World number two Judd Trump has made an early exit at the Scottish Open, with the Englishman losing 4-2 to Zhang Anda.
Zhang, a Chinese player, advanced to the final 32 in Edinburgh with breaks of 114, 82, 81, and 71.
James Cahill of England was defeated 4-3 by world champion Luca Brecel, who also won the Scottish Open in 2021, with a 133 clearance in the last frame.
John Higgins, the four-time world champion, defeated He Guoqiang of China 4-1.
Following the withdrawal of world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan, 19-year-old Scot Liam Graham advanced to the last 64 where he defeated Belgian Ben Mertens 4-2.
In a late-night finish, Matthew Stevens of Wales was defeated 4-3 by Englishman Mark Selby, rated fifth.
Alex Higgins
In addition to his exceptional athletic ability, Alex “Hurricane” Higgins was well-known for his chaotic and destructive lifestyle. He became one of just eight players to complete snooker’s Triple Crown, having won two world titles, the UK Championship, and two Masters titles. Alex tragically passed away in 2010 at the age of 61 following a worsening in his health.
John Higgins
John was one of the most successful players in the modern snooker era, having won four World Championships, three UK Championships, and two Masters titles. Between 1996 and 2012, the “Wizard of Wishaw” never fell below the sixth spot in the global rankings. He overcame negative match-fixing accusations and a newspaper sting to maintain his status as one of the sport’s elite competitors.
Jimmy White
Jimmy “The Whirlwind” White has never won a World Championship, but he has reached six finals and is the most brilliant player to never win the sport’s greatest prize despite having won both the UK Championship and The Masters. He was the second player ever to beat the record at the World Championship in 1992.
Mark Selby
As the defending World Snooker and UK champion, Mark holds the top spot in the world right now. “The Jester from Leicester” is the sixth player to win every single snooker Triple Crown event at least twice. He has won three masters championships, two UK Championships, and two World Championships. Selby is a professional pool player who placed in the finals of the 2015 Chinese Pool World Championship and won the 2006 WEPF eight-ball pool world championship.
Ray Reardon
Dominating the game in the 1970s, ‘Dracula’, nicknamed because of his hairstyle is known for adding a sense of humour to a serious game, often engaging the crowd with jokes mid break. He won his first World Championship in 1970, along with 5 further titles throughout his career. He was also the game’s first ever world number one when the rankings were introduced in 1976.
