THE fifth ranking event of the 2024-25 World Snooker Tour season is HERE as the British Open takes centre stage in Cheltenham.
Defending champion Mark Williams is already out and will not retain the Clive Everton Trophy after he beat Mark Selby 10-7 in last year’s epic final.
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan was also set to feature for the first time since 2022 after pulling out of the 2023 edition of the iconic competition for medical reasons.
But unfortunately, The Rocket withdrew from the competition once again on the afternoon of round one.
But how much could O’Sullivan have won? SunSport has all the details below.
The British Open began on July 31st – with some stars playing their round-one matches early at Leicester’s Morningside Arena.
But first-round ties involving the top 16 players in the world and others – begin on Monday, September 23, at the Centaur Arena in Cheltenham.
The tournament will run until Sunday, September 29.
The British Open will be broadcast live on ITV4 in the UK.
You can live stream the event via the ITVX app/website.
Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog.
Here is a breakdown of the prize money on offer in Cheltenham:
Winner: £100,000
Runner-up: £45,000
Semi-finals: £20,000
Quarter-finals: £12,000
Last 16: £9,000
Last 32: £6,000
Last 64: £3,000
High break: £5,000
Total: £502,000
This year’s total prize fund has risen by £24,000 from the previous year.
PAIGE SPIRANAC stunned fans with a slow-motion video of her digging a ball out of the bunker.
The former golf pro, 31, gave up the sport to become one of the best-known influencers in the game.
She has since accumulated more than four million followers on Instagram with her golf-related content.
She also has her OnlyPaige website which fans can pay for to receive exclusive content.
Yet it seems Paige still possesses great technique when it comes to her golf game – eight years after she left the LPGA tour.
That was on show for her social media followers on Wednesday as she posted a clip of her chipping a ball out of the bunker while wearing a low-cut white top.
The video was shared in slow motion and with “Things are Brewing” by isaintjames playing over the top.
Reacting to the footage, one fan said: “You’re on fire, Paige!!!”
While another added: “Beautiful woman looking great 
.”
A third replied: “Best swing in the business!”
And a fourth responded: “Nicely done 
.”
Paige shared a similar video earlier this month as fans labelled it the “greatest golf swing video of all time”.
She also recently set pulses racing by swapping her golf attire for a cowgirl outfit as she was given a tour of a Nascar hauler truck.
EMMERDALE fans are about to say a heartbreaking goodbye to one of the show’s most beloved characters after the actor who played him passed away in December 2023.
Soap bosses previously revealed that they would put Zak Dingle to rest on screen after Steve Halliwell’s death.
The sad storyline began to unfold when Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) decided to leave the village and visit his uncle Zak in Scotland.
He made the trip after receiving a concerning phone call from his daughter Debbie, who lives with Zak.
During Wednesday’s episode, Cain revealed to Chas and Belle Dingle that Zak’s health had taken a worrying turn.
After hearing the news Belle wanted to visit her dad herself, but Cain downplayed the situation, reassuring them that he would only be gone for a few days.
Steve Halliwell brought the character of Zak to life in 1994.
Zak appeared in June 2023 for the final time before Steve took a break owing to health issues before ultimately dying in December at the age of 77.
A statement released by his family at the time said: “He was making us laugh to the end.
“The most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for, family was everything to him.
“We would like to thank the wonderful staff at St James Hospital and the Wheatfield Hospice for their love and kindness in his final days. He didn’t want sadness, just to rejoice in a life well lived.”
Emmerdale bosses previously confirmed that his character would be laid to rest in a “hugely fitting” tribute this year.
The soap’s producer Sophie Roper shared: “The Dingles have been at the heart of our show for 30 years now and will continue to be so.
“And as many of you will know, of course, we lost Steve recently and the very sad passing of Steve.
“So we’re going to be marking Zak’s passing, iconic Zak Dingle character, in the coming months with a Dingle funeral.”
SHOCKING images show a Russian prisoner who was left skewered on a huge wooden stake when it pierced through his torso in a freak accident.
The inmate – seen strapped to the hospital bed – had the ginormous beam removed and miraculously survived, says reports.
The thick beam of wood bayoneted the prisoner, 34, as he operated a timber machine in a jail workhouse in a Nizhny Novgorod penal colony.
The giant stake spun loose and spiked his body from his left midriff to his right chest.
