Will Ronnie O'Sullivan opt to compete before home crowd at English Open as Jimmy White returns to qualifying action?
Updated 18/07/2026 at 08:38 GMT+1
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Football never came home for England's football team at the World Cup, but snooker could be coming home for Ronnie O'Sullivan if the seven-time world champion opts to compete at this year's English Open in Essex.
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The 41-time ranking event winner opted to miss his home tournament last year, but is in the draw to compete before an expectant crowd, with the first of the Home Nations Series live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, at the Brentwood Leisure Centre in Essex from September 7-13.
O'Sullivan is due to take on Liu Hongyu, Steven Hallworth or Liam Davies on Tuesday, September 8 in the last 64 of a ranking tournament won last year by Mark Allen, who edged out Zhou Yuelong 9-8 in the title match.
The English Open moved to Brentwood for the first time in 2022 with Mark Selby, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson lifting the Steve Davis Trophy to illustrate the pedigree of the tournament.
O'Sullivan claimed his solitary English Open with a 9-2 win over Kyren Wilson in Barnsley in 2017, but has preferred to focus on events outside the UK in recent times.
He appeared only twice on home soil last season, at the UK Championship in York - where he lost 6-4 to Zhou Yuelong in the last 32 - and in the World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield, a 13-12 defeat to John Higgins in a classic match in the second round.
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He also finished runner-up twice in major finals, 10-9 to Neil Robertson in the Saudi Arabia Masters and 10-7 to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh at the World Open in Yushan.
Qualifying for the English Open takes place on July 25-26 at Leicester's Mattioli Arena with six-time world finalist Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White set to face Cheung Ka Wai in his tournament opener next Saturday.
The winner of that match will need to overcome Chang Bingyu in the second qualifying round to book a trip to Brentwood.
White is also involved in qualifying for the Shenzhen Open where he meets Ian Burns at 10am on Sunday before taking on Sean O'Sullivan on Friday in a British Open qualifier with both matches in Leicester.
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White sinks sensational 112 against O'Sullivan in China Open qualifying
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Meanwhile, Ronnie O'Sullivan is also set to chase a record-extending sixth title at the prestigious Shanghai Masters when he takes on a wildcard at 12:30 UK time on Monday, July 27.
The winner is due to face defending champion Kyren Wilson in the last 16.
Wilson overcame O'Sullivan 6-3 in the quarter-finals last year, then defeated Zhao Xintong 10-5 in the semi-finals and Ali Carter, who had replaced former Masters winner Mark Allen in the field, 11-9 in the final. Jack Lisowski replaces the Northern Irishman this time.
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Wilson lets out huge roar after stealing frame to wrap up thrilling Shanghai Masters victory
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