At the world open snooker 2026 in Yushan, Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Wu Yize 6-5 in a deciding frame to reach his 66th ranking final. It came the day after O’Sullivan produced the sport’s highest-ever professional break of 153 in a 5-0 quarter-final win over Ryan Day. The English seven-time world champion will meet Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, who eliminated world number one Judd Trump, in the final.
Match facts and decisive moments
O’Sullivan was never behind in the match but found it hard to pull away from world number 11 Wu until the final frame. Wu opened the decider with a break of 43 and looked to seize control, but a poor safety shot allowed the 50-year-old O’Sullivan to sink a long red and follow with a clearance of 89 to seal the 6-5 victory. The win sends O’Sullivan through to his 66th ranking final and keeps the spotlight on the event at the world open snooker 2026.
The previous day provided one of the tournament’s defining headlines: O’Sullivan compiled a record-breaking 153 in a dominant 5-0 quarter-final over Ryan Day. The 153 came after a free-ball opportunity that let O’Sullivan begin the break with a colour before taking the full run of reds and high-value colours to set a new professional high. That feat set the tone as O’Sullivan moved into the semi-finals and ultimately the final.
World Open Snooker 2026: Immediate reactions
Ronnie O’Sullivan, seven-time world champion, said: “I like my bottle when I’m flowing. At 5-5 when he missed, I had a chance on the red and I had to go for it. The ball went in, which I couldn’t believe, and I made a great clearance. ” He also reflected on the 153, describing the moment as a “great buzz” and acknowledging he felt a little rusty but pleased by the achievement.
Neil Robertson, Australian player and former world champion, praised O’Sullivan with a short endorsement: “The best ever and the best there ever will be. ” Thepchaiya Un-Nooh advanced to the final after beating Judd Trump 6-4, a result that sets up a final between a player who produced a record break and a competitor coming off a high-scoring semi-final performance.
Quick context
O’Sullivan’s last tournament victory came in a non-ranking event, the World Masters of Snooker in March 2024. He has not won a ranking event since defeating Judd Trump in the World Grand Prix in January 2024, though he did reach the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in August 2025, where he lost to Neil Robertson.
What happens next
All eyes now turn to the final, where O’Sullivan will face Thepchaiya Un-Nooh for the title and where the outcomes at the world open snooker 2026 will determine immediate ranking headlines and narratives ahead of the World Snooker Championship in April. The closing match will decide whether O’Sullivan converts his momentum — built on a historic 153 and a nervy decider victory — into a ranking title, and whether Un-Nooh can add a major win after his victory over the world number one. The world open snooker 2026 final will close this chapter and shape the next phase of the season.
