Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters recap – Wu Yize eases past Matthew Stevens; Ronnie O'Sullivan & Judd Trump in action on Tuesday

Welcome to live coverage from the Saudi Arabia Masters on Monday. Former world champion Stuart Bingham is the focus of the early session, with teenager Stan Moody among those also in action. The top seeds, including seven-time Crucible winner Ronnie O'Sullivan and world No. 1 Judd Trump, join the tournament on Tuesday. Watch the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

'Stop moving!' - Referee blasts spectator during Saudi Arabia Masters clash

Video credit: TNT Sports

A terrific performance from Wu Yize saw him wipe Matthew Stevens off the table, winning 5-1, as he booked his place in the last 32 of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.

In frames one and five, Wu was more than halfway to a 147, on both occasions missing with 73 on the board.

His disappointment was palpable but, overall, he can only be pleased with a dominant performance.

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Stevens did level the match at 1-1, but there was never a sense that he could win, his 21-year-old opponent simply too good and too confident.

Next for him comes a meeting with his fellow Chinese player Si Jiahui on Tuesday.

Wu Yize beats Matthew Stevens 5-1

He misses the final black, which means no ton, but he's through to the last 32 and it'll take something decent to stop him.

Wu 4-1 Stevens (84-32)

A black dropped into corner means keeps the run going, then another leaves match-ball, a cut-back along the side ... and it's there! Last year at this tournament, Wu lost 5-4 to Judd Trump from 4-0 up; I doubt that happens again.

Wu 4-1 Stevens (43-32)

If Wu can move from brown to red, there'll be no impediment to him clinching the match at this visit, he plays it well, and though the scores ar close, this reeks of over.

‘What a talent’ – Wu punishes Stevens mistake with silky century

Video credit: TNT Sports

Wu 4-1 Stevens (28-32)

Wu closes the gap and Matthew will be fearing the worst. That pack does still need attention, and as I type he moseys into it off the blue; it splits nicely, but is he on one? Just, a thin cut-back to left corner ... and it's there. This is surely the match.

Wu 4-1 Stevens (1-32)

And there it is, "it" being a missed red to middle that leaves plenty. The pack'll need breaking, but you'd back Wu to sort this from here.

Wu 4-1 Stevens (0-9)

A clip to middle sets Matthew away and there are loose reds available – but he'll know that any miss could mean curtains, upping the already considerable pressure on him.

Around the tables

Chang Bingyu 2-2 David Gilbert
Stephen Maguire 5-0 Anthony McGill
Hossein Vafaei 1-2 Martin O’Donnell
Louis Heathcote 1-3 Iulian Boiko
Sanderson Lam 0-3 Joe O’Connor
Jamie Jones 1-2 Farakh Ajaib
Steven Hallworth 2-1 Zhou Yuelong

Wu 4-1 Stevens

Oh! Out of nowhere, Wu undercuts a black to right corner and must settle for a second run of 73. He won't be chuffed with that but, on the plus side, he's a frame away from victory.

Wu 3-1 Stevens (81-0)

A dodgy positional shot means a red across the table to middle, not the ball for which he played, but down it goes; come on Wu!

Wu 3-1 Stevens (56-0)

The blue and green are close together below the D, and there are two reds on rails, but this remains a decent chance to register a 147. Wu is cueing beautifully now, frame almost his and match looking to be inevitably so.

Wu 3-1 Stevens (32-0)

A black, bridging awkwardly, keeps Wu going and with serious money at stake, he'll be wanting to chase the maxi; this is much better chance than the last, too.

Wu 3-1 Stevens (17-0)

A poor safety from Matthew leaves a prod to right corner, which Wi sticks away; he adds the black, and there are potable reds all over. There's a break on here, and a sizable one too.

Wu 3-1 Stevens (8-0)

With the brown cutting off much of the table and the yellow a fair bit of what remains, Matthew twice leaves his roll-up short, then lands in the middle of three reds; shot. And Wu's escape leaves him a starter too ... which he misses, a double kiss saving him further damage; we're back playing safety.

We go again...

Around the tables

Chang Bingyu 2-1 David Gilbert
Stephen Maguire 4-0 Anthony McGill
Hossein Vafaei 1-1 Martin O’Donnell
Louis Heathcote 1-2 Iulian Boiko
Sanderson Lam 0-2 Joe O’Connor
Jamie Jones 1-2 Farakh Ajaib
Steven Hallworth 1-0 Zhou Yuelong

Wu 3-1 Stevens

A clearance of 124 and Wu leads by two. He's a spectacular talent; he's a spectacular player. We'll be back in 15.

