast.
Selections (each way 1/2 2 places)
Shaun Murphy 12/1
David Gilbert 20/1
