China’s He Guoqiang stated he was in dreamland after stunning Ronnie O’Sullivan for the second time this season, winning 4-2 at the BetVictor English Open in Brentwood.
He scored an upset 3-0 win over the Rocket at the season opening BetVictor Championship League. That came off the back of a 23/24 campaign which saw him burst into the top 64 and be named Rookie of the Year.
Despite O’Sullivan’s clear frustration at his performances so far this season, he has still featured regularly at the business end of events without amassing silverware.
Today’s defeat is his first in a round before the quarter-finals of a knock out tournament so far in the campaign. The seven-time World Champion bowed out in the semis of the Xi’an Grand Prix and Shanghai Masters, while was a losing quarter-finalist in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
He fired in breaks of 78, 77 and 50 on his way to this evening’s victory. Next up is a last 32 meeting with 2004 UK Champion Stephen Maguire.
“It feels brilliant to beat him again. It is an unreal feeling and like I am dreaming. I didn’t expect at all to win again,” said 24-year-old He.
“I think the key is to perform my best and to play my own game. I just needed to get rid of the fear attached to playing a top player like Ronnie. There were so many spectators here, all supporting him. It didn’t allow me to think of anything other than my own performance.
“The best thing I have learned over past few months is how to play against top players and get rid of fear and emotion of facing them. That is the most improved part of my game.”
Scotland’s four-time World Champion John Higgins secured a vital 4-1 win over Andrew Higginson. Next up he faces David Gilbert.
The Glaswegian is currently ranked 16th in the rankings. His time in the world’s top 16 remains unbroken since 1995, but Higgins’ place in that elite group now hangs in the balance. Despite victory today he remains downbeat about the state of his game.
Higgins said: “I’m struggling to get going. I’ve not got the desire at the moment. That is just the way I’m feeling after a performance like that. You just have to try and take the positives. I need to get back to working. It shows and you can’t get away with it when you don’t put the work in.”
Luca Brecel earned an important 4-3 win over Anthony Hamilton in a gruelling late night encounter. The clock was past midnight when the Belgian got over the line. The 2023 World Champion plays Pang Junxu up next.
Welshman Jamie Jones was a 4-0 whitewash victor against China’s Zhou Yuelong, while Scotland’s Anthony McGill defeated China’s Xiao Guodong 4-2. Jones now plays Ross Muir and McGill faces World Champion Kyren Wilson.