English Open snooker 2022 LIVE – John Higgins headlines evening after Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, Mark Selby win

Updated 13/12/2022 at 22:25 GMT

The 2022 English Open takes centre stage from December 12-18 in Brentwood as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson look to seize their first ranking titles of the season. Gary Wilson arrives as the in-form player after his shock win at the Scottish Open – could he stage a repeat triumph? Stream the 2022 English Open live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

'Get the call, bang! In you go, happy days!' - O'Sullivan reacts to Ding 'roll-on, roll off' gripe

That'll do us

Thanks for your company tonight, we'll be back with you from 12.45pm BST for more action from the 2022 English Open. Night night!

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White and Bingham lose in English Open qualifying round

08/09/2023 at 22:05

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 0-4 Kyren Wilson

Ali Carter 4-0 Chen Zifan

John Higgins 4-1 Mark King

Mark Davis 2-4 Scott Donaldson

Martin Gould 4-2 Gary Wilson

Ryan Day 3-2 Hammad Miah

Pang Junxu 0-1 Hossein Vafaei

Mark Allen advances to the next round

You will scarcely see such a perfect start to match. Mark potted 70 out of 70 balls in the first two frames for devastating total clearances of 135 and 141, and an early night looked inevitable when he then match-played his way to victory in frame three. Dylan made a fight of it with a game 98 to peg a frame back, but Mark nudged it over the line swiftly thereafter. He is in such imposing form right now, and will now go on to face Ding Junhui in rematch of the UK Championship final.

Allen 3-1 Emery (60-0)

Safety ensues, during which Dylan hammers in a long red but can't get on the black. He's running out of points to work with, and certainly is now - Mark bullets a long red into the bottom right from distance, and all he needs to win the match is laid out before him. A quick 27 points later, he's in the last 32.

Allen 3-1 Emery (60-0)

Mark picks off another half-century, but an audacious attempt to open the pack off the blue off three cushions doesn't quite work out, and he plays safe back to baulk after a break of 55. With 83 still on Dylan has plenty to work with, but he's right on the brink now. He tries a long red to the bottom right that misses by a long way, and he's left a red to left middle as a tap-in. That should be that, but isn't; Mark pots it clumsily, and he's not an a colour!

Allen 3-1 Emery (25-0)

After Dylan goes in-off early in the frame both players then miss long-ish reds, Mark first and then Dylan. It's Dylan's that is more damaging though, played all out to hold for the black and leaving a red to left middle. There's a decent spread on, with all colours available, and Mark is off to the races again, and this looks like a frame and match chance already.

Allen 3-1 Emery

Bah, no ton! With the frame in the bag Dylan misses a tough final red to the bottom right, and it's end of break on 98. He's on the board in the match though.

Allen 3-0 Emery (0-53)

There's a half-ton for Dylan, who has controlled the white superbly in this break as it wasn't an easy table that he came to. He's only a few balls away now and they're all there for him; if he can take this frame and the next, that'll get Mark thinking.

Allen 3-0 Emery (0-32)

Can Dylan salvage something here? He's in first in frame four, and although it takes a while to lasso position he's got the white under control now and this break is ticking along nicely as it reaches 32. Dylan looks calm enough given what's been thrown at him here tonight, and a one-hit frame is a possibility now.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 0-4 Kyren Wilson

Ali Carter 4-0 Chen Zifan

John Higgins 4-1 Mark King

Mark Davis 2-4 Scott Donaldson

Martin Gould 2-2 Gary Wilson

Ryan Day 1-2 Hammad Miah

Allen 3-0 Emery

Mark turns the screw, with a red-pink combo leaving Dylan needing snookers and with the white then tucked in tight behind the brown, he folds it.

Allen 2-0 Emery (75-41)

This is heavy scoring again from Mark, who makes 55 but can't find an angle to try and shift the last red, and plays a snooker instead. That yields four and a free ball, and from there Mark sticks the blue safe and lands Dylan in behind the black. Dylan tries to swerve out of it but hits the brown adjacent to the red first, and he's left it on for Mark. That's match play snooker right there.

