Mark Joyce faces the world’s finest in Cheltenham (Picture: WST) Mark Joyce got a late call-up to replace Ronnie O’Sullivan at the British Open and has won his way into the last 16 where he faces world number one Zhao Xintong. The 43-year-old was only confirmed as an entrant in Cheltenham on Friday after the Rocket withdrew from the event. Joyce has taken advantage of the opportunity, winning three matches and only conceding one frame so far. The Walsall cueist beat Mateusz Baranowski 4-1, Jordan Brown 4-0 and scored a big upset by downing Pang Junxu 4-0 late on Wednesday night. Things will get a lot tougher for him on Thursday night when he takes on Zhao, though, who was in wild form as he demolished Michael Holt 4-0 on Thursday afternoon. The former world champion made breaks of 100, 63, 139 and 112 in a ruthless dismissal of the Hitman which lasted just 40 minutes and 29 seconds of playing time. ## Are you snooker loopy? You're in the right place. I'm Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for **Metro**. In my newsletter, The Table, I analyse the biggest talking points, pull back the curtain on the sport and crown the biggest winners and losers every week. Sign up here. Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade John Higgins won one frame against Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon in the same session which lasted 46 minutes. Zhao Xintong looks in sparkling form in Cheltenham (Picture: Getty Images) Holt joked with the crowd ahead of the last frame, saying, “I’ll start trying now,” before Zhao knocked in another ton. After his 4-2 win over Daniel Wells in the previous round, Zhao was frustrated with how his cue has been responding in sweaty conditions. ‘My cue is very old,’ Zhao told **Metro** on Wednesday. ‘If I play in some bad weather, like in China it was so wet and my cue is too sticky. Just like today, I can’t play well. ‘I want to change my cue, I’ve been trying to find a cue for nearly half a year because if I play my cue in the bad weather, I can’t play well. ‘I’ve had it for nearly 15 years. I just want to change the cue now.’ > 139 clearance from Zhao Xintong 🔥 > > Watch | Stream on 5 https://t.co/ABW52824Mu #BritishOpen #WST #5Sport pic.twitter.com/2LYIt22ivl > > — Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) September 3, 2026 The cue looked absolutely fine on Thursday as he hammered Holt and Joyce will be facing a flying world number one on Thursday night for a place in the quarter-finals. Zhao is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the British Open ahead of the last 16, followed by the likes of Judd Trump, Mark Selby and John Higgins. Trump takes on Liam Davies or Dave Gilbert, Selby meets Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko and Higgins plays English teenager Stan Moody. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Pakistan’s Muhammad Hasnain Akhtar clinched the IBSF World Under-17 Snooker Championship title by defeating Wales’ Riley Powley in a one-sided final with a dominant 4-0 scoreline. According to reports from Manama, Bahrain, the 16-year-old Pakistani cueist showcased exceptional skill in the final, giving his opponent no chance and winning the match without losing a single […] The post Pakistan’s Hasnain Akhtar wins IBSF World U-17 Snooker Championship appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.