Champion of Champions 2022 snooker LIVE – Judd Trump meets Mark Allen for a place in the semi-finals after early wins

This couple

If we’re creeping over the line after midnight after an error-strewn farce, I apologize for jinxing it, but there’s a lot of expectation surrounding this one. Mark Allen is in fine form, retaining his Northern Ireland Open title and reaching the final of the British Open last month, while Judd reached the world final without ever finding his best form just six months ago and is the defending Champion of Champions… um, master. A few nice ingredients, then, and we’ll be up and running soon.

Good evening!

Welcome back to Champion of Champions, and what a quarter we have on our way to you in about 15 minutes. It’s Judd Trump against Mark Allen for a place in the final four; hold all your conversations.

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That’s us for the afternoon

Join us again at 18.45 GMT for more fun and games. Until then, peace out.

Mark Allen beat Joe Perry 4-2!

“It’s a really good feeling when you’re so confident,” says Stephen. Snooker seems so easy and you think you’re going to clear the table every time you get to it.” Mark faces Judd Trump in tonight’s quarter-finals and I can’t wait.

Allen 3-2 Perry (60-7)

Mark makes this so easy.

Allen 3-2 Perry (13-7)

OK, here we go. Joe looks desperately around the table for a safety, but can’t find one, so he has a hack – and I mean a hack – in another right corner. He comes close and you’d expect Mark, given his form, proximity to the line and the two easy misses that gave away two shots, to sort things out from here.

Allen 3-2 Perry (0-7)

Joe swings a long red into the right corner knowing that if he misses it could be his last shot. But, as Stephen notes, he hits it so hard he leaves nothing behind, then a phone goes off. “Don’t panic, it’s taking longer,” says the judge, increasing the pressure. “Just answer it, tell them you’re on your way.” Anyway, Mark leaves another one over a right corner, a much easier one, which Joe clears before sticking the white one to the bulkhead and slamming home the brutally devilish red that makes him shy. All he can manage is a blue.

Allen 3-2 Perry

Mark has scored almost twice as many points as Joe, and even if he misses the green, it’s not until he has 110 in the bag. He is one away.

Allen 2-2 Perry (55-0)

Mark gathers carefully, the cue ball does its bidding and with apparent joy; what a feeling that must be.

Allen 2-2 Perry (7-0)

We begin frame five with a long safety exchange, red spreads and two very close to the right corner – the first mistake is likely to be costly. But when Mark leaves one, Joe tries to catch it so thinly that he misses it completely and it should cost him.

Allen 2-2 Perry

I’m looking for batteries, but Joe gets the next chance, takes it, and while Mark has easily been the better player, he’s stuck in a best of three due to some really bad misses when he was inside.

Today’s timetable

13.00 – Group 1 semi-finals

Judd Trump vs. Luca Brecel (best of 7)

Mark Allen vs. Joe Perry (Best of 7)

19.00 – Group 1 final

Judd Trump OR Luca Brecel vs. Mark Allen OR Joe Perry (Best of 11)

Yesterday’s results

Group 3 semi-finals: Neil Robertson 3-4 Fan Zhengyi

Group 3 semi-finals: Kyren Wilson 3-4 Ryan Day

Group 3 final: Fan Zhengyi 6-5 Ryan Day

SUMMARY

Day had beaten Kyren Wilson 4-3 at the end of the afternoon match while Fan defeated Neil Robertson with an impressive comeback win, also 4-3, in the first match.

“This was a great game of snooker from two unlikely sources. It was fantastic.”

Foulds believes that Fan has the mindset to take on the challenge ahead.

“He’s not afraid to hit somebody. He doesn’t want to be overwhelmed, he said.

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