Allen 2-0 Emery (42-41)

In reaching 28 Dylan tries to go into the pack with delayed screw. Unbelievably, the white arcs through a tunnel between all of the reds and lands in baulk without touching anything. That's extraordinary! There's even worse news for him a few shots later, as a poor safety leaves a red right over the bottom left. Mark's back in, and scoring again; Dylan's lead is gone, and a red stuck to the brown in baulk might be his only out here.

Allen 2-0 Emery (12-33)

Dylan gets four back from Mark in a safety exchange, and then gets a touch of his own as he outrageously flukes a red after a wild miss to the bottom right. He can't convert a tough green thereafter, but gets in for real with a double on a red to right middle to hold for the black. It's a scoring chance as he soon takes his break to 20 and counting.

Allen 2-0 Emery (12-8)

Mark finally misses at the start of frame three, failing to clip in a red to the bottom right and leaving it on mid-range to the bottom left. Dylan steps in and drops it in, followed by the black, but loses position off the latter and it's end of break on eight. Mark then flukes an outrageous snooker, with an overhit safety catching the jaws of the green pocket and drifting eight in behind the brown. Dylan tries a four-cushion escapes with the spider; it takes four attempts, and ships 12 points, but he eventually connects to great applause.

Allen 2-0 Emery

The frame soon disappears, and we could be on for another total here. The ton duly arrives, and the only awkward ball left here is the yellow which is near to but not touching the top cushion. Mark lands on it perfectly, and he's got the white like a yo-yo here. It's back to back total clearances as Mark empties the lot for a stunning 141. Devastating!

Allen 1-0 Emery (52-0)

Dylan, to quote Del Boy, is in right lumber. We've barely been going 15 minutes here and Mark has split the reds perfectly again and registered another half-century. This is snooker of the absolute highest quality, and there's nothing Dylan can do but watch. He's some talent, but Mark is showing where the bar is right now.

Allen 1-0 Emery (30-0)

Mark's in again at the start of frame two, and has a nice scattering of open reds around the black, which is on to both corners. He's completely zoned in here, and Dylan has barely had a shot so far. Mark certainly seems to be over his travel travails on the way to Brentwood.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 0-4 Kyren Wilson

Ali Carter 4-0 Chen Zifan

John Higgins 4-1 Mark King

Mark Davis 1-3 Scott Donaldson

Martin Gould 0-1 Gary Wilson

Ryan Day 0-0 Hammad Miah

Allen 1-0 Emery

A controlled stun off the blue helps open the pack up, and Mark's on a red to bottom right. He wobbles it in, his only scare of the frame so far, and this frame is over. The only question now, with all colours on their spots and remaining reds open, is whether we'll open this match with a total clearance. No need to go to bed wondering, because we do indeed! A brutal, rhythmic 135 from Mark bags the first frame.

Allen 0-0 Emery (51-0)

In a break while the pink is placed as close to its own spot as possible, Mark sups from a hot brew at his table, suggesting the heating issues in the arena might not be completely resolved. He's quickly back at it though and he's registered a half-ton in a heartbeat here. What's left of the pack will need one more compliant whack to finish the frame off.

Allen 0-0 Emery (21-0)

Mark's off to a flier, drilling in a red long to the bottom right followed by a brown to right middle to come back down the table. My word he's confident right now, as you'd expect, and he's quickly into the pack and accumulating points.

The Pistol

It's a daunting task for Dylan Emery tonight. He's the world number 90 and it's his first year on the tour, but no less an authority than James Warren White in the Eurosport studio thinks he's one of the rising talents in the game. Tonight though, he's up against the form horse of this season: Mark Allen, the Northern Ireland Open and UK Championship winner in recent months. The boys are baizeside, here we go.

More baize?

Ambassador! We'll have Mark Allen and Dylan Emery for you presently.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 0-4 Kyren Wilson

Ali Carter 4-0 Chen Zifan

Mark Davis 1-3 Scott Donaldson

John Higgins reaches the last 32

That wasn't vintage John, but with the volume of chances that came his way it didn't need to be. Bar one mesmerising clearance in frame four, Mark absolutely had one out there tonight, nothing went right for him. For John there was an 85 and 103 in there; he looked in good touch in patches, but will need to find it more consistently if he's to return to title-winning form.

Higgins 4-1 King

Mark eventually leaves one of the four remaining reds on, and immediately turns it in. John is through to the next round.

