English Open 2024 snooker live – Mark Selby behind against Si Jiahui with Judd Trump playing Fan Zhengyi after

Selby loses the cue ball close to the left cushion meaning the next black has become difficult and while he strikes it beautifully to make the pot he doesn’t land on a red and that’s end of break.

Si gets us underway for the second frame. Selby takes on a long red and goes closer this time but still is yet to find his first pot. No immediate damage is done as he leaves nothing on but Si plays another good safety.

It pays off immediately as Selby knocks a red over the right corner pocket which the Chinese player once again dispatches. He didn’t have a great angle though on the brown meaning he tried to force it in to get down for the reds and rattled the jaws of the pocket. He did land on the red though, presenting Selby a chance to get some points on the board.

In the other match taking place, Wu Yize has taken a one frame lead over Ben Woollaston.

A break of 28 seals the first frame for Si in really impressive fashion. The 22-year-old demonstrated great potting along with smart shot choices and tactical nous with some tidy safety play. Flawless start from the Chinese youngster.

After a miss on the first attempt, Selby makes contact with a red but leaves Si on to seal the frame.

Selby misses a red from range by a long way but does no damage. The Englishman’s next shot is a better one as he ties Si up close to the baulk cushion.

But the Chinese youngster pulls out an outrageous pot into the right corner pocket and is then able to get Selby rolled up behind the brown while knocking the blue safe.

Si is able to pick off a few loose reds in and around the bunch before needing to go into the pack. When he does he gets stuck on the bottom of it but plays a remarkable recovery pot into the yellow pocket.

He sent the cue ball close to the top cushion though with safety in mind and as a result plays safe on his next shot knocking the yellow to the side cushion.

A few shots later and Si is forced to nudge off the pack as he looks to run through onto the black. He is left high on the black which causes him to hesitate as he evaluates how he will control the cue ball to land on a red. His hesitation was justified as the cue ball goes into the bottom of the pack leaving him without a pot.

Safety it is but what a good one Si plays. Selby looks to go off two cushions onto the red closest to the top cushion and misses by a long way leaving Si a chance to get back in. A well taken brown and red later and Si is back in a great position.

Selby knocks a red over the left corner pocket presenting the first chance to Si. The 22-year-old makes no mistakes and lands nicely on the green.

It’s Mark Selby who kicks things off with a near perfect break. Remember it’s a race to four for a place in the last eight.

Mark Selby and Si Jiahui have met twice before and it’s the Englishman who has won both, with the two ties also taking a best of seven format, as today’s contest does.

The other game getting underway at 13:00 BST sees Wu Yize take on Ben Woollaston. The 20-year-old Chinese player has produced two really impressive results so far, coming through ties with Stuart Bingham and Ali Carter.

As for Woollaston, he also produced an opening round shock beating Mark Williams before getting the better of Zak Surety. A quarter-final place against either Judd Trump or Fan Zhengyi is at stake.

Our opening coverage today sees two-time English Open champion Mark Selby take on China’s Si Jiahui. The Jester cruised through his all-Leicester clash with Joe O’Connor in round two, inflicting a whitewash on his close friend after beating Ireland’s Aaron Hill 4-2 in the opening round.

Si faced a sterner test to reach the last 16 after needing a decider to get past his fellow countryman Jiang Jun. The 22-year-old had a more comfortable opening round, beating Andrew Pagett 4-1 to get his campaign up and running.

The Chinese youngster arrived in Brentwood in promising form having reached the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters only to be knocked out by Mark Williams. Si enjoyed an impressive run of five victories to reach the final four, including a 6-4 quarter-final win over Ronnie O’Sullivan.

As for Selby, it was an early exit in Riyadh, losing his opening match to Neil Robertson. But the world number five will feel this is a great opportunity for a 23rd ranking title with Judd Trump the only other top-ten player left on his side of the draw. A quarter-final with either Ishpreet Chadha or He Guoqiang awaits – players ranked 77th and 64th respectively.

Good afternoon and welcome along to LIVE coverage of the afternoon session of the last 16 at the English Open.

(All UK times, schedule subject to change)

• Mark Selby v Si Jiahui
• Wu Yize v Ben Woollaston

• Ishpreet Chadha v He Guoqiang
• Judd Trump v Zhengyi Fan

• Mark Allen v John Higgins
• Neil Robertson v Ross Muir

• Barry Hawkins v Kyren Wilson
• Chris Wakelin v Junxu Pang