Snooker World Championship Report: Two Major Upsets in One Night, O'Sullivan Eliminated & Wu Yize Upsets Selby

On April 28 Beijing time, the second round of the Snooker World Championship main event concluded, witnessing two major upset results overnight. Four-time world champion Selby was upset 11-13 by Wu Yize, and world number one Trump fell 12-13 to dark horse Vafaei. Meanwhile, seven-time world champion O'Sullivan suffered a painful 13-12 comeback defeat by Higgins. All quarter-finalists have been determined, with China claiming two seats—Zhao Xintong and Wu Yize!

Chinese rising star Wu Yize, born in the 2000s, faced the renowned Selby—one of the famous "80s Five Tigers"—who excels in long-frame matches and holds four world titles. Despite being less experienced and skilled, Wu Yize fought courageously, engaging Selby in intense defensive battles. Statistically, Wu Yize trailed Selby comprehensively, but he persevered under pressure, gritting through errors to secure a 13-11 victory, stunningly advancing to the World Championship quarter-finals. This marks Wu Yize's first entry into the World Championship quarter-finals, a significant breakthrough that will boost his confidence for the future!

Vafaei, who emerged from the qualifiers, faced world number one Trump and created the biggest upset of this World Championship. The match was fiercely competitive, with both players displaying exceptional accuracy. Ultimately, Vafaei clinched the deciding frame, miraculously defeating Trump 13-12. Having eliminated seeded players in two consecutive rounds to reach the quarter-finals, Vafaei is undoubtedly the strongest dark horse of this tournament!

O'Sullivan participated sporadically this season but returned to the World Championship—the most important stage—to pursue his eighth grand slam. The 1/8 final featured a heavyweight clash with Higgins, a highlight match full of rivalry, drama, and attention. O'Sullivan started explosively, building a huge 9-4 lead, seemingly in control. However, Higgins launched a fierce counterattack, winning six consecutive frames to shock O'Sullivan and overtake the score 10-9. Higgins then maintained steady play to stay ahead. After tying at 12-12, Higgins surged to seize the deciding frame, winning 13-12. This defeat again shattered O'Sullivan's dream of an eighth grand slam, highlighting a noticeable decline in his performance!

By / Sports Story