Higgins 3-1 King (74-0)

John chuckles to himself as he almost snookers himself on frame ball red behind the pink. Frame ball red duly goes, and John registers 74 before missing to end his break. Mark is playing on here, but needs four snookers.

Higgins 3-1 King (52-0)

John moves quickly to a half-century, potting the black and riding his luck as the white goes into what's left of the pack. He's on one, and it looks routine from here.

Higgins 3-1 King (24-0)

If John's annoyed that he hasn't finished the match by now he's not showing it, as frame five gets going with him launching in a long red and coming back up for the blue. It needs some good early pots to keep the break going, but the whole frame is on for John now as he splits the pack off the blue, catching the pink full and flowering the reds out in the bottom half of the table.

Higgins 3-1 King

What a dish! He landed wrong side of the blue and the black wiped its feet not long after, but Mark has cleared up to keep the argument going!

Higgins 3-0 King (62-38)

Hello! Mark drains a superb long red deadweight to the green pocket, followed by the black, and then cuts in a red along the upper left rail with the rest. Where has this been all night? The blue follows, and he's soon mopped up the remaining reds and he now needs the colours to pinch the frame!

Higgins 3-0 King (62-10)

It's another swift half-century for John, who splits three of the remaining four reds away from the black as he goes up for the blue. He'll need to go in and out of baulk and does just that, but somehow lands the white behind the black and he's on nothing! It's takes two goes to get out of the snooker he'd landed himself in, and with 59 left on Mark is still in this.

Higgins 3-0 King (35-6)

Here's a look for Mark, as John misses a thin contact safety and clatters into another red full ball, leaving the white in the middle of the table and an easy starter to get going. Mark can only get six from the chance though before serving up another chance to John; it has not been a good evening at work so far for him. John adds 29, dropping in a recovery red from mid-range to hold for the pink, which he then pots to get it back on its spot.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 0-2 Kyren Wilson

Ali Carter 1-0 Chen Zifan

Mark Davis 1-1 Scott Donaldson

Higgins 3-0 King

There it is! John clears the table for a 103, and he needs just one more frame for victory.

Higgins 2-0 King (87-0)

Frame ball pink takes John past the winning line, but he's far from done as he registers a half-century and counting. There's just about enough on for the ton, and it's all in the open.

Higgins 2-0 King (57-0)

John's break surprisingly judders to a halt on 22, and Mark has a chance from mid-range to the bottom right but he can't take it. He really is struggling tonight, and he's left the world on again for John. A barrage of red-blacks here is pulling John away and in view of the winning line in this one.

Higgins 2-0 King (20-0)

Early in frame three Mark leaves another chance, nudging a red out over the bottom right. John picks it off, and forces his way out onto the blue. It's an awkward table though, and only seven points comes from the chance. He'll get another now though, as Mark goes in-off and there's a red on long from the D. John drives it in and immediately gets the black back on its spot, followed by a cute cut with the rest and this is a big chance now.

Higgins 2-0 King

All the colours are in the open and John dishes up to the pink to move two ahead.

Higgins 1-0 King (48-42)

Well now. A sloppy positional shot from John leaves the white near the right rail, causing him to miss a red across the table to the bottom left. Mark picks off 24 before playing safe with two reds left on the table; it's a poor shot though as he's left a cut on to the yellow pocket. John can't convert it though, and he's left it for Mark. The red goes, followed by the yellow, and then Mark brilliantly doubles the final red to give himself the chance to pinch the frame. Disaster strikes immediately though; he's missed the yellow to its own pocket with a wild overcut, and he's served this up for John.

Higgins 1-0 King (42-10)

Eesh, this is a poor start from Mark. He picks off one red, but then badly overcuts a pink into the green pocket and cedes the advantage straight back to John. You rarely get away with it twice against someone this good, and John sets about punishing. It's 34 and counting so far, and if John can tidy up the three reds still in the open he should bank another one.

Higgins 1-0 King (8-9)

Here's Mark! After a scrappy opening to frame two he drains an excellent red long to the bottom right, coming across the table to hold for a thin snick on the black to the bottom right. It's a chance, but for his next colour he's low on the black, and gambles the lot by sending the white into the pack. The split is great, but the cut back on the black misses and he's left a load on. How about this though? After a red-black, John misses a virtually straight red to the left middle!

