English Open recap - Mark Allen secures comeback win over Jak Jones after Mark Selby shocked by Zhou Yuelong in semi-final clash
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Updated 21/09/2025 at 00:21 GMT+1
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Mark Allen faces Jak Jones after Mark Selby suffered a shocking defeat to Zhou Yuelong as he took a 3-6 win earlier to advance to the 2025 BetVictor English Open final. Watch all the English Open action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
‘What has he done?’ - Allen makes ‘blunder’ compared to an air shot in golf
Video credit: TNT Sports
VICTORY! Allen 6-5 Jones
Frame and match ball, and the Pistol sinks it!
It was a tough start for Mark Allen, but his mettle shone for the third night in a row as he denied Jak Jones a return to the table.
A fairytale comeback as the clock strikes (nine minutes past) 12 and Mark Allen books his ticket to the final!
Jones had his chances and led 5-3 but could not wrap up the win and Allen fought back - as he had done in previous matches against Ding Junhui and Elliot Slessor - to book his place in the English Open final.
He will meet Zhou Yuelong on Sunday at 1pm to play for the Steve Davis Trophy.
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‘Slow to start but boy what a finisher’ - Allen wraps up comeback win over Jones
Video credit: TNT Sports
Allen 5-5 Jones (66-0)
This match is slipping away from Jak Jones, and he is perhaps now feeling what Elliot Slessor and Ding Junhui went through in the days prior.
It was a big gamble to take despite the potential trouble he could have put Allen in, and the fallout of his mistake now sees Allen go 49 up.
This cool compsure and attack we're seeing right now is exactly what pulled Allen through his other matches, it is a wonder why he chose a cautious start.
Allen 5-5 Jones (24-0)
We know Allen is a master at the deciding frames now, and he capitalises on Jones' error. The black is still tied up on the top cushion, so this could still be a low-scoring break yet.
Allen 5-5 Jones (4-0)
Both players are dancing around the pack, could we see another rerack tonight?
Neither player wants to play the cue ball to baulk with a couple of reds hovering around the centre pockets.
It is nearly 14 scoreless minutes, but Jones just misjudges the power on the white and comes short of the gentle bump he wanted.
He retakes the foul, this time hitting the cue ball heavy and skipping it up. He doesn't get the backspin he wanted, and he trudges back to his chair.
Allen 5-5 Jones (0-0)
The players are back and we look to have another midnight match on our hands. The black has been pushed against the cushion and many of the reds remain tight.
Allen nearly rolls the white into a pocket again, and he will be happy not to repeat a mistake that cost him an earlier frame.
Disruption
The players hold for a crowd issue, as raised voices can be heard in the Brentwood Centre.
Allen 5-5 Jones
Jones plays a desperate shot that leaves a chance on the table, and Allen adds to his near perfect rest shot record by potting a red to pull even for the second time.
Could we see a third consecutive comeback win?
Allen 4-5 Jones (67-8)
The frame is still in Allen’s favour, and he pots the blue to force at least a tie. A gleam of hope for Jones as the Pistol misses, and he will need to play his best to get the re-spot.
He takes 8 on this break.
Allen 4-5 Jones (61-0)
Allen pots first, once again working his way left and right of the black. Not a brilliant cannon into the reds, but he moves the cue ball up in line with the green. He pots a red into the right-corner and brings it back down around the black. He has been great at mitigating any poor positions he has found himself in, and he is denying Jones even a glance at the table.
It is clear that this half is in Allen’s hands, and he holds the three highest breaks after the interval.
The remarkable shot that put the Silent Assassin back ahead
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‘Powerful candidate for shot of the match’ - Jones pots stunning brown to steal frame
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Allen 4-5 Jones
Brushing through a half-century, this frame looks like Allen’s now. Frustrating for Jones, but there is still a lot of work for Allen to do if he wants to face Zhou Yuelong.
An admirable effort to come back from behind.
Allen 3-5 Jones (34-28)
An unfortunate miss for Allen, and there is a cuttable angle there for Jones. He misses though, and it is back to safeties for both.
