Higgins Rolls Back the Years, O’Connor Stuns Murphy, and Surety’s Fairytale Run Continues at World Open

The 2025 World Open quarter-finals in Yushan delivered some electrifying snooker action, with veteran John Higgins and rising star Joe O’Connor stealing the spotlight.

Higgins, a four-time world champion, showcased his class with a commanding 5-0 victory over Pang Junxu. Fresh off a narrow 5-4 win against Zhou Yuelong—where he battled a stomach bug—the Scotsman was back to his best. He delivered a near-flawless performance, compiling breaks of 125, 87, 96, and 81 to secure his spot in the semi-finals. His opponent in the last four will be world No. 89 Zak Surety, who continued his extraordinary run with a 5-3 win over Tom Ford.

Surety, the lowest-ranked player left in the tournament, has made a name for himself with his heavy scoring. Breaks of 133, 103, 88, 73, and 70 ensured his passage to the semi-finals, following earlier wins over Liu Hongyu, Duane Jones, Jordan Brown, and Si Jiahui. The world No. 89 remains in contention for the £175,000 top prize, making this one of the most remarkable runs in recent memory.

In the evening session, Joe O’Connor produced a breathtaking display to dismantle Shaun Murphy. The Leicester cueist, who had already stunned Judd Trump earlier in the week, played near-perfect snooker, registering four centuries, including three in the first four frames. Murphy managed a ton of his own, but the relentless O’Connor kept his foot on the gas after the interval. Though he missed match ball at one point, the pressure told on Murphy, who soon faltered, allowing O’Connor to seal a famous victory.

The final semi-final spot will be decided between Barry Hawkins and Ali Carter, with both men looking to join Higgins, Surety, and O’Connor in the last four.