Higgins 1-0 King

Mark hasn't settled at all here. He misses two long reds in quick succession, the second of which leaves a red on in the jaws of the bottom left, and that must be curtains. John adds a quick 20 to leave Mark needing a snooker, and lets his arm go thereafter, emptying the table for a methodical 85 to take the opening frame.

Higgins 0-0 King (49-0)

Here's another Bobby Dazzler from John, as Mark leaves a red on to the left middle. It's a tough cut to hold for the black but John drives it into the heart of the pocket, and he's away again. Once again though, he loses the cue ball on a positional shot after clipping the pink on his way around the back of it, and another promising chance goes to waste.

Higgins 0-0 King (19-0)

Mark's break is decent, leaving the white welded to the top cushion. John, unbothered, tags a red in long to the bottom right and comes back up for the yellow. That's some first shot. It's a chance, but John's early split of the pack off the black early into his break doesn't yield position on his next red, and it's end of break.

Here we go

Has it warmed up at the Brentwood Centre? Well here come John and Mark, so let's find out! First to four then for a place in the next round.

Upset on the cards?

It's gone to form so far today, but could Mark spring a surprise and win here tonight? His overall record against John is not great, with only five wins in 22 matches. The last time that the two met however, at the UK Championship in 2017, Mark beat John in a decider.

Good evening!

Welcome to live coverage of the evening session of day two of the English Open. Our main event tonight is Wishaw-wizarding legend John Higgins, runner-up in this tournament in agonising circumstances a year ago, and Mark King, a former winner of the Northern Ireland Open. The boys will be baized shortly and we’ll keep you up to date with goings on around the other tables.

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Join us later this evening as John Higgins and Mark Allen take to the table.

Around the tables

Last 128

Jimmy Robertson 1-4 Marco Fu
Matthew Selt 3-0 Callum Beresford

Last 64

Wu Yize 4-3 Cao Yupeng
Joe O'Connor 2-4 Mark Selby
Judd Trump 4-1 Craig Steadman
Neil Robertson 4-3 Lei Peifan
Dominic Dale 2-1 Mark Williams
Michael White 1-4 Anthony McGill

Robertson 4-3 Lei

A third 67 break from Robertson to finish matters off after a 130 break in the second frame. Lei rolling in knocks of 136, 134 and 121 in response. A superb snooker match. "If I had lost that match there, you just to accept that players can produce that level these days. It wasn't the case 15 years ago when some players collapsed because the cameras were there."

Robertson 3-3 Lei (79-0)

Mistake on the safety shot by Lei and that is going to cost him the match. Robertson will reach the last 32 after that three-frame century scoring barrage by Lei. Solid frame to see it through. He will face Elliot Slessor in the last 32.

Robertson 3-3 Lei (62-0)

Far from straightforward run to the line as Robbo drops in a blue, but is nowhere on the next red. Taking his time over this shot. Still six reds left up. A solid safety shot to finish, but 75 remains on the table if Lei can get a chance.

Robertson 3-3 Lei (33-0)

A second chance for Robertson to finalise this match as Lei leaves red over a top hole. Not the best time to throw in a mistake. Will Lei be handed another chance?

Robertson 3-3 Lei (25-0)

Robbo powers in a blue to right centre, but no red to follow at this visit. Just a break of 25 this time for the world No. 3. Tries to cut in a red from distance, but nothing doing as he clocks the blue on way back up the table.

Robertson 3-3 Lei (14-0)

First chance falls to Robertson in the decider. Slots a red from distance and gets a favourable little nudge to land on pink. He has been frozen out for three frames, but this is an opportunity to build a decent lead.

Robertson 3-2 Lei (0-122)

A break of 121 from Lei this time and that is 3-3. We are heading for the decider in Brentwood with Robertson's title defence right on the line. Will Lei be reeled in after three explosive frames? 136, 134 and 121 to level at 3-3. Has been a fantastic match to watch.

Robertson 3-2 Lei (0-84)

This has to be seen to be believed by Lei. Every chance of a third straight century coming up. Robertson hasn't potted a ball for three frames. Fearless stuff from the world No. 76.

