Skip to main content

Search TrendsNew Ads Appearances Podcasts API

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click “Accept All” to consent, or “Decline non-essential” to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.

The Snooker Hall Podcast

The Snooker Hall Podcast

Episode 85 - China Open review with David Caulfield

Aug 18, 2026 · 43 min · 10 segments

David Caulfield, founder of Snooker HQ, joins me to praise Mark Selby's dominant win in Taiyuan, discuss who could be in trouble this season and the controversy around Hossein Vafaei's "safety" shot.

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music

Speakers: David CaulfieldGuestDan MurrinHost

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalAudience≈508 followers

Top entities: Mark Selby×31 David Gilbert×11 China Open×10 Stuart Bingham×7 UK Championship×4

Welcome and Guest Introduction0:00 – 0:50

0:00

Hello, everybody.

0:02

Greetings to all.

0:02

Welcome to the Snooker Hall Podcast.

0:05

I'm Dan Murrin.

0:06

The China Open 2026 has come to an end.

0:10

Congratulations to Mark Selby, a worthy winner.

0:14

That was the first big ranking tournament of the season.

0:18

He beat Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, and Stuart Bingham, all former world champions, for the loss of only four frames.

0:26

To look back at the action in Taiyuan, we have some help.

0:31

Our guest is returning to the Snooker Hall Podcast.

0:34

He is the founder and editor of Snooker HQ and one of the great voices of snooker journalism.

0:39

I'm delighted to welcome David Caulfield back to the Snooker Hall Podcast.

0:43

David, how are you?

David CaulfieldGuest

0:44

I'm good, and thanks for having me back.

David CaulfieldGuest

0:46

It's always, uh, a pleasure to be on your podcast, Dan.

Read the full transcript.

Create an account to read the whole episode, search across every transcript, and follow the shows you care about.

Sign up Already have an account? Log in

Mark SelbyPersonEnglish snooker player
99%31 mentions
David GilbertPersonEnglish snooker player
97%11 mentions
China OpenEntity
95%10 mentions
Stuart BinghamPersonEnglish snooker player
93%7 mentions
UK ChampionshipTourist AttractionChampionship
90%4 mentions
Dinara SafinaPersonRussian former tennis player
88%3 mentions
Noppon SaengkhamPersonThai snooker player
86%11 mentions
Judd TrumpPersonEnglish snooker player
84%2 mentions
Luca BrecelPersonBelgian snooker player
82%8 mentions
Kyren WilsonPersonEnglish snooker player
80%2 mentions
Neil RobertsonPersonAustralian snooker player
78%4 mentions
Donald TrumpPerson45th and 47th U.S. President
76%4 mentions
Marcelo RíosPersonChilean former tennis player
73%1 mention
Wi-FiEntity
71%1 mention
World championshipEntity
69%6 mentions
Hossein VafaeiPersonIranian snooker player
67%5 mentions
TaiyuanCityCity in China
65%2 mentions
Chang BingyuPersonChinese snooker player
63%5 mentions
ChinaCountryCountry in East Asia
61%3 mentions
Wu YizePersonChinese snooker player
59%4 mentions
Zhao XintongPersonChinese snooker player
56%3 mentions
Welsh OpenEntity
54%2 mentions
JapanCountryCountry in East Asia
52%2 mentions
Venus WilliamsPersonAmerican tennis player
50%4 mentions
South KoreaCountryCountry in East Asia
48%2 mentions
Ding JunhuiPersonChinese snooker player
46%1 mention
SeoulCityCapital of South Korea
44%1 mention
Peter EbdonPersonEnglish former snooker player
41%3 mentions
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
39%2 mentions
Ronnie O'SullivanPersonEnglish snooker player
37%2 mentions
Shaun MurphyPersonEnglish snooker player
35%3 mentions
Liam PullenPersonEnglish snooker player
33%1 mention
French OpenSports OrganizationTennis tournament
31%1 mention
Bitpanda Hamburg OpenSports OrganizationTennis tournament
29%1 mention
HiroshimaCityCity in Japan
27%3 mentions
EuropeContinentContinent
24%1 mention
José MourinhoPersonAssociation football manager
22%1 mention
Ken DohertyPersonIrish retired snooker player
20%1 mention
FIFA World CupSports OrganizationFootball competition
18%2 mentions
Belgium national football teamSports TeamFootball team
16%2 mentions
Ireland national rugby union teamSports TeamRugby union team
14%2 mentions
Gary WilsonPersonEnglish snooker player
12%1 mention
Marat SafinPersonRussian former tennis player
10%1 mention
Chris WakelinPersonEnglish snooker player
7%1 mention
Grand SlamEntity
5%1 mention
Andy HicksPersonEnglish retired snooker player
3%2 mentions
Liu HongyuPersonChinese snooker player
1%1 mention

Tournament PerformanceSports > Snooker > Players > Noppon Saengkham
Player CompetitionSports > Snooker > Rankings > World Number One
ResultsSports > Snooker > Tournaments > UK Championship
Coaching InfluenceSports > Snooker > Player Development > Training
Tournament PerformanceSports > Snooker > Players > Mark Selby
Player DevelopmentSports > Snooker
TrainingSports > Snooker > Player Development
SnookerSports
RankingsSports > Snooker
Mark SelbySports > Snooker > Players
World Number OneSports > Snooker > Rankings
UK ChampionshipSports > Snooker > Tournaments
Noppon SaengkhamSports > Snooker > Players
TournamentsSports > Snooker
PlayersSports > Snooker
Sports

Welcome and Guest Introduction0:00 – 0:50

0:00

Hello, everybody.

0:02

Greetings to all.

0:02

Welcome to the Snooker Hall Podcast.

0:05

I'm Dan Murrin.

0:06

The China Open 2026 has come to an end.

0:10

Congratulations to Mark Selby, a worthy winner.

0:14

That was the first big ranking tournament of the season.

0:18

He beat Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, and Stuart Bingham, all former world champions, for the loss of only four frames.

0:26

To look back at the action in Taiyuan, we have some help.

0:31

Our guest is returning to the Snooker Hall Podcast.

0:34

He is the founder and editor of Snooker HQ and one of the great voices of snooker journalism.

0:39

I'm delighted to welcome David Caulfield back to the Snooker Hall Podcast.

0:43

David, how are you?

David CaulfieldGuest

0:44

I'm good, and thanks for having me back.

David CaulfieldGuest

0:46

It's always, uh, a pleasure to be on your podcast, Dan.