Shortly after Jones leaves a shot open for the middle pocket, a plant that wasn’t pottable from baulk but certainly was from the lower angle. This could be the start of yet another a comeback for Allen on a table that looks rather friendly.
Allen 3-5 Jones (11-28)
Allen misjudges a safety shot, and Jones could go on a good break for the win now. We have seen sparks of brilliance from the Pistol, but Jak Jones has been the more consistent and determined of the duo tonight.
He pots a red into the right-middle, and is now on line for the blue and pulls the cue ball down for a red to the left-corner.
A slight misjudgement now will end his break, and he plays a safety back up towards the green corner.
Allen 3-5 Jones (11-0)
Mark Allen isn’t out of the running just yet as he could still take a hattrick of comeback matches. Jones will have to make some big errors if Allen wants a chance at the final.
A beautiful long shot to pot a red near the bottom cushion, he gets onto the scoreboard first in this frame.
The mistake that cost Allen the frame
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‘What has he done?’ - Allen makes ‘blunder’ compared to an air shot in golf
Video credit: TNT Sports
Allen 3-5 Jones
Jones back on the break, he pulls the lead to 64 with the pink as frame ball. He pots it and then a red, but then misses the next pink. Allen steps up to the table now, and he will need to force four fouls from Jones. But he misses a pink and this frame is over for the Pistol.
Allen 3-4 Jones (0-41)
Allen has to be kicking himself now for that error as Jones continues to climb. Jones eyes up a plant, and it goes straight into the pocket. But the other red shunts forward further than he would like, and blocks off his intended line with the black. He chooses to end with a safety instead.
Allen 3-4 Jones (0-11)
Allen throws his head into his hands as he whiffs the cue ball right into the pocket. This opens up a scoring chance for Jones, who jumps right on it with a stunning blue that breaks the pack wide open.
Allen claims 673rd professional ton
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‘A scoring machine’ - Allen makes century against Jones
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Allen 3-4 Jones
A horrible mistake for Allen as he tries to pot the green, and a clear chance opens up right for Jones. But he plays a poor shot in turn and the brown is in a difficult spot.
Jones lines up a spectacular shot to sink the brown into the yellow corner, and it is frame ball on the pink which he takes with ease.
Gutting for Allen who was so close to edging in front of the Welshman.
Allen 3-3 Jones (46-41)
Jones is looking to wrap up this frame now after that earlier drought.
He is eyeing the last red now, he didn’t anticipate a kiss off the pink and will have to readjust his shot. Perfect shot on the red up to the green corner, he’s on to the colours. Unfortunately, he’ll have to turn to a safety for the green as it’s right on the cushion.
He puts the cue ball and green on opposite ends of the table.
Allen 3-3 Jones (46-1)
Will we see Allen take the lead for the first time this match? Lots of decent options with how the balls are distributed across the table, we are now on half an hour in this frame.
He ends his run on a missed black, six reds still on the table and Jones could still take this frame.
Allen 3-3 Jones (17-1)
Jones has a go at a long shot, and the red gets caught on the jaws of the pocket. Something needs to change here, it has been more than 15 minutes since the last pot.
Jones leaves a pottable red with a thin cut, and Allen does it to ironic cheers from the audience. They too have been waiting for some semblance of pace on the table.
Allen 3-3 Jones (4-1)
Both players agree to leave the table for a toilet break. We are still a world away from the end of this frame, and the crowd in Brentwood takes the opportunity to stretch their legs after what has been a strange half hour.
Allen 3-3 Jones (4-1)
Jones finally breaks the stalemate to score. However, in a turn of awful luck, he has snookered himself from all six colours as his cue ball ends up in the cluster of reds. It is a nightmare for the Welshman as he trods around the table to seek a way through.
He attempts contact with the green of cushions- and hits a red. Jones takes it again, this time trying the black. He just nudges the black to get out of the situation, but Allen will be looking to see if he has left anything on the table.
Allen 3-3 Jones (0-0)
Both players are keen to dodge the balls, and we finally get a rerack called to applause from the audience. Jones to break.
Allen 3-3 Jones
Allen picks up a fantastic long red to end the frame, he has managed to tie up the match and this is a very different Mark Allen to an hour ago.
