Chinese player lost the frame due to three misses: how an exotic rule destroyed chances in snooker.

Liu Hongyu eliminated from the tournament due to an unusual violation

According to The Sun: An unusual rule in snooker was the reason Liu Hongyu could not continue his fight at the English Open.

The Chinese player was competing against compatriot Si Jiahui for a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament in Brentwood on Monday.

Liu Hongyu lost this frame in bizarre circumstances!#EnglishOpen | @BetVictor pic.twitter.com/FdlzYbv9P5

— WST (@WeAreWST) September 15, 2025

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Unfortunately, he left the tournament under unusual circumstances.

Liu's mistake in the fifth frame led to a violation of the rule about three misses. After potting a red ball with a score of 21-4, he was faced with a tricky question — to play the black or the green ball. He chose the green but failed twice to hit it, prompting the referee to make a remark.

Then, deciding against playing the black, Liu opted for the pink but hit the red instead of the pink. This led to losing the frame, and the score shifted to 3-2 in favor of Si.

Si, in turn, looked bewildered when the referee announced that Liu lost the frame.

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TNT Sports' Neil Foulds commented on the situation:

“I'm not sure how he intended to hit the black ball. Maybe he needed a ladder.”

The rules of snooker state:

“after a foul and in the case of an incorrect shot, when there was a clear contact between the cue and the ball, a second attempt to hit the ball is considered a foul and a miss.”

Ultimately, Liu was unable to recover from this failure and lost the match with a score of 4-2. Si will continue his journey in the tournament, competing in the quarter-finals against former world number one Luca Brecel.

The situation with Liu Hongyu highlights the importance of understanding the nuances of the rules in snooker. Despite the high level of skill of the player, carelessness can lead to unpredictable consequences. Si Jiahui will now have a chance to showcase his abilities in a competition against one of the best in the world.