British Open Snooker 2021 – Day Five Preview and Order of Play
Judd Trump gets his Crucible campaign under way (Photo by George Wood/PA Images)
Birthday boy Judd Trump will look to continue his perfect record against Elliot Slessor when they lock horns in the British Open third round on Friday.
It is transition day at the Morningside Arena in Leicester with the 32 remaining players being whittled down to eight over two rounds.
World number one Trump headlines the action as his quest to retain his place at the summit of the rankings continues.
The Ace, who turns 32, must reach at least the quarter-finals to hold on, and can achieve that with two victories today.
The Bristolian has won all four meetings with fellow left-hander Slessor, who has previously recorded significant victories over the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan on the big stage.
Elsewhere, another battle of the left-handers sees three-time World champion Mark Williams take on Liam Highfield, while John Higgins continues his quest for a fifth British Open title against good friend Ricky Walden.
Stephen Maguire – runner-up when this tournament was last held in 2004 – resumes his mission to go one better against Welsh Open champion Jordan Brown, and will be aiming to avenge the 6-0 defeat inflicted by the Northern Irishman in the semi-finals of that event.
Zhou Yuelong and Championship League winner David Gilbert – provisionally ranked 17th and 18th – can climb into the top 16 by going all the way this week. They play Matthew Selt and Andrew Pagett respectively.
Having taken out World champion Mark Selby, Ali Carter looks to build on that momentum against Oliver Lines, while Luca Brecel faces Hammad Miah.
Play commences at 9am BST on Friday with all matches contested over the best of five frames at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
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British Open Snooker 2021 Schedule
Friday August 20
Last 32
9am
97 Liam Highfield v Mark Williams
99 Allan Taylor v Ross Muir
102 Jak Jones v Hossein Vafaei
107 Matthew Selt v Zhou Yuelong
10am
100 Joe O’Connor v Anthony Hamilton
103 Xu Si v Gary Wilson
106 Duane Jones v Jimmy Robertson
112 Andrew Pagett v David Gilbert
1pm
98 Judd Trump v Elliot Slessor
101 Ali Carter v Oliver Lines
105 Ben Hancorn v Lu Ning
108 Lukas Kleckers v Lee Walker
109 Ricky Walden v John Higgins
2pm
104 Zhang Jiankang v Pang Junxu
110 Hammad Miah v Luca Brecel
111 Stephen Maguire v Jordan Brown
Last 16
7pm & 8pm
TBC