Wu 2-1 Stevens (64-0)

A pink to right corner means the next red will leave Matthew needing snookers ... and there it is. Wu hasn't played that well, but he's played more than well enough, with another ton in the offing too.

Wu 2-1 Stevens (43-0)

Wu cunningly develops reds on the periphery of the pack, crafting a chance to score into a chance to score heavily. Matthew will be concerned; he [probably was when he saw the draw.

Wu 2-1 Stevens (28-0)

There are few players more natural than Wu, who also has serious cue-power; what's held him back until now, and remember he's only 21, is finding it difficult in the biggest moments. That will not last – I'm confident he'll win the biggest pots, sooner rather than later.

Wu 2-1 Stevens (9-0)

Matthew misses a longum, allowing Wu to slither a starter into right-centre. A yellow follows, returning him to the business end, and if he can just remove a red between black and corner bag, he's in. Oh, and he does so beautifully.

Around the tables

Chang Bingyu 2-1 David Gilbert
Stephen Maguire 3-0 Anthony McGill
Hossein Vafaei 0-1 Martin O’Donnell
Louis Heathcote 0-2 Iulian Boiko
Sanderson Lam 0-2 Joe O’Connor
Jamie Jones 1-1 Farakh Ajaib
Steven Hallworth 1-0 Zhou Yuelong

Wu 2-1 Stevens

A run of 105 and Wu leads once more.

Wu 1-1 Stevens (80-9)

Down goes the final red, and there's no reason to think Wu won't parlay run into ton.

Wu 1-1 Stevens (61-9)

...and there it is, with more balls to come. I don't think today's version of Matthew is able to cope with Wu in this form.

Wu 1-1 Stevens (55-9)

Blue then red to leave Matthew needing a snooker...

Wu 1-1 Stevens (28-9)

Wu opens the pack nicely and, the way the balls are, should soon convert the opportunity into 2-1.

Wu 1-1 Stevens (1-9)

A poor safety has Matthew convinced he's being punished, only for Wu to miss a longun. No matter: he can't see away a black off its spot and this time, with balls available, you feel it's going to cost him.

Around the tables

Chang Bingyu 1-1 David Gilbert
Stephen Maguire 2-0 Anthony McGill
Hossein Vafaei 0-1 Martin O’Donnell
Louis Heathcote 0-1 Iulian Boiko
Sanderson Lam 0-1 Joe O’Connor
Jamie Jones 1-0 Farakh Ajaib
Steven Hallworth 0-0 Zhou Yuelong

Wu 1-1 Stevens

Before long, Wu concedes, and we're level.

Wu 1-0 Stevens (4-63)

Matthew runs out of position so plays safe, sending a third red to baulk; Wu needs the four that are left, with blacks, to tie.

Wu 1-0 Stevens (4-56)

Patiently, Matthew builds his lead, seeing away a red that he makes harder than necessary that leads to him losing the white a little. Can he keep chasing successfully?

Wu 1-0 Stevens (4-26)

Matthew looks to have done well to leave nothing after a poor shot, but there's a plant to left corner which Wu clicks home, followed by a yellow with the rest. And, in the process, he sends the brown up the table, develops a red, and sinks a taxing long pot to sustain the run; he's on the black ... but somehow misses it, seeking a cannon. I didn't expect that, and it's going to cost him.

Wu 1-0 Stevens (0-25)

A diagonal red to right corner sets Matthew away again, but he's soon forced to address a nasty black to middle ... jabbing home a fine recovery-pot. It's easy to forget how good a player he is – he's won both UK Championships and Masters, the only titles he's claimed, as well as losing two Crucible finals – but he can't string enough good shots together these days, missing to middle. Luckily for him, Wu then does the same.

Wu 1-0 Stevens (0-9)

Movement in the crowd distracts Matthew as he attempts a pot, so he pauses, the ref intervenes, and he strokes home a fine effort. A black follows but, too straight on the next ball, he has to play safe thereafter and will consider that a wasted opportunity.

Around the tables

Chang Bingyu 0-0 David Gilbert
Stephen Maguire 0-0 Anthony McGill
Hossein Vafaei 0-0 Martin O’Donnell
Louis Heathcote 0-0 Iulian Boiko
Sanderson Lam 0-0 Joe O’Connor
Jamie Jones 0-0 Farakh Ajaib
Steven Hallworth 0-0 Zhou Yuelong

Wu 1-0 Stevens

Matthew eventually gets him arm going, but finds nothing in the way of snookers and concedes.

Wu 0-0 Stevens (73-0)

Here it comes: can Wu break pack off black to keep himself going? Er, yes he can ... but he can also miss the pot! Matthew returns to the table needing two snookers.