Robertson 3-2 Lei (0-40)

Robertson looking slightly concerned in his chair as Lei continues to plough through these reds. Doesn't look like missing at the moment.

Robertson 3-2 Lei (0-13)

The narrative of this match is rapidly changing as another mistake by Robertson hands Lei first chance to score in the sixth frame. A few nice nudges here and there are also going for him as a pink drops down a middle bag. Lei is keen to enjoy a piece of Robbo's early action.

Robertson 3-1 Lei (0-142)

A 134 clearance this time from Lei and this match is right in the melting pot. Quite exceptional play on show in this encounter. Robertson with breaks of 67, 130 and 67 with Lei running in 136 and 134. Terrific snooker in Brentwood.

Robertson 3-1 Lei (0-96)

Not too many more obstacles for Lei to overcome. Should be another one-visit hit from the Chinese kid. What a recovery from Lei, who is chasing back-to-back centuries of his own. Robbo forced to sit and digest a taste of his own medicine. A fine safety prompted the error and he has punished the Aussie icon.

Around the tables

Last 128

Jimmy Robertson 1-4 Marco Fu
Matthew Selt v Callum Beresford

Last 64

Wu Yize 4-3 Cao Yupeng
Joe O'Connor 2-4 Mark Selby
Judd Trump 4-1 Craig Steadman
Neil Robertson 3-1 Lei Peifan
Dominic Dale 0-1 Mark Williams
Michael White 0-2 Anthony McGill

Robertson 3-1 Lei (0-40)

Perhaps Robertson is rattled by the Lei scoring binge. Couple of loose safety shots and Lei is back among the balls in his quest to force this match to a sixth frame of a possible seven.

Robertson 3-0 Lei (0-136)

Well, that is what you call elite snooker. No points for two frames, but Lei comes racing back with a breathtaking clearance of 136. Back to 3-1 behind in race to four.

Robertson 3-0 Lei (0-93)

Superb response from Lei as he trundles in a red using the spider and in goes the blue. Chance of a century of his own coming up. World No. 76 Lei showing he knows his way around the table. A fabulous break in the context of Robertson's heavy punching.

Robertson 3-0 Lei (0-29)

Safety mistake by Robertson this time and Lei is handed a chance to get hand on table after being forced to witness his opponent in full flow.

Robertson 3-0 Lei (0-0)

Two 67s and a 130 so far from Robbo today. In complete control. The winner of this one will face Elliot Slessor in the last 32.

Robertson 2-0 Lei (81-0)

Break of 67 from Robertson as a red to right centre doesn't drop. And he looks annoyed that a century did not follow. What an impressive display this has been from the defending champion. Needs one more frame to join Judd in the last 32.

Robertson 2-0 Lei (53-0)

This looks to be frame over already for Lei with Robertson warming to the occasion. Chance of back-to-back centuries coming up.

Robertson 2-0 Lei (30-0)

Safety blunder by Lei trying to run the white back to baulk as cue ball hits a middle jaw and lands in middle of table. That could prove to be a costly error with Robbo in stroke and looking to pile on the points.

Robertson 1-0 Lei (130-0)

A ruthless total clearance of 130 from Robbo and he moves 2-0 ahead. What a piece of brilliance that was from the 2010 world champion. None of those balls touched the sides. Big trouble for Lei.

Robertson 1-0 Lei (82-0)

This has been a break-building masterclass by the Melburnian. Never potted a black until the 40s of this break so plenty of work to do, but has been mindful of his duties. A 2-0 lead is safely locked down.

Robertson 1-0 Lei (37-0)

Another brilliant long red by Robbo. Just pots those for fun and he is right back in the heart of the action here. Prowling the table with some serious intent.

Robertson 0-0 Lei (68-41)

The Aussie with a lovely little shot on final red using rest and into the lead heading for the colours. A brilliant break of 67 holds sway in this frame. Lei made the early running, but trails 1-0. Vital you finish off these leading players otherwise you tend to get picked off.

Robertson 0-0 Lei (40-41)

A crunching yellow by Robbo from distance. What a pot that is. Swings the white around the angles and he is back in business at the business end of table. Lands on a red and he can make good on the opportunity that has presented itself. Will Lei regret missing that black?

