Stan Moody bids to join exclusive youth club at British Open as John Higgins and Mark Williams chase snooker immortality

Six-time world champion Ray Reardon remains the only man to win a ranking title at the age of 50, but that 43-year-old record could be under threat in Cheltenham. John Higgins and Mark Williams are both in the hunt to become the oldest men to lift a major trophy at the British Open with Williams taking on defending champion Mark Selby and Higgins facing Louis Heathcote in the last eight on Friday.

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Ray Reardon's lengthy standing as snooker's oldest ranking event winner could be under threat at the British Open in Cheltenham.

Six-time world champion Reardon became the first man to win a major tournament at the age of 50 when he defeated Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White 10-5 to claim the Professional Players Tournament in Birmingham aged 50 years and 14 days in 1982.

But that 43-year-old record could go on Sunday evening if the evergreen Mark Williams or John Higgins, with seven British Open victories between them, are left holding the trophy at The Centaur, home of Cheltenham Racecourse.

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It is a venue used to witnessing timeless thoroughbreds triumph with Arkle, Desert Orchid, Kauto Star and Denman among the famous horses to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in years gone by.

Williams ended Mark Allen's hopes of back-to-back titles with a 4-3 win over the new English Open winner in the last 32 before hitting a 123 in a 4-1 victory over Lei Peifan in Thursday's evening session.

Higgins continued his return to form with a 4-1 dismissal of Ben Mertens that saw him reel off four straight frames from 1-0 behind with top runs of 63 and 76.

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Williams faces defending champion Mark Selby in the pick of the quarter-finals on Friday afternoon with Higgins taking on Selby's fellow Leicester potter Louis Heathcote for a spot in the last four.

With both men turning 50 a few months ago, the chance to create a unique piece of snooker history is on the table alongside the £100,000 winner's cheque.

Higgins is already the second and third-oldest winner of a ranking competition with victories at the World Open and Tour Championship achieved earlier this year at the age of 49.

Williams makes up the all-time top five in winning the British Open aged 48 in October 2023 and the Tour Championship in April 2024, days after turning 49.

But former world junior champion Stan Moody, who edged out Ali Carter 4-3 in the last 16, could also join an exclusive club if he claims his maiden ranking crown.

The 19-year-old Halifax player takes on a rejuvenated Anthony McGill on Friday afternoon, bidding to become only the seventh teenager to secure a major tournament success.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Ding Junhui, Paul Hunter, John Higgins and Yan Bingtao are the only professionals to achieve the feat so far before the age of 20.

Meanwhile, Masters champion Shaun Murphy is aiming to continue his return to form after completing victories over Saudi Arabia Masters winner Neil Robertson (4-1) and world No. 1 Judd Trump (4-3) on the same day to set up a quarter-final meeting with world No. 91 Mitchell Mann.

Murphy produced breaks of 131 and 123 with Trump compiling 105 to level at 3-3.

"I must be in a very small club of players who have beaten Neil and Judd on the same day," said Murphy, who has reclaimed his spot in the top 16 after briefly dropping out.

"In a way, it made my job easy today because I knew I needed to play at my best.

"I wasn't aware of my run in the top 16 until I was out, and it was all over social media.

"I am very proud of that run, although it makes me feel very old as in my head I am still 25!"

British Open quarter-final order of play

13:00 UK time
Mark Williams v Mark Selby
Stan Moody v Anthony McGill

19:00
Louis Heathcote v John Higgins
Shaun Murphy v Mitchell Mann

- - -

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