Lisowski unexpectedly withdraws from World Grand Prix ahead of Trump matchup.

Jack Lisowski’s journey at the World Grand Prix has come to an unexpected halt as he withdrew from the tournament before his scheduled match against Judd Trump. The 33-year-old snooker player cited personal reasons for his withdrawal from the competition, which is taking place in Hong Kong. Lisowski had successfully defeated Zhang Anda in the first round, setting the stage for a much-anticipated encounter with the world number one, Judd Trump, in the last 16.

The World Snooker Tour announced Lisowski’s departure from the tournament on Wednesday afternoon. In a brief statement, they confirmed that Lisowski would not be competing further due to personal circumstances. Consequently, Judd Trump will advance to the quarter-finals without contest, where he awaits his next opponent, either Xu Si, Hossein Vafaei, or Si Jiahui.

Lisowski’s withdrawal is a significant setback as it affects his chances of qualifying for the upcoming Players Championship and Tour Championship. His next opportunity to compete will be at the World Championship qualifiers in Sheffield next month.

In the tournament’s earlier rounds, Trump had overcome Gary Wilson and expressed his anticipation of facing his friend Lisowski in the following match. Trump remarked on the challenge of playing against Lisowski, especially considering the stakes for Lisowski to qualify for future championships. Despite the circumstances, Trump is focused on performing his best in the competition.

The World Grand Prix has seen a few withdrawals, with Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Maguire also pulling out before the tournament commenced for medical reasons. Their spots were filled by Hossein Vafaei and Ben Woollaston, respectively, based on their positions in the one-year ranking list.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Robertson made headlines by defeating Mark Allen 4-2, despite initially trailing 2-0. This victory secured Robertson a place in the last 16, where he is set to face Mark Selby. Allen, who has been experiencing a challenging period, acknowledged his struggles on social media, expressing a desire to improve his game in the future.

The quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix are set to take place on Friday, following the completion of the last 16 matches scheduled for Thursday.