Allen 2-3 Jones (63-0)
Allen back on the scoring and it seems the tide may be turning. He nearly misses a pink, which skims the jaw before falling into the pocket, but he returns easily to the bottom of the table after that. He continues to pick off the reds and then decides to snooker after a break of 62.
Allen 2-3 Jones (1-0)
Great shot from Allen, who promptly tucks it behind the yellow. The reds are tightly clustered, and neither man seems to want to break them apart.
A forgotten issue now as Allen pulls a frame back
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‘Doing wonders for Mark Allen’s average shot time’ - Cloth issue causes delay
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Allen 2-3 Jones
Allen practically leaps from his chair towards the table, and he is straight into the points. There is a new fire in him, and this could be what he needs to pull even with Jones. He is playing perfectly at the bottom of the table, avoiding the need for cannons by picking out his shots carefully .
Jones is looking on, thinking about what could've been as Allen racks up the points, undoubtedly his worst mistake of the match so far and one that has cost him a frame.
With the clearance in this frame, the Pistol takes his 673rd century in pro competition.
Allen 1-3 Jones (8-27)
Jones can’t find a safety out of his situation, and he pots his way out of it. Lovely line on the black into the left-middle as well, and we will see if his confidence and momentum have survived the interval. He just misses on the blue and he finishes his break there.
Allen 1-3 Jones (8-4)
Allen fouls as he is just shy of pace, giving Jones the first points of the match. Jones goes on to play a safety, who will go on the attack first in this frame?
Allen considers a long shot, and he takes it well. His long pot success prior to this frame was 95%, and he needs to keep taking these bold moves if he wants to stop Jones from going three up.
Complete disbelief on Jak Jones' face as his shot ricochets
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Jones misses pink, sees it fly up table and pot blue
Video credit: TNT Sports
Take a look at Allen’s stellar clearance
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‘Has come to life’ - Allen gets off the mark against Jones
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Allen 1-3 Jones
Luck is on Jak Jones’ side as a miss ends up in a snooker for both reds. Allen makes it, but leaves Jones with a difficult shot. But the Welshman is able to take a thin cut and sink the red, which he follows with a green and the last red. This frame will be Jones’, can Allen get his form together to catch up in time?
Allen 1-2 Jones (29-66)
Jones is on a 53 point lead, and he can force Allen into needing a snooker with one more red. He just misses it unfortunately, and Allen will be able to keep fighting for this frame.
Allen seems to thrive under the pressure of being behind, there is a drive to his play now. However, both remaining reds lie against the right cushions, and he ends his break there.
Allen 1-2 Jones (5-66)
Jones is still in good form as he takes a long shot on the red, and it would be a treat if he can pull away on this break.
He is picking off the open reds with good effect, but he will need to think about going into the groups soon. And that is what he does on his next shot, finding a tricky shot on the red up towards the left-middle pocket. The white comes back down for the black, and the Silent Assassin is proving his name with his calm demeanour.
An unlucky shot sees a red caught in the jaws of the left-corner, which Allen steps up to dispatch.
Allen 1-2 Jones (4-5)
A round of groans from the audience as Allen gets unlucky at the left-corner pocket, It is a testament to the confidence he gained from his break as it wouldn't have been a shot that he would have taken a couple of frames ago.
Foul from Jones as he touches the brown with his cue.
Allen 1-2 Jones
We pause as Allen notices something in the cloth near the blue, perhaps something in the weave. He moves on regardless, getting a decent amount of table time for the first time this match.
A confident pot on a red sees the cue ball travel short of the baulk line with a world of colours to choose from. This is the type of play that Jones needs, and we’ll see if he continues on the same way over the next few frames. He needs only a few more to take the frame, but he is in an awkward position with the pink.
The risk doesn't quite pay out, and he will have to gamble on a thin shot on the red or back to safety. He makes it in nicely, and his shot on the colour brings the ball down for the last red on the cushion. A masterful clearance, and there is life back in this match.