Wu 0-0 Stevens (64-0)

With a speed that's almost alarming, Wu continues binning red-blacks, but will need to break the pack if he's to register a maxi. Thepchaiya un-Nooh, who made yesterday, will be concerned, as the £147,000 147-prize is shared. Come on Wu!

Wu 0-0 Stevens (40-0)

Wu eliminates balls and there are few who do so more naturally. If he's in decent touch, Matthew will need to play close to his best just to make a match of it. Meantime, five reds, five blacks...

Wu 0-0 Stevens (17-0)

Off the break, Wu dangles a tempter to right corner; naturally, Wu takes it on because he can do no other, and down it goes; great pot. It's also worth noting that he now sports a ponytail; it's a delightful new accoutrement.

Our boyz baize

Bring 'em on!

Cards on the table

I love Wu. But i'm also rather keen on Matthew, so we're all good with this one.

For you this evening we have

We'll be majoring on Wu Yize v Matthew Stevens, with updates from:

Chang Bingyu x David Gilbert
Stephen Maguire v Anthony McGill
Hossein Vafaei v Martin O’Donnell
Louis Heathcote v Iulian Boiko
Sanderson Lam v Joe O’Connor
Jamie Jones v Farakh Ajaib
Steven Hallworth v Zhou Yuelong

We go again...

Stuart Bingham dug deep to beat Sam Craigie – returning to the tour after a nasty neck injury - in a deciding frame. The contest was close all the way through, the gap between the players never more than one, but leading 5-4, Craigie looked set for victory when, needing three snookers, Bingham somehow hit the black to allow him to win with a clearance. But off the green, he came several feet too far, didn't get position on the black, and eventually lost a marathon 42-minute frame. Both men had chances in the decider, but eventually it was the 2015 world champion who prevailed, holding his nerve to set up a last-32 encounter with Zhang Anda.

Stuart Bingham beats Sam Craigie 5-4

Next for him is Zhang Anda.

Bingham 4-4 Craigie (66-6)

A red to middle ... is there! But it takes Stuart on to the green, meaning he'll need another ball after that ... and there it is! Sam's come back from a nasty neck injury that he'll heave feared would end his career so, though he'll be feeling peaky, at some point he'll feel he's had a decent enough run in qualifying and taking it deep. Not yet, though: Ballrun runs out of position so he returns to the table needing five snooker.

Bingham 4-4 Craigie (55-6)

Stuart takes care over a red to the green, slots it nicely, and there are no demons out there. This is very close to did.

Bingham 4-4 Craigie (45-6)

If Stuart does the necessary, this'll haunt Sam for a while. I fear for him.

Bingham 4-4 Craigie (25-6)

Stuart's cleared up to win a world title, which is to say he knows he knows what he's doing. There's work to do with the pack, but this is absolutely a chance to secure f&m.

Bingham 4-4 Craigie (2-6)

Stuart leaves a starter and Sam gets going, looking to rid himself of the nausea that last frame will have caused him. To that end, he convinces himself a red to left corner is on, discovers that it isn't, and now it's Ballrun with the chance to make something happen ... except he rams a blue at left-middle, misses, the ball shoots across the tale to right and won't drop there either. So Sam gets away via rest, Stuart leaning around him to see if the pot goes down, which it does; next comes brown to the green, but it stays out, and that will surely cost him – perhaps everything.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 5-4 Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson 5-2 Aaron Hill
Long Zehuang 3-3 Pang Junxu
Stan Moody 0-5 Yuan Sijun
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-1 Jak Jones
Noppon Saengkham 2-5 Oliver Lines
Elliot Slessor 5-4 Lan Yuhao

Bingham 4-4 Craigie

Stuart ends a 42-minute marathon, and here comes the decider!

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-53)

After all that, a dreadful safety leaves Stuart a simple blue; Sam sits with hand over eyes, knowing he's wasted several chances to seal f&m.

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-53)

Righto! Stuart leaves a cut to the green ... and Sam steers it home, but can he get on to the blue? He cannot. So can he get it safe? Well, unable to see a safety, he takes it on to the yellow, misses, and gets the white against black cush; he'd've took that. The tension is intense.

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-49)

Stuart lays a decent snooker and, though Sam escapes, he's leaving the green, all Ballrun needs ... until the white sticks to the brown. AND STUART THEN LEAVES THE GREEN OVER THE MIDDLE! From here, it should be curtains ... but Sam overhits his pot – by three or four feet! - and looks absolutely sick at his behaviour. On we go, Sam seeking redeption via snooker; Stuart escapes, and what a ridiculous frame of snooker this is.

