Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

WUHAN, CHINA - AUGUST 24: Zhao Xintong of China chalks the cue against Iulian Boiko of Ukraine during the round one match on day one of the WST 2025 Wuhan Open at the Optics Valley Gymnasium of Huazhong University of Science and Technology on August 24, 2

Zhao misses out on 147 at Wuhan Open

World champion Zhao Xintong missed a straightforward final pink as he closed in on a 147 during a 5-3 victory over Iulian Boiko at the Wuhan Open.

Snooker • 24 Aug

Zhao Xintong's World Snooker Championship campaign began in qualifying on April 7

Zhao becomes China's first world champion in Sheffield

Zhao Xintong was crowned China's first world snooker champion after withstanding a stirring comeback from Mark Williams to complete an 18-12 win at the Crucible.

Snooker • 06 May

Mark Williams celebrates victory against Judd Trump

Williams rolls back the years to book World final spot

Mark Williams produced a vintage performance to beat world number one Judd Trump and book his place in the final of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Snooker • 03 May

Ronnie O'Sullivan (L) shakes hands with the winner Zhao Xintong

Updated Zhao dismantles Rocket, Trump and Williams deadlocked

Ronnie O'Sullivan's hopes of an eighth World Snooker Championship crown were destroyed as Zhao Xintong thrashed him 17-7 with a session to spare in Sheffield.

Snooker • 02 May

Ronnie O'Sullivan remains on course for an eighth world title

O'Sullivan and Zhao semi-final battle finely poised

Seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and first-time semi-finalist Zhao Xintong shared the spoils in a gripping opening session at the Crucible, tying 4-4 as they fought for a spot in the World Snooker Championship final.

Snooker • 01 May

Zhao Xintong won the UK Championship in 2021

Zhao impresses in seeing off Jones at Crucible

Zhao Xintong has his sights on becoming China's first world snooker champion after blazing into round two with a 10-4 win over last year's runner-up Jak Jones at the Crucible.

Snooker • 22 Apr

Brian O'Grady, Sweden's 13th-ranked snooker player, hails from Thurles

Thurles' O'Grady aiming high under Swedish banner

Originally from Thurles, Brian O'Grady was part of a Q Tour snooker event in Sweden, where he is now based, and has big ambitions for 2024 with an eye to representing the Nordic nation.

Snooker • 09 Oct 24

Joe Perry has spoken out on alleged match-fixing

Perry fears match-fixing probe will overshadow Masters

Former Masters finalist Joe Perry fears this year's event could be overshadowed by an ongoing investigation into alleged match-fixing which has seen 10 Chinese players suspended from the world snooker tour.

Snooker • 06 Jan 23

Hossein Vafaei will play Mark Selby this Sunday

Vafaei replaces Zhao Xintong in Masters

Hossein Vafaei has replaced Zhao Xintong in this week's Cazoo Masters.

Snooker • 05 Jan 23

Zhao Xintong suspended as snooker scandal grows

The number of players suspended from the World Snooker Tour has risen to 10 as Zhao Xintong and Zhang Jiankang join eight players already temporarily omitted from the sport.

Snooker • 03 Jan 23

O'Sullivan is into the semi-finals in Bolton

Rocket lands in Champion of Champions semi-finals

Ronnie O'Sullivan booked his place in the semi-finals of the Cazoo Champion of Champions with a comfortable victory over Zhao Xintong.

Snooker • 03 Nov 22

Yan Bingtao (L) and Mark Selby's 22nd frame lasted almost an hour and a half

Yan ends Selby's reign after longest Crucible frame

Defending champion Mark Selby lost the longest frame in Crucible history as he crashed out of the World Snooker Championship against China's Yan Bingtao.

Snooker • 25 Apr 22

John Higgins: 'I can't believe I won that. I was embarrassed with myself at 8-4'

Higgins battles back to edge out Zhao in Llandudno

John Higgins overturned a four-frame deficit to reach the semi-finals of the Cazoo Tour Championship with a battling 10-9 win over top seed Zhao Xintong.

Snooker • 29 Mar 22

It's a second tournament win this season for Xintong

Xintong whitewashes Bingtao in German Masters final

China's Zhao Xintong won his second ranking title of the season as he whitewashed Yan Bingtao 9-0 in the final of the German Masters.

Snooker • 30 Jan 22

Yan Bingtao (left) faces Zhao Xintong in Sunday's final

Xintong and Bingtao set up all-Chinese final in Berlin

Zhao Xintong won the last five frames to beat Ricky Walden and book his place in the final of the German Masters, where he will face compatriot Yan Bingtao.

Snooker • 29 Jan 22

John Higgins eased past Zhao Xintong to reach the second round

Higgins relishing 'Class of 92' showdown with Williams

John Higgins is relishing his "Class of '92" showdown with Mark Williams at the Cazoo Masters after safely negotiating his passage to the second round.

Snooker • 10 Jan 22

Zhao won his first ranking tournament earlier this month

Zhao Xintong makes early exit at World Grand Prix

UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong has crashed out of the World Grand Prix in the opening round.

Snooker • 14 Dec 21

'I will do the song 'We Are The Champions'

Zhao Xintong craves karaoke celebrations after UK win

After winning the UK Championship in fine style, the Chinese star Zhao Xintong's immediate priority was to get back to his karaoke machine.

Snooker • 06 Dec 21

China's Zhao Xintong has won the UK Championship

Xintong justifies hype with UK Championship win

Zhao Xintong justified the hype that has been heaped upon his shoulders by completing a 10-5 win over Luca Brecel to claim the UK Championship crown in York.

Snooker • 05 Dec 21