Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Mark Allen struggled against Chris Wakelin

Allen trails Wakelin after opening session

Mark Allen has it all to do if he's to make his way into the quarter-finals at the World Snooker Championship after he fell behind 6-2 to England's Chris Wakelin.

Snooker • 24 Apr

Kyren Wilson enters the arena ahead of his quarter-final

Updated Wilson and Trump set up Masters semi-final showdown

Kyren Wilson edged out Luca Brecel 6-4 in an enthralling encounter at the Masters to set up a semi-final clash with world number one Judd Trump.

Snooker • 17 Jan

David Gilbert knocked out the defending champion

Brecel falls to Crucible curse as Gilbert fights back

Luca Brecel fell victim to the so-called 'Crucible curse' as qualifier David Gilbert reeled off the final four frames to claim a stunning 10-9 win over the defending champion on the opening day of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Snooker • 20 Apr 24

Luca Brecel defeated Mark Selby 18–15 in last year's final

Brecel under the weather ahead of World title defence

Defending champion Luca Brecel has been battling a mystery illness in the build-up to his return to the World Snooker Championship on Saturday.

Snooker • 19 Apr 24

Ronnie O'Sullivan is attempting to become the fourth player to complete the Triple Crown in the same season

O'Sullivan to play Page in first round at the Crucible

History-chasing Ronnie O'Sullivan will start the World Snooker Championship against Jackson Page as reigning champion Luca Brecel faces David Gilbert.

Snooker • 18 Apr 24

Ronnie O'Sullivan was victorious in Riyadh

O'Sullivan promises to 'get the golden ball next year'

Ronnie O'Sullivan vowed to pocket the golden ball next year after beating Luca Brecel in the final of the inaugural World Masters of Snooker.

Snooker • 06 Mar 24

Ronnie O'Sullivan plays Judd Trump in the semi-finals today

O'Sullivan shines in Riyadh, Allen comes from brink

There was final-frame drama as Mark Allen completed a remarkable come-from-behind victory over Mark Selby in the quarter-finals of the Riyadh Season World Masters.

Snooker • 06 Mar 24

Luca Brecel reacts during his match against Martin O'Donnell

Brecel and Selby make early Scottish Open exits

Luca Brecel and Mark Selby were the latest big names to be eliminated from the Scottish Open as both made third-round exits on Wednesday.

Snooker • 14 Dec 23

Luca Brecel needed two wins to top the rankings for the first time

Brecel misses chance to usurp O'Sullivan as number one

Luca Brecel's bid to end Ronnie O'Sullivan's 17-month reign as world number one was halted by Ding Junhui at the Cazoo British Open.

Snooker • 25 Sep 23

O'Sullivan sinks Brecel to take another Shanghai title

Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Luca Brecel 11-9 in a high-drama final to claim his fourth straight Shanghai Masters title.

Snooker • 17 Sep 23

Luca Brecel will meet defending champion and four-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan in Sunday's final

Brecel sets up Shanghai showdown with O'Sullivan

Reigning world champion Luca Brecel booked his spot in the Shanghai Masters final by beating Neil Robertson 10-7.

Snooker • 16 Sep 23

The Belgian world number two responded to his early setback

Brecel recovers to book quarter-final spot in Shanghai

World champion Luca Brecel booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters after bouncing back from 2-0 down to beat Mark Williams 6-4.

Snooker • 13 Sep 23

Barry Hawkins plays a shot against Luca Brecel at the European Masters

Hawkins denies Brecel number one ranking in Nuremberg

World champion Luca Brecel missed the chance to go top of the world rankings after losing 5-4 to Barry Hawkins at the European Masters in Nuremberg.

Snooker • 25 Aug 23

Luca Brecel can overtake Ronnie O'Sullivan in the rankings

Luca Brecel marches on in quest to earn world No 1 spot

World champion Luca Brecel is targeting the world number one spot after a rousing fightback saw him edge Robbie Williams in the European Masters in Nuremberg.

Snooker • 24 Aug 23

"I just didn't fancy winning this final"

Brecel 'not going to go wild' after Crucible triumph

Luca Brecel withstood a stirring fightback from Mark Selby to clinch a dramatic 18-15 victory and become the first player from mainland Europe to win the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.

Snooker • 01 May 23

Former child prodigy Luca Brecel has realised his early promise

Brecel holds his nerve to beat Selby in World final

Luca Brecel withstood a stirring fightback from Mark Selby to clinch a dramatic 18-15 victory and become the first player from mainland Europe to win the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.

Snooker • 01 May 23

The four-time champion finished strongly at the end of the second session

Selby hits 147 as he reels in Brecel at the Crucible

Mark Selby made the first maximum break in a World Snooker Championship final as he reeled off the final three frames of an exhilarating opening day to trail Belgium's Luca Brecel 9-8 overnight at the Crucible.

Snooker • 01 May 23

Mark Selby is through to the final of the World Snooker Championship

Selby leaves it late to overcome Allen at the Crucible

Four-time champion Mark Selby came through a late-night battle with Mark Allen to set up a World Snooker Championship final with Crucible history maker Luca Brecel.

Snooker • 30 Apr 23

Brecel completes greatest comeback in Crucible history

Luca Brecel produced the greatest ever Crucible comeback as he won 11 frames in a row against Si Jiahui to book his place in the World Snooker Championship final.

Snooker • 29 Apr 23

Mark Selby has won four frames on the trot to take the lead

'It was not pretty' – Allen and Selby semi criticised

Stephen Hendry criticised Mark Selby and Mark Allen for casting a "dark cloud" over the Crucible after the second session of their World Championship semi-final was halted three frames earlier than scheduled in Sheffield.

Snooker • 28 Apr 23

Si Jiahui and Luca Brecel resume their semi-final on Friday at 10am

Si and Allen establish 5-3 leads in World semi-finals

Chinese youngster Si Jiahui snatched a 5-3 lead in an intriguing first session of his World Championship semi-final showdown with Luca Brecel on Thursday, while Antrim's Mark Allen leads four-time champion Mark Selby on the same scoreline.

Snooker • 27 Apr 23

Luca Brecel is the first player through to this year's Crucible quarter-finals

Brecel holds nerve to edge out Williams

Luca Brecel held his nerve to the reach the World Snooker Championship quarter-finals for the first time with a 13-11 victory over Mark Williams.

Snooker • 21 Apr 23

Ronnie O'Sullivan's victory included a break of 134

O'Sullivan begins Masters campaign with dominant win

Ronnie O'Sullivan delighted the Alexandra Palace crowd with a dominant 6-1 win over Luca Brecel in the first round of the Cazoo Masters.

Snooker • 09 Jan 23

Mark Selby fought back to overcome Neil Robertson in their semi-final

Selby sets up English Open final showdown with Brecel

Mark Selby will face Luca Brecel in the English Open final after defeating defending champion Neil Robertson 6-4.

Snooker • 18 Dec 22

Judd Trump was too strong for Hossein Vafaei

Judd Trump eyes improvement despite Crucible cruise

Judd Trump vowed his best is yet to come despite cruising into the second round of the World Snooker Championship with a 10-4 win over Iranian qualifier Hossein Vafaei.

Snooker • 21 Apr 22