The 2025 English Open, the fourth professional ranking tournament of the season and a key event in the Home Nations Series, has delivered a series of stunning upsets and dramatic comebacks, with the coveted title and £100,000 prize money still up for grabs. Last year's champion, Neil Robertson, was unable to defend his crown, falling victim to the unpredictable nature of the competition.
Early Exits and Surprises in the Round of 32
展开剩余90%The initial stages of the tournament saw a string of high-profile departures, shaking up the field and opening the door for unexpected contenders. Only a handful of top 16 players, including Hawkins, Selby, Trump, Ding Junhui, and Allen, managed to navigate their way through the round of 32. Notable names like Neil Robertson, Zhao Xintong, Zhang Anda, Xiao Guodong, Si Jiahui, Mark Williams, Gary Wilson, and Hossein Vafaei were all sent packing early, signaling that this year's English Open would be anything but predictable.
Trump Stunned by Slessor in the Last 16
One of the most shocking results came in the round of 16, where world number one Judd Trump faced off against the relatively unheralded Elliot Slessor, ranked 23rd. Trump, fresh off a title win at the Saudi Masters and riding high after dispatching Holt and Yuan SiJun in previous rounds, was the clear favorite. Slessor, while having enjoyed a solid run with 4-2 victories over Jimmy Robertson and a 4-0 whitewash of Gary Wilson, lacked a ranking title to his name.
Slessor immediately put Trump under pressure by snatching the first two frames, displaying nerves of steel and composure. The first frame saw Slessor open with a break of 67 to set the tone for the match. Although Trump responded in the third frame with a 69, just edging out Slessor’s 68, it was not enough to stop the momentum that was beginning to build for Slessor. Trump secured frame four with a 66 to level the match at 2-2, and the fifth frame which he secured with a 57-27 performance saw him lead for the first time in the match. However, the resilient Slessor refused to wilt. He held his nerve to win frame six with a 79, pushing the match into a tense decider. Slessor took control of the final frame with a break of 64 and saw the match to its conclusion and booked his place in the quarter-finals, completing a sensational upset.
Zhou Yuelong Overcomes Hawkins in Thrilling Encounter
Another captivating last-16 clash saw China's Zhou Yuelong, ranked 32nd and seeking his first ranking title after three previous final appearances, take on England's Barry Hawkins, a seasoned campaigner known for his consistency in reaching the latter stages of tournaments and boasting four ranking titles to his name.
Hawkins started strongly, taking the first two frames to establish an early lead. However, Zhou Yuelong displayed impressive resilience, finding his rhythm and reeling off three consecutive half-century breaks – 84, 71, and 57. With this sudden shift in momentum, Zhou swept four frames in a row to complete a 4-2 come-from-behind victory, sending Hawkins home and securing his spot in the quarter-finals.
Zhou Yuelong Advances to Semi-Finals After Epic Battle with Brecel
With Ding Junhui and Wu Yize having already exited the tournament in the round of 16 after defeats to Mark Allen and Mark Selby respectively, Zhou Yuelong carried the hopes of Chinese snooker on his shoulders as the sole representative in the quarter-finals. Having previously seen off Xu Si, Mark Williams, and Barry Hawkins, Zhou’s performance in the tournament had been sublime, making him a firm contender.
Facing him was Luca Brecel, the young Belgian. Despite being a world champion, Brecel's form had been inconsistent since his Crucible triumph, which resulted in his ranking of 41st. However, having survived a series of close encounters against Jimmy White, Hossein Vafaei, Si Jiahui, and Robbie Williams, his confidence would be high.
The match began with a tight, tactical opening frame, which Zhou Yuelong eventually edged after a protracted safety exchange. Brecel responded immediately, firing in an 81 break to level the scores. A series of errors from Zhou allowed Brecel to capitalize and win the next two frames, establishing a 3-1 lead going into the mid-session interval.
Returning from the break, Zhou Yuelong regrouped, producing a superb 95 break to reduce the deficit. However, Brecel responded strongly, taking the sixth frame comfortably with a 75 break, leaving Zhou on the brink of defeat. Facing elimination, Zhou Yuelong dug deep, summoning a pair of stunning century breaks – 94 and 113 – to force a decider.
In a nail-biting final frame, both players displayed understandable caution. A missed pot from Brecel gave Zhou an opportunity, but he soon ran out of position. The frame was then defined by a series of safety exchanges. A failed attempt from Brecel gave Zhou the opportunity to take the frame and he did just that. Having secured the required pink ball, Zhou Yuelong sealed a remarkable 5-4 victory and progressed to the semi-finals.
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