International Championship qualifying packed away its cues on Saturday. By Sunday breakfast the Mattioli Arena was already rebranded for the next Home Nations slog — BetVictor Scottish Open qualifying, 20–23 September, best of seven from the off.Leicester — Scottish Open qualifying begins
Chris Wakelin arrives as defending champion of the main event in Edinburgh (14–20 December). This week is the long road in: 128 players, Round 1 today, Round 2 midweek. Morning session (from 10:00 UK) lines up Iulian Boiko–Mahmoud El Hareedy, Mitchell Mann–Stuart Carrington, Chatchapong Nasa–Allan Taylor and Sam Craigie–Antoni Kowalski. The noon wave brings Dylan Emery–Ashley Hugill, Sahil Nayyar–Gong Chenzhi, Florian Nüßle–Deng Haohui and Alexander Ursenbacher–Panchaya Channoi.
Afternoon and evening still have Oliver Brown–Michael Larkov, Ross Muir–Jack Borwick, Xu Yichen–Steven Wardropper, Yao Pengcheng–Hammad Miah, plus Gao Yang, Steven Hallworth, Ashley Carty and more. Monday’s board already teases Jimmy White vs Leone Crowley and Marco Fu vs Ng On Yee — the Whirlwind isn’t done with Leicester yet.
No public access at the arena. Table One with commentary sits on WST Play worldwide (ex-China); UK/Europe without commentary on HBO Max; China on Migu, Huya, Douyin and WeChat.
Where to watch (snooker)
- Table One + commentary: WST Play (ex-China)
- UK / Europe, no commentary: HBO Max
- China: Migu, Huya, Douyin, WeChat
Tokyo — Japan Open R64, women’s 9-ball under way
Sunday in Tokyo is knockout day for the men and opening day for the women at the 39th Japan Open. Men’s 10-ball (race to 9) is deep into the last 64 at Billiard Rosa and the suburban rooms, with finals Monday at New Pia Hall.
Early R64 board: Tomoya Toyohama 9–5 Lee I-Hua; Kenichi Uchigaki 9–6 Edward Ikhwan; Hideki Yamakawa 9–8 Assis Tadique; Katsuji Teruya 9–5 Hiroyuki Shozaki; Valeriano Pajuay 9–4 Kouji Ueda; Keita Hazama 9–7 Erickson Navarrete; Ho Yi-Sheng through 9–? over Satoshi Takei; Aoi Kanazawa likewise past Shion Takemoto. Miguel Salvilla was bossing Keishin Kamihashi mid-match when the boards refreshed. Women’s 9-ball qualify is rolling too — Samia Konishi 7–3 Anzu Kurosawa and Nami Takada 7–5 Asako Satou among the winners-side markers. Live scores and JPBA streams via Billi-Walker.
Ho Chi Minh City — World 10-Ball Day 2
Day 2 of the Iwan Simonis WPA Men’s 10-Ball World Championship continues at Phú Thọ Indoor Stadium: 96 players, $300,000 purse, $80,000 to the champion, double-elim set play into the last 32. Free main-table coverage on Billiard TV / Pro Billiard TV (YouTube) and Box Billiards Vietnam. Mixed Doubles Open runs alongside; the Poison Saigon Women’s 9-Ball Open opens Monday (21–25 September).
Looking ahead
Shenzhen Open venue stages land 28 September–4 October (Mark Allen already out; Ben Mertens holds the bye). Further out: Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships in Ahmedabad, 7–10 October.
Three continents, one Sunday — Leicester’s baize is live again, Tokyo’s knockout tables are loud, and Vietnam’s world championship still has a week of cloth left.
Feature image: Snooker Referee Wearing White Gloves — MyStockPhotos / Flickr via Openverse (CC0 1.0)