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-44)

The pressure, though, is intense, and the yellow isn't easy; Sam slides it into right corner, doesn't get the kiss he was hoping for on the blue ... but is still on the green. Again, though, it's tricky, and he overcuts; reprieve for Stuart, but with no pot left on.

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-44)

Now then! Sam hides yellow behind black, almost tight, with the white behind the green, and Stuart is in trouble. Here comes his escape ... and he passes around the back of his intended target, leaving a free balll! So Sam develops the brown, maintaining his snooker, Ballrun leaves it ... and a proper clear-up opportunity!

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-40)

A tentative black – unsurprisingly given the gravity of the situation – means a minging cut-back yellow, and Sam can't send it down. But he's back in the frame, a state of affairs he'd have accpeted with relish when Stuart was potting balls.

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-25)

Sam's heart will be clattering through his chest, but he'll need to find a way of getting at the brown, marrooned on the side rail between middle and yellow bag. it's the only thing that can save Stuart.

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-8)

Goodness me! Left in a snooker behind the yellow, Stuart goes off the side ... mises the threeballs for which he aimed ... and hits the black! Suddenly, the gap is 58 with 59 left and again, Ballrun is staggered by his own oversight! All the balls down and Sam wins the match! They're pretty much there for him too!

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (66-1)

A thin cut to middle leaves the lead at 60 with 59 on and the blue there to be potted; down it goes, and that'll surely be the frame. But as I type, Stuart misses a double, so Sam returns to the table needing two snookers.

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (41-1)

Stuart accumulates, as well he might. I know Sam wants to get this won but I still can't believe he took on that plant given the risk.

Bingham 3-4 Craigie (18-1)

This would be a colossal win for Sam and, dangled a tempter over left corner, he sinks it beautifully; he's feeling himself now. But on nowt, it's back to the baulk rail then, thinking he's spotted something, he hammers into a prospective plant, gets nowhere near and, with claret all over, leaves a chance for stuart to force a decider. After all that circumspection, that was a really strange decision.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 5-4 Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson 4-2 Aaron Hill
Long Zehuang 2-3 Pang Junxu
Stan Moody 0-5 Yuan Sijun
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-1 Jak Jones
Noppon Saengkham 2-5 Oliver Lines
Elliot Slessor 3-4 Lan Yuhao

Bingham 3-4 Craigie

Left a ball over the hole, Sam sees it away, and he's one up with one to play.

Bingham 3-3 Craigie (26-75)

A superb pink, cut to middle, sustains the run, and Sam is nearly there. He'll be delighted that, as things get tenser, his level is climbing but, taking on a thin cut to left corner he leaves a red in the jaws. Stuart returns to the table 49 behind with 43 on.

Bingham 3-3 Craigie (26-48)

This has been and remains a really good break - all the more so given the pressure Sam's under. Stuart will again be feeling poorly following an expensive miss.

Bingham 3-3 Craigie (26-34)

Really deliberately, Sam builds – he knows he mustn't give this chance away, though whether playing slowly helps with that is unclear. Either way, he's now in the lead with a good chance to go dormie one.

Bingham 3-3 Craigie (26-1)

Errant safety from Sam leaves a dolly for Stuart and, though the black is on its cushion, there are points there for him ... until he jawses a red with the rest, leaving a starter and plenty else.

Bingham 3-3 Craigie (19-0)

Will Stuart try for a cut to corner with the rest? He will you know, and down it goes but, on nowt, he snuggles up to the green. The ecape, though, isn't difficult – the challenge is getting everything safe – and as a consequence, Sam hits the pink first, then falls short twice before fially landing in the cluster.

Bingham 3-3 Craigie (0-0)

Sam has a think then takes on a red to the yellow knowing he can only leave the ball he's playing; he kind of does, but Stuart can't cut it home so to safety we go.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 3-4 Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson 3-2 Aaron Hill
Long Zehuang 1-3 Pang Junxu
Stan Moody 0-5 Yuan Sijun
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-1 Jak Jones
Noppon Saengkham 2-4 Oliver Lines
Elliot Slessor 1-4 Lan Yuhao

Bingham 3-3 Craigie

Stuart will know that simple missed black cost him the frame; can he put away the accordant disappointment?

Bingham 3-2 Craigie (1-63)

A brown dropped into middle and not overcut keeps Sam's vibe going, then he considers a similar shot knowing that, if he nails it, Stuart will need everything left, taking blacks with reds, to win by a point. Nevertheless, he opts against it, tucking in behind the green, the escape leaves a sitter, and this is going to be 303.