Robertson 0-0 Lei (1-41)

The young Chinese player adds another 17 points, but plenty of points for Robbo to attack in this opening frame. Missed black off the spot by Lei keeps alive this frame as an ongoing concern.

Robertson 0-0 Lei (1-24)

These two have met twice in recent times. Robertson with a 5-2 win in the first round of the European Masters earlier this year with Lei emerging with a 4-2 victory in the first round of the 2021 Gibraltar Open.

Robertson 0-0 Lei (1-24)

Lovely long red straight off the bat by Lei. No hanging about there. Right in the heart of the pocket. But a tricky red to right centre doesn't drop. That is a shorter contribution than he envisaged.

Around the tables

Last 128

Jimmy Robertson 1-4 Marco Fu
Matthew Selt v Callum Beresford

Last 64

Wu Yize 3-3 Cao Yupeng
Joe O'Connor 1-2 Mark Selby
Judd Trump 4-1 Craig Steadman
Matthew Selt v Callum Beresford
Neil Robertson v Lei Peifan
Dominic Dale v Mark Williams
Michael White v Anthony McGill

Trump 4-1 Steadman

"A few shots I hit well. Its not quite happening because I'm just not playing very well," says Trump, who next faces Fraser Patrick in the last 32.

Trump 3-1 Steadman (67-63)

Brilliant clearance from Judd of 62. That is a quite majestic way to win it. Pops in the pink from mid-range and in goes black. A 4-1 win in the end that is thoroughly merited.

Trump 3-1 Steadman (6-63)

Brilliant opening red by Judd to get moving in the frame he needs for victory. Can he complete a classic counter attacking thrust with four reds left up?

Trump 3-1 Steadman (1-63)

Well, Steadman missing frame ball red to leave Judd needing a snooker. Didn't expect to miss that. Is there a twist in the tale here..

Trump 3-1 Steadman (1-55)

Craig has seen enough of the fourth frame as Judd moves to the cusp of victory. Early chance then for Steadman at the outset of the fifth frame as Trump can't can a long red. Steadman misses black off the spot on 41, but then Judd does likewise with a pink that rattles the jaws. Well, that is unexpected. A lot of near misses in this match.

Trump 2-1 Steadman (79-0)

Looking for all the world like a 3-1 lead for Trump. Not been at his brilliant best out there, but a professional day's work so far. Doing more than enough to clamber towards the last 32 of this Home Nations Event, the third one of the season so far.

Trump 2-1 Steadman (40-0)

Steaders struggling to get out of a snooker, but hits the red eventually. Judd clobbers home a fine red seconds later to regain access to the baize. Brilliant pot by Judd, who is suddenly letting his cue arm do the talking out there.

Trump 2-1 Steadman (24-0)

A poor safety shot by Craig and that presents Judd with chance to pounce from distance. A precision positional shot on blue from Trump to land on a red from slotting blue to right centre. But again, no massive contribution from Trump at this visit.

Trump 1-1 Steadman (94-44)

Trump digging in away from the snow fall outside as he produces a brilliant cut on a red down a side rail into the green pocket. What a shot that is. And he moves 2-1 up in the race to four. Not classic Judd, but enough to get the job done for the lead in this testing encounter.

Trump 1-1 Steadman (74-31)

A bit cold in the Brentwood Centre and this match has yet to warm up. Three reds above the water line with Steadman 52 behind and a possible 51 left up. Drops in a fine long red to boost his chances of applying some pressure.

Trump 1-1 Steadman (62-22)

Brilliant shot from Judd to ease white off the baulk cush and drive it back down off a side cush and into the pack of reds. But he then misses a tricky cut on red and the breaks ends on 62. Didn't expect to miss that as Steadman emerges from his chair.

Trump 1-1 Steadman (36-8)

Lovely red to right centre from Judd. Perhaps that is the key to get him moving in this third frame. Judd with an average shot time of 28 seconds out there. Which tells you a lot about the turgid nature of the fare so far.

Trump 1-1 Steadman (14-8)

Another very cagey start to this frame. The first man to find some real scoring form out there is going to be a strong favourite to win this match.

Trump 0-1 Steadman (60-25)

Far from convincing, but a safety error by Steadman is key as he leaves red to a yellow bag and Trump fairly thumps that down the hole. Frame running over 30 minutes, but surely Judd is over the line to level at 1-1 with five colours left. Talk about A, B and C games. This is more like Trump's D game, but will be enough to get him back on a level footing. Steadman misses green escaping from a snooker and this match is all square.

