Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson and Mark Selby make flying start to new snooker season in Wuhan Open qualifiers
Updated 23/06/2025 at 22:27 GMT+1
The Wuhan Open qualifiers provide an early test for some of snooker's biggest names, but Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson and Mark Selby already appear up to speed after dominant wins at Leicester's Mattioli Arena on Monday. Murphy drubbed Michal Szubarczyk 5-0 with Robertson enjoying victory over Leone Crowley by the same scoreline before Selby eased to a 5-1 win over Alexander Ursenbacher.
Watch thrilling moment Murphy seals 147 to win match at World Open
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Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson and Mark Selby enjoyed superb starts to the new snooker season in Leicester on Monday with all three former world champions booking their trips to the Wuhan Open in August with dominant qualifying victories.
Masters champion Murphy restricted 14-year-old Polish newcomer Michal Szubarczyk to only 60 points as breaks of 91, 102 and 70 saw him ease through 5-0 in qualifying at the Mattioli Arena.
Robertson was equally impressive as the World Grand Prix winner dismissed 19-year-old Irish rookie Leone Crowley by the same scoreline boosted by runs of 102, 92, 50 and 79.
And Selby also enjoyed a winning start in his home city in the evening session as breaks of 92, 56 and 120 helped him to a 5-1 win over Alexander Ursenbacher.
Murphy will next take on Jordan Brown, with Robertson set to face 12-time women's world champion Reanne Evans in the second round at the ranking event in Wuhan and Selby securing a meeting with Michael Holt.
Jack Lisowski managed to fend off Amir Sarkhosh by winning the final four frames in a 5-3 success with breaks of 68, 54, 61, 87 and 53 finalising a meeting with Ryan Day or Jonas Luz in the round of 64.
Thai speed merchant Thepchaiya Un-Nooh had claimed a 5-0 victory earlier on Monday afternoon against Fergal Quinn with a top break of 95, while former UK champion Stephen Maguire advanced with a 5-1 win over Kreishh Gurbaxani that saw the Scotsman finish with a 100 break after compiling 81 in the second frame.
Elsewhere, former Scottish and Welsh Open champion Gary Wilson completed a 5-2 win over Gao Yang, who produced two 70+ breaks, but could only watch as Wilson pieced together 132, 83 and 66 to progress.
World No. 12 Zhang Anda is also through to the finals venue after breaks of 63, 64, 93, 73 and 55 saw the former International Championship winner enjoy a 5-2 win over Steven Hallworth.
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Matches involving defending champion Xiao Guodong, world No. 1 Judd Trump and seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan have been held over to the finals venue, with the competition being staged between August 24 and 30.
O'Sullivan has been handed a match against Allan Taylor in what could be his first appearance of the season at a ranking event, with Trump up against Farakh Ajaib and Xiao meeting former women's world champion Mink Nutcharut.
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