Bingham 3-2 Craigie (1-51)

Forty-four points in front, Sam has a think before attempting a blue to left corner ... and drills it home very nicely. It made sense to take it on because the frame is almost his, but he'd have feared missing, as he will looking to sink the next ball with the rest ... and down it goes. There's work still to do, but this is much better stuff.

Bingham 3-2 Craigie (1-37)

Sam will know this an opportunity he mustn't pass up and for now, he's taking it well, Stuart no doubt smouldering in his seat.

Bingham 3-2 Craigie (1-12)

Safety error from Sam but has he left owt? He has not, and when Stuart gets an unwanted kiss on the brown, he has a chance at a diagonal one to middle; not for the first time, though, he overcuts, and this time does leave a starter, gobbled up to corner. There are, though, lots of reds blocking each other ... but it barely matters because an undercut black to corner hands Sam a reprieve, to his his gross and evident displeasure.

Bingham 3-2 Craigie (0-4)

Stuart goes in-off; there follows a protracted safety exchange, but with reds open, it might not last much longer.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 3-2 Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson 3-2 Aaron Hill
Long Zehuang 1-2 Pang Junxu
Stan Moody 0-4 Yuan Sijun
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-1 Jak Jones
Noppon Saengkham 1-3 Oliver Lines
Elliot Slessor 1-4 Lan Yuhao

Bingham 3-2 Craigie

A missed red to middle means no ton, but Stuart won't mind; he hits the front again.

Bingham 2-2 Craigie (70-1)

Stuart secures the frame and suddenly looks in the touch you'd expect from a former world and Masters champion.

Bingham 2-2 Craigie (40-1)

Stuart – who, it must be said, looks extremely svelte – accumulates. There are still plenty of balls there for him to pot.

Bingham 2-2 Craigie (12-1)

Sam goes in-off then Stuart finds a plant, nuzzling up to the brown thereafter; Sam escapes then, in a bad spot, flukes a cut to left corner. Will he take on the pink to middle? Yes he will, but he hits the near jaw and, having returned to the tour this season, he's not really settled yet. Chance for Stuart.

Bingham 2-2 Craigie (6-0)

Sam goes at one to left corner ... and doesn't get close, barely contacting the jaw. So Stuart slides into the green bag, adds the blue, and mooches up to the business end ... where all he has on is a nasty cut, so he refuses it.

We go again...

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 2-2 Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson 2-1 Aaron Hill
Long Zehuang 0-2 Pang Junxu
Stan Moody 0-3 Yuan Sijun
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 3-1 Jak Jones
Noppon Saengkham 1-3 Oliver Lines
Elliot Slessor 1-2 Lan Yuhao

Bingham 2-2 Craigie

Sam sinks a red, and that's the frame; at the interval, we're all-square and will be back in around 10 minutes.

Bingham 2-1 Craigie (30-77)

Left in a snooker, Sam goes for big swerve ... and that's an excellent escape.

Bingham 2-1 Craigie (30-77)

Going for his first snooker off the final red, Stuart gets nowhere near, frustrating beginning to aggravate him as he begins the chase for one afresh.

Bingham 2-1 Craigie (17-77)

Stuart cant make many, but soon gets in again, the ball not unamenable to snookers. It's still a long shot, but Sam will know he's in peril.

Bingham 2-1 Craigie (1-77)

Oh, but on 73, the lead 77, Sam jawses one to right corner with the rest; Stuart returns to the table with three smookers required and gets away to the middle.

Bingham 2-1 Craigie (0-58)

This match looks like being a best-of-five; the frame is nearly Sam's, the interval beckoning.

Bingham 2-1 Craigie (0-34)

Sam opens the pack and knows that, from here, he should make a frame-winning contribution.

Bingham 2-1 Craigie (0-5)

A disastours break-off from Stuart pois the yellow in its own pocket and allows Sam to take control of the exchange; left in an invidious position, Ballrun then plays a poor return-safety that opens plenty. That's going to cost him and so it should.

Around the tables

Ben Woollaston 1-2 Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson 1-1 Aaron Hill
Long Zehuang 0-2 Pang Junxu
Stan Moody 0-2 Yuan Sijun
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 1-1 Jak Jones
Noppon Saengkham 1-2 Oliver Lines
Elliot Slessor 1-2 Lan Yuhao

Bingham 2-1 Craigie

Stuart downs the blue and takes the lead.

Bingham 1-1 Craigie (75-48)

Now then! Sam – who, by the way, is a really good player who's not quite put it all together – sinks brown, then lays a terrific snooker off the blue and in behind the pink ... but Stuart escapes well, so round we go.