Trump 0-1 Steadman (47-4)

Judd long game not there so far today. 27-minute second frame with Trump clinging to his lead and four reds left on table. A safety blunder by the former world champion then presents Steadman with chance to recover in this frame.

Trump 0-1 Steadman (42-3)

A cameo of 26 from Judd, but no clinical contribution. Adds 26 before he runs up behind yellow. This is like classic 1980s fare at the moment. All bits and pieces.

Trump 0-1 Steadman (23-3)

A bit of a safety joust in action before Steadman rattles the jaws with a long red. Leaves Judd plenty of options at this visit. What can the Juddernaut make here?

'Get the call, bang! In you go, happy days!' - O'Sullivan reacts to Ding 'roll-on, roll off' gripe

Trump 0-1 Steadman (14-3)

Lovely shot on yellow by Steadman as white careers into pack of reds, but astonishingly doesn't land on an open red. That is remarkable. Just the safety coming up.

Trump 0-1 Steadman (14-0)

A poor break-off shot by Steadman as a solitary red travels back up table to hang over a middle pocket. That is annoying. But only 14 made off that visit to the table from Trump. An obvious let-off.

Trump 0-0 Steadman (0-72)

Classy little effort of 54 from Steadman. Brilliant start to the match from him. Trump needing two snookers, but has seen enough of the opening frame. A 1-0 lead for Craig.

Trump 0-0 Steadman (0-51)

Nice stuff here from Steadman. Putting away the balls with some care at the moment as lead passes 50-mark. Looking good to take this first frame. Trump tactical game off the mark so far.

Trump 0-0 Steadman (0-18)

Three early chances for Steaders, but not in total command of that white ball so far. But a fourth arrives as Judd leaves a red over a top hole. What a chance this is then for the outsider. Has surely got to make good on this opportunity.

Trump 0-0 Steadman (0-1)

Steadman back on the tour via Q School last summer. Lovely long red finds the pocket to get this frame off and running.

Trump 0-0 Steadman (0-0)

Trump is 5-1 up on fellow Englishman Steadman in their career head-to-heads. They last met in the last 64 of the Welsh Open earlier this year with Trump running out a 4-1 winner.

Welcome back to Brentwood

Should be another fine afternoon's snooker at the English Open. Judd Trump takes on Craig Steadman as the first man in action in our featured last-64 matches before defending champion Neil Robertson faces Lei Peifan. Elsewhere, recent Scottish Open finalist Joe O'Connor meets 2019 winner Mark Selby. Boys on baize at back of one.

2022 English Open: Tuesday afternoon schedule

Last 128

Jimmy Robertson v Marco Fu
Matthew Selt v Callum Beresford

Last 64

Wu Yize v Cao Yupeng
Joe O'Connor v Mark Selby
Judd Trump v Craig Steadman
Matthew Selt v Callum Beresford
Neil Robertson v Lei Peifan
Dominic Dale v Mark Williams
Michael White v Anthony McGill

Latest English Open last-64 results

Robert Milkins 4-1 Julien Leclercq
David Gilbert 1-4 Yuan SiJun
Xu Si 1-4 Ding Junhui

O’Sullivan heaps praise on Mertens following English Open battle: 'Sky is the limit'

Ronnie O’Sullivan has said the “sky is the limit” for Ben Mertens after the teenager pushed him hard in the first round of the English Open.

Current world champion O'Sullivan looked set for a comfortable evening at the Brentwood Centre in Essex when racing into a 3-0 lead despite not playing at his best.

But his scrappy play allowed Mertens to get a foothold in the contest, and the 18-year-old grew in confidence after getting a frame on the board against the seven-time world champion.

Mertens picked off the fifth and sixth frames to force a decider, the latter with a run of 73, and had chances in the final stanza.

O’Sullivan eventually emerged with the win but spoke highly of his young opponent.

“He is a great cueist, hits the ball well,” O’Sullivan said in the Eurosport studio. “I like his game. He is only young and he is going to be around.

“The sky is the limit for him really."

Read full story here.

Tuesday 13 December