Horrific images show the ginormous piece of wood diagonally through the man.
The prisoner also appears to be strapped down to the bed at the top of his thighs and both hands.
He was given immediate first aid at Penal Colony 14.
The prisoner, named Nikolai Z, is in a “serious condition” and fighting for his life in hospital following the nightmare accident.
But despite “damage to his internal organs”, he is reportedly “stable”.
A criminal investigation is underway as to how the “accident” happened and whether safety rules were broken, BAZA reports.
It comes soon after a man stabbed himself to death while trying to separate two frozen burgers with a knife, an inquest heard.
Barry Griffiths, 57, was killed when he plunged the blade into his stomach in a freak accident.
He was discovered several days later by police, who were baffled by the trail of blood around his kitchen and bedroom.
Officers then established the frozen burgers were behind the tragedy when they noticed them on a kitchen counter.
The knife and a tea towel were also found nearby and the bottom drawer of the freezer had been left open.
An inquest was told Barry died from a stab wound at his home in Powys, Wales.
The court heard he lived alone in supported living accommodation and was a “very private man”.
Police arrived at his home in July last year amid concerns Barry hadn’t been seen for more than week.
They discovered him dead on his bed with blood in the hallway, bathroom and bedroom.
The court heard there was no sign of a disturbance and his wallet, computer and phone were not missing.
Detective Sergeant Stephen Vaughan said he was satisfied that Barry’s death was not a suicide but “more of an unexplained death”.
There was also no indication he had been assaulted, the inquest heard.
Area coroner Patricia Morgan concluded Barry, who had restricted use of one arm following a stroke, most likely died from an accident while preparing frozen food for cooking.
She told the inquest: “I appreciate the evidence is difficult to hear and traumatic.
“Thank you for your patience while the investigation was ongoing. I express my condolences at this difficult time.”
President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa yesterday sought to extinguish factional fires in Zanu PF following a spirited bid by his loyalists to amend the Constitution and extend his tenure beyond 2028. Mnangagwa, who is serving his second and last term, called on his lieutenants to respect the Constitution. Addressing the 378th ordinary session of the politburo, […]
The post Your 2030 ED anenge achipo slogan is destroying the party, Mnangagwa rebukes ZANU PF cadres appeared first on Zw News Zimbabwe.
STEP away from the shorts: autumn is finally here, which means it’s time to get warm and cosy.
If you’ve yet to try one of Oodie’s by now iconic wearable blankets – or want to splash out on a new design – then this two-minute money-saving trick is the perfect excuse to get started.
Quidco: £15 bonus for new members
Oodie’s standard adult-sized designs normally go for £59, which is admittedly quite a lot for something you’re likely to only wear around the house.
(Although, according to our writer Kieran Ahuja who wrote an in-depth Oodie review, the cost is totally worth.)
However, you can snag one for just £24 with this super simple hack: that’s a whopping 59% off.
Quidco is currently offering new members a £15 bonus when they spend £15 or more on the Oodie website.
It means you can make an additional saving on top of Oodie’s current sale, so it’s a deal well worth signing up for.
The Aussie-founded brand now has over 6.5 million customers worldwide and counting, and while there are countless competitors – you can’t beat Oodie for quality and the sheer range of designs.
It’s not just wearable blankets, either: the brand has a whole host of pyjamas, dressing gowns, blankets and more that’ll keep you snug this winter, so it’s totally up to you what you buy in order to qualify for the deal.
Signing up to get your £15 bonus couldn’t be any easier. Here’s how:
Quidco: £15 bonus for new members
The deal ends at 23:59 on Monday 30 September, so make sure you get in quick, before it expires.
Want to find more savings on your online shopping? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from hundreds of top retailers including B&Q, Boots, Iceland, Lookfantastic, Dunelm, Adidas, Marks & Spencer and more.
Looking for more savings? Check out Sun Shopping’s deals and sales page for all the latest discounts.
And for more winter-proof ideas, head to our shopping winter section or gifts and lifestyle page.
THE British Open continues with some of snooker’s biggest names in action!
World No1 Judd Trump returns to action today as he faces Mark Davis in the third round.
The likes of John Higgins, Mark Allen, Kyren Wilson and Luca Brecel will also be competing this afternoon on an action-packed day in Cheltenham.
Follow all the action below with our live blog…