Allen 0-2 Jones (7-17)
Jones strikes first again, and an excellent shot on the brown sees him break the reds apart. Allen isn’t playing aggressively, while Jones seems sure in his play. The recovered table is responding well, but an unlucky shot sees the pink rocket off the jaws, and send the blue straight into the green pocket.
Watch Jones' lucky break in the last frame
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‘What a fluke’ - Jones gets huge slice of luck against Allen
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Allen 0-2 Jones
Jones finds himself in a tough spot for the black, but completes a great shot to sink it into the right-corner. He is on for a century at 80 with four colours left, but he is denied the ton by the blue.
You have to wonder what Mark Allen is thinking now, will he step up his attack?
Allen 0-1 Jones (5-74)
Nine minutes since the last pot and Allen drops another big mistake. Jones pockets the red and he is off on another break. Jones pots the black and breaks open a trio of reds, and he has pulled out a considerable lead on this frame.
Allen’s strategy of a careful start might not be paying off as Jones continues to clean up the table. He is on a break of 55 now, has all but won this frame.
Allen 0-1 Jones (5-19)
Jones plays another snooker, and Allen misses it twice. He changes his shot and strikes a different red instead, and it is back to Jones. Both players are taking their time on each shot, and it is hard to spot any sense of rhythm from either of them.
Neither of them wants to take risks for fear of losing the frame.
Allen 0-1 Jones (5-11)
Jones’ shot ends up clustered with the reds and black, and Allen plays a safety shot back up the table.
A long shot across the table seems to breaks the safety standoff, but Jones then decides to hide the cue ball behind the brown for a snooker.
Allen 0-1 Jones (5-10)
Allen pots his first point of the match, and decides to tuck the cue ball behind the brown instead of having a go at the yellow or green.
Jones runs out of pace by a couple of inches, and he retakes the shot, this time with better power.
Allen 0-1 Jones (0-10)
It was a tidy frame for Jones, lasting only 11 minutes. Allen has admitted to a shoddy night’s rest, and we will see if he can pick himself up for today’s match.
A lucky deflection for Jones sees him pot a red, and he scores first again. He then pots the blue but his break ends there.
Allen fouls and decides to take the shot again. This time we hear the clack of the balls and he returns to his seat.
Allen 0-1 Jones
This is looking like the end of a scoreless frame for Allen as Jones climbs to a break of 77. Could we see a century in the first frame from the Silent Assassin?
Unfortunately not as he just misses a red into the right-corner pocket, ending his break on 92. This frame has taken absolutely no time at all compared to the ones in this afternoon’s session between Mark Selby and Zhou Yuelong, and Jones is one up.
Allen 0-0 Jones (0-49)
A frustrating start for Allen as he pots the white early on. Jones gets a good scoring chance and he sinks a red neatly into the left-middle.
He pots a black with big backspin to angle himself for a red, something that we wouldn’t have seen if not for the new table tonight.
He continues on and scatters the reds, could Jones take the first frame right here? He is on a break of 45.
Tonight's match
Mark Allen will face Jak Jones shortly at 7pm, and he’ll be grateful for the evening session as he wrapped up his 5-4 match against Elliot Slessor at 12:40am this morning. Allen impressed in the Round of 16 where he beat out Ding Junhui 4-3, with both of these games being comeback wins from zero frames.
Meanwhile, Welshman Jack Jones has been quite comfortable against throughout this tournament, with his closest match coming also in the Round of 16 against Ricky Walden 4-3.
VICTORY! Selby 3-6 Zhou
For a second, it seems that Zhou might pot the blue for a foul, but it continues to travel wide. Selby hits his next shot hard, and the red comes to rest right before the pocket.
The Jester concedes, and it is Zhou Yuelong who moves on!
We will be back for the second semi-final between Mark Allen and Jak Jones at 6:45pm UK time.
Selby 3-5 Zhou (24-72)
Selby is refusing to give up and shake Zhou's hand, playing a snooker in hopes of clawing this frame back in his favour. Zhou makes it easily, but Selby returns with yet another snooker.
The white will have to travel a long way up and down the table, but Zhou puts just enough pace on the ball to get it there.
This is now a four-hour match, and Selby is desperate for anything. He needs four snookers on Zhou.
