There’s a feel good factor in snooker as the tour crosses over to China for the 8th ranking event of the season, the International Championship.
International Championship 2025
For years on end, Lisowski has been called the best player never to have won a ranking event (and many more slandering terms!) and you just wondered if it will ever come after six previous ranking finals lost and without even a final since 2021 however it all changed in Belfast.
He overcame 3 World champions on route including best mate Judd Trump in a ding-dong final which went to the wire. A very popular and well deserved victory. He never does things easier does Jack! What incredible courage and bottle he showed after losing his father in March.
It was also a masterstroke by Lisowski bringing in coach supremo Chris Henry into his stable just a few weeks ago who in no time has found the key to success for a quite fabulous but underachieving talent.
Lisowski became the 8th different event winner of the season so whose turn is coming in Nanjing next week?
I think another player of similar ilk to Lisowski and who is without a ranking title to his name might break his duck in his home event and that’s Si Jiahui.
He’s a risky proposition as he can run hot and cold but this could be the format and the territory to see Si turn in his career best effort.
Si was seen as the next big Chinese hope after making the World semis in 2023 playing a fearless brand of snooker. Some might say he’s disappointed since however I feel that’s a little unfair - he has made a ranking final in each of the last two seasons at the German Masters and over here at the Wuhan Open where he made nine centuries.
Who can forget his demolition job on Trump in the semi-final making a 147, 144 and 108 with Trump coming out afterwards calling it “the best performance against him in his career, by far”
He does seem a lot more comfortable in Asia making the semis of the Saudi Masters last season and a decent run in this season’s Wuhan Open losing in the quarters to Mark Allen 5-4 (led 3-1).
One potent weapon of Si’s is his scoring ability which shone through during his amateur career. It went a little stale between mid 2022 and mid 2024 however he cracked in 34 centuries last season and is already on 15 for the season this term which shows his game is in healthy order.
It’s just a case of fine tuning a few strings to his bow and I think his game is there for a title bid.
Si is one of the cleanest potters of a snooker ball you are ever likely to see and I can see a good week ahead - he’s 28/1 for glory in a section where Mark Selby and especially Zhao Xintong are players to take on.
I also expect a big week from John Higgins. The evergreen Scot remains a towering figure in the game even into his now 50s.
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He’s already seen fellow class of 92’ Mark Williams win a ranking event this season at a half century in years so why can’t it be his turn?
Higgins is certainly playing well enough to be ultra competitive in Nanjing. Ok he’s not scoring with his usual ‘rugged style’ consistency but the 33-time ranking winner has only had one poor event so far losing in qualifying to Liam Pullen. He’s made two quarters and a semi elsewhere.
It’s a similar pattern to last season where from 16 rankers, he made at least the quarters on eight occasions including two wins at the back end of the season at the Tour Championship and over in this neck of the woods at the World Open in Yushan.
Higgins has what looks on paper a fairly soft run to the quarter-final facing off with players he has a strong head-to-head with so I wouldn’t put anyone off his Quarter 1 price of just shy of 4/1. He also avoids big bogey player Trump which is a positive. Of course I’m here to be a little more greedy and he looks a solid option at 14/1 to regain the title he won 10 years ago in Daqing.
The fire is still burning inside of one of the greatest to have ever played the game.
Selections:
John Higgins 14/1 0.50pt ew
Si Jiahui 28/1 0.25pt ew