Selby 3-5 Zhou (24-72)
This mistake may have cost Selby the match. A red shoots up and down the table to settle ahead of the cue ball towards the green corner, and Zhou jumps on the chance. He pots the green next, and he takes the white back down for the red.
With another red and black, Zhou has all but sealed his spot in the finals.
Selby 3-5 Zhou (24-52)
Zhou tries to break the three reds apart with his shot on the blue, but only one moves from the group. He ends his break there.
It's the "Last chance saloon" for Selby, says Foulds, and both players seem to be reverting back to safeties.
Zhou needs one decent run to clinch this match, and Selby can't afford a single mistake now.
Selby 3-5 Zhou (24-46)
Zhou pots again, he is for a chance to win this match. His positioning isn’t ideal but he is able to push forward nevertheless, catching and passing Selby’s score quickly.
He seems to have found a rhythm, though a trio of grouped reds in the centre may pose an issue in a little bit.
The finish line is in sight, and once again, Selby is sat waiting for a miracle to happen.
Selby 3-5 Zhou (24-1)
Zhou sinks one from long range, his first point in a while. A little while later, he makes a misjudgement that allows Selby to trickle one towards the right-middle. Selby is back on the attack with a black, can he carry this momentum forward?
He tries to break the reds open but they aren’t as free as he hoped, and he turns to a safety shot to end his break.
A look at Selby's mistake that put Zhou one step away from the win
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‘That’s bad news’ - Selby pots blue but sees red go in as well
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Selby 3-5 Zhou
No mistakes from the Jester this time around, and he denies Zhou even a point on the board. This is beautiful positioning from Selby as he works his way over to each red from left to right. Despite some frames slipping through his fingers, he has an enjoyable break of 67 to take the frame.
Selby 2-5 Zhou (57-0)
Selby regains the upper hand after a miss each, he cannons the blue into the left-middle pocket to bring the white down the table.
It is an unusual table, with the reds scattered among the colours all over the table.
Selby is cleaning up the bottom of the table, and we will see how he decides to work his way up to the rest.
He needs a few more to secure this frame.
Selby 2-5 Zhou (13-0)
Selby pots the blue, but the resulting position of the cue ball leaves him scratching his head. He decides to bump the white into a red and end his break there.
Zhou does the same with a gentle push, and it is back to Selby to decide what he wants to do with the cluster of reds and the pink.
Selby 2-5 Zhou (7-0)
Selby can’t afford any mistakes now with Zhou one frame away from victory. An attempt at a long shot went out of control, scattering the balls across the table. Zhou attempted a red into the green corner to no avail, and this time, Selby was able to make the long shot to applause from the crowd.
Selby 2-5 Zhou
A huge clearance for Zhou as he finds himself on the brink of a finals spot. Selby will be frustrated with how that frame slipped away, especially just as he seemed to start playing his best snooker of the whole afternoon.
But there is no denying Zhou’s consistency with clearances right now, and we could be on our last frame of this afternoon session.
Selby 2-4 Zhou (54-47)
Zhou picks up some good shots, but when faced with two reds side by side, he sends the remaining red to the cushion, which will not be the position he wanted from it.
A great rest shot to sink it, and we are back down to the clearance to determine the frame yet again.
There’s nothing Selby can do right now except to hope that something goes wrong.
Selby 2-4 Zhou (54-5)
Selby on a break again, things are looking up for the Jester. Unfortunately, he fouls as he attempts to break up the reds. He pots the blue, but an errant red rolls into the right-corner pocket.
Selby’s reaction says it all as he rolls his eyes to the ceiling, and he knows that this might be what Zhou has been waiting for.
Selby 2-4 Zhou (34-0)
A great long shot for Selby to score first again. This seems to be a little bit of a resurgence for the Englishman, and Brentwood are still firmly behind him based on the reaction to his last frame.
He’s looking the better of the two right now, perhaps because Selby is playing more aggressively now. We know that Zhou is prepared to match him in safeties, and this could be the key to shake up the match.
The white skews left off the black, and he misses his next shot on the red.
Selby 2-4 Zhou
A wild shot from Zhou scatters the pack, and he shakes his head as he heads back to his chair. This is the second error like it; he evades a foul but the table is now open to his opponent.
Selby is straight back on the points, taking advantage of the open reds and sandwiching them with the blue. Zhou will now need a snooker for a chance at the frame, but Selby keeps advancing and shuts him out completely with a break of 42.
This is a frame to forget for Zhou, and he will need to figure out what went wrong.
Selby 1-4 Zhou (45–0)
Selby on the break early this time around, he knows that this frame is crucial. It’s a good start, and he seems to be shaking off that mistake.
A shot on the pink sees him surrounded by the reds, and he chooses to end his run there and play a safety.
Magic on Zhou's play early in the fifth frame
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‘How did that go in?’ - Zhou pots red that leaves Foulds baffled
Video credit: TNT Sports
Selby 1-4 Zhou
It is just colours left, and we know Zhou can clear the table. Brown to blue next, and if he nails this one, this could be it. Strong shot to bring the ball down to the pink, and that is superb as well. The black goes into the left-corner and the Jumping Dragon is back up to a three-frame lead.
Selby is left thinking what could have been if he had made the red.
Selby 1-3 Zhou (54-40)
Selby has erased the gap in the blink of an eye, and there is a fluency in this break that speaks to his positional play. A ball goes slightly offline and it forces Selby to stretch over the table and point his toe to the floor, but he pots it nonetheless. However, his next shot on the red hits the jaw, and it stops at the mouth of the pocket.
This could be a lifeline for Zhou.
We know just how quickly Selby can catch up...
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Selby makes winning clearance despite 'massive' positional blunder
Video credit: TNT Sports
Selby 1-3 Zhou (7-40)
Another excellent safety shot from Selby, Zhou seems to miss the red that he wanted, and he leaves two reds lingering near the pockets. No foul, but his could be the break Selby needs - time will tell how large that mistake was.
Selby 1-3 Zhou (0-40)
Zhou rolls a red into the left-middle that shocks even himself, "When he lifted his hand up I thought he’d missed!" says Foulds. But this kicks off another break for Zhou, and we know by now he enjoys getting on that scoreboard early.
A misjudgement by Selby sees the white drop into the pocket and four more points on Zhou’s scoreline.
The miss that lost the Jester the third frame
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‘It must have been thin for that to happen’ - Selby misses green when attempting pot
Video credit: TNT Sports
Selby 1-3 Zhou (0-6)
Zhou stands over the reds for two minutes before sinking one into the left-middle, and then takes a blue. He misses the next red with a grimace, but doesn’t leave anything on the table.
A reminder of what's up tonight
Mark Allen plays Jak Jones in the evening session at 7pm. Allen will be hoping for a quicker resolution than yesterday's match, which saw him wrap up his match against Elliot Slessor at 12:40 am.
Meanwhile, Jak Jones enters his first ranking semi-final since the 2024 World Championship last April.
Watch all the English Open action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Wonder if the fly saw that last break
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‘Fending off an attack from something’ - Selby wrestles with insect
Video credit: TNT Sports
Selby 1-3 Zhou
No hardship for the yellow, green, and brown, he needs the remaining three to take the frame. Great shots on the blue and pink as well, but a misjudgement leaves him a difficult black to pot. But the master is back in form and it is a brilliant clearance to make it 1-3 ahead of the interval.
Selby 0-3 Zhou (44-59)
Selby eyeing up a shot into the right-corner, but isn’t in a great position for a colour. The Jester pots a blue undeterred and lines up a red into the yellow corner.
The blue again into the right-middle, and then a red back down to the right.
If Selby can make this break count, he will pull back a much-needed frame for both the match and his confidence.
A beauty into the blue sees him bounce the remaining red off the cushion into a pottable position, and just like that we are on the colours.
Selby 0-3 Zhou (0-59)
Zhou has to be feeling good with the scoreboard, he beat Barry Hawkins 4-2 and Mark Williams 4-1 earlier this week and he could win against yet another hard-hitter today.
Zhou has a new coach this season, working with Steve Feeney as of March. This partnership is clearly working, as Zhou is well in his element now. Plenty on the table still, he ends his break on 59.
A look back at the opening frame that sparked this momentum
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‘He will be delighted with that’ - Zhou wins ‘epic’ opening frame
Video credit: TNT Sports
Selby 0-3 Zhou
We have hit two hours of match time. Selby is playing safety after safety, but Zhou finally pots the blue to seal a frame that he should have won forty minutes ago for a 0-3 lead.
A few lucky breaks could change it all, and we go on to the fourth frame.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (47-69)
Selby pots the yellow, but misses the green. Zhou hasn’t potted in half an hour, and his next points come from a foul. Selby was trying to pot the green into the right-middle pocket, but the gamble on a thin shot didn’t pay off.
Selby makes the green on his next shot, and he snookers. Zhou bounces the ball off the bottom cushion, and the line looks good for a potential pot but he just runs out of speed.
Selby takes the brown as well, but he needs to force a foul from Zhou if he intends to win this frame. A sharp shot sends the blue ricocheting across the table, and it is a beautiful snooker.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (38-65)
"Come on, Mark!" ringing through the crowd now, Selby pots the red but nearly puts the white into a pocket as well. There are only enough points left on the table for him to tie, and it will be crucial for him not to leave anything for Zhou. Knowing that, he promptly plays a snooker, but Zhou dispatches it cleanly with a snooker of his own.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (27-65)
Another sigh from Brentwood as Zhou misses, will Selby do anything with this? He says no as he plays the white back to the D.
Selby’s next shot sees the cue ball down the table, and Zhou takes a crack. But it is another miss on the right-corner pocket and Selby pots it instead.
He puts the black into the left-corner and finally opens up the reds, but the colours are scattered across the table now. We will have to wait and see what the Jester has up his sleeve, he is on the attack now.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (12-65)
Zhou sends a red to the right cushion, and Selby puts it straight back with the others. Zhou fouls, and he takes a second go at the reds. But he makes another mistake, this time touching the red but leaving Selby a chance to pot.
The Jester doesn’t fancy that shot along the cushion, bringing the cue ball back up the table.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (8-65)
Selby stops the clock, he pots a long shot to end the drought. But he only picks up eight in this break and we are back to a safety stalemate. Neither man seems to want to break the cluster of four reds along the bottom cushion.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (0-65)
Some tougher balls left on the table now, one on the left and four near the bottom cushion. He misses, and it is up to Selby to figure out what he can make of this frame. The Englishman hasn’t potted in just over half an hour, and that clock continues to tick as he plays a safety.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (0-52)
Much better positioning this time around for Zhou, as he refuses to let up. He makes some great shots to keep the tournament favourite on his toes, and he is playing well around the bottom of the table.
He breaks apart the cluster of reds on the cushion, and nestles the white in their midst for his next shot.
He is currently on a break of 45.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (0-7)
Selby doesn’t seem to have settled into the match yet, as we see another miss from the two-time title holder. We’ll see what Zhou can do - he pots a red just to find himself in the middle of nowhere. This will be a disappointment as the Jumping Dragon returns to his seat.
Selby 0-2 Zhou (0-6)
First to score yet again, Zhou pots a blue before ending his turn. He has been showing remarkable patience all tournament, having clocked a 52-minute deciding frame against Luca Brecel just yesterday. His calm demeanour could be his ticket into his first-ever English Open final, but it is still very early doors in this best-of-11.
Selby 0-2 Zhou
A big shot now for Zhou, and he pots it! A stunning angle down to the left-corner, he must take advantage now to make up the deficit from his previous error.
He is cleaning up the reds now, with the black sandwiched between. He pulls the cueball a little higher back up the table towards the reds there, and he pots the pink shortly after. It is good positioning for Zhou, who hits a half-century. He now must pot the last red, which sits along the cushion. A gentle hit and it rolls straight into the right-corner.
He pots the black and now Selby needs a snooker to catch.
But Zhou isn’t giving him a chance, cleaning the colours for a terrific break and the second frame of the match.
Selby 0-1 Zhou (40-6)
The fly is back, and Selby is forced to do a little bit of craning and swatting as he tries to angle up his next shot. But the Jester is undeterred, lining it up for a smooth line with the black.
Laughs from the crowd as Selby gives a huff at the fly, the bug appears to be a fan of the Englishman. What we wouldn’t give for a view that good…
Selby is punishing Zhou for that lapse in judgment on the brown, he is currently on a break of 36.
Selby 0-1 Zhou (4-6)
Zhou spots a chance, and pots the red with a satisfying thunk. The colours aren’t in the best position, and he has to weigh up how badly he wants the points. The brown gets caught by the jaws, and Zhou must head back to his seat wondering if he has given Selby a run.
Selby 0-1 Zhou (4-5)
Selby fouls, with his shot just running out of pace before the red. He produces a much better line on the second try, but Zhou appears to be intent on matching Selby’s patience and mastery with safeties today.
However, an error in judgement sees the Chinese player miss a red by a hair to foul.
Selby 0-1 Zhou (0-1)
Not a lot of reds in a great position at the minute, Selby gets his steps in around the table as he eyes up his shot. Both men are favouring shots that bring the cue ball back up past the baulk line.
The reds are opening up towards the left side, and Zhou lines up a shot that rattles into the pocket and finally opens up the scoring. He tucks the white behind the brown at the top of the table.
Selby 0-1 Zhou
Selby sees a line down to the right-corner, but it bounces out of the jaws. Zhou pots the resulting chance into the yellow corner, and then the pink.
His thundering shot on the black slams off the pocket, but he doesn’t need it as he wraps up the first frame to take the lead.
Selby 0-0 Zhou (57-60)
Zhou snookers, this time behind the pink. Selby replies with a snooker himself, and Zhou tucks the cue ball right beside the blue. We are on a 35 minute frame now, with nine of those minutes just on this blue.
Selby 0-0 Zhou (57-60)
Cries from the crowd as the blue rockets between the jaws of the pocket, but Brentwood holds their breath as it rolls towards the opposite corner. Sadly it is not a fluke for Zhou and it is back to Selby.
Selby leaves another potential line open for Zhou but he chooses to play a safety instead.
Selby 0-0 Zhou (57-60)
We are on 7 minutes with this brown, and Zhou plays an excellent snooker that again uses the black as a shield. This time however, the brown is much closer on the same end of the table, and Selby is able to hit the brown.
No answering snooker from Zhou, and Selby pots the brown into the yellow corner. But in doing so, he has blocked off his own line to the blue and leaves just the barest hint of a chance for Zhou up towards the green corner.
Selby 0-0 Zhou (53-60)
A beautiful snooker from Selby sees the white hiding behind the black, and his ability to play safety and snooker shots has been crucial this tournament.
Zhou gets close, but his attempt at going up and down ends in a foul. He goes again, bouncing it off the bottom cushion in a completely different path that sees it just shy of the brown.
A third reset sees it run wide, and it is Zhou's fourth go that finally heralds a click against the brown.
Selby 0-0 Zhou (40-60)
A fly signals a pause for Zhou, with the bug enjoying a little seat on a red. Jimmy White jokes that he could’ve scattered the reds to shoo it off, though that might not be Zhou’s best move.
With the fly dusted aside now, Zhou continues on his break with composure that might just let him give Selby a run for his money today. He is on the colours now, and ends his break with only the brown, blue, pink and black remaining.
Selby 0-0 Zhou (40-1)
Selby on a break now, he in on form having dropped only three frames along this tournament and clinched five centuries in his last four matches. He has played beautifully so far, and he positions the cue ball well to keep the break going.
He manages to break apart two reds to pot, but his resulting shot on the brown clatters off a red and goes wide.
Good afternoon
Hello and welcome to our LIVE updates from the 2025 BetVictor English Open semi-finals.
It is a packed afternoon at Brentwood right now as we kick off with Mark Selby against Zhou Yuelong, while this evening at 7pm, we will see Mark Allen take on Jak Jones after his 12:30am finish last night.
Order of play
1pm
- Mark Selby v Zhou Yuelong
7pm
- Mark Allen v Jak Jones
- - -
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the 2025 English Open, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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