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DRIVERS are paying the price for Britain’s crumbling roads as skinflint councils reject up to 96 per cent of pothole compensation claims.

Nearly half of the 1,552 who lodged a claim for damage to their vehicles suffered on England’s major roads received a payout from National Highways last year.

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Councils are rejecting up to 96 per cent of pothole compensation claims[/caption]

But on local roads, councils are dodging responsibility, some rejecting more than nine in ten applications.

The AA’s Luke Bosdet said of National Highways: “A road authority that takes responsibility for the condition of its roads and doesn’t wriggle out of it is hugely refreshing, unlike so many councils.

“Driving to somewhere in one piece should not be a matter of pothole luck.”

In Essex only four per cent of pothole claims — 283 out of 7,036 — were successful over the past four years.

Meanwhile, in Kent, 92 per cent of drivers were rejected.

The county council received 2,508 pothole- related claims between January 2023 and February 2024 but only 190 were accepted.

The cost of bringing pothole-plagued local roads in England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at £16.3billion.

This year’s local road funding is being boosted by £500million, rising to nearly £1.6billion, but a quarter will be withheld until councils prove they are using the cash effectively.

Shadow transport minister Gareth Bacon said: “Labour needs to get to grips with it.”

Essex Highways said last night that all claims are “investigated fully in line with legal criteria”, adding “we invest millions into our road maintenance”.

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In Essex only four per cent of pothole claims — 283 out of 7,036 — were successful over the past four years[/caption]

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MINISTERS were accused of “crawling on their stomachs to China” over a controversial North Sea turbine deal with Beijing.

The Sun revealed on Tuesday that the Treasury had “brushed off” spying and energy security concerns over allowing Chinese firm Mingyang Smart Energy to provide windmills for a North Sea filed due to be approved in weeks.

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Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith branded the move by ministers a ‘desperate attempt to crawl on their stomachs to China’[/caption]

The MoD and Energy department raised major national security concerns with the project but are said to have been overruled by the Treasury.

Last night No10 insisted wind farms are subject to the “highest levels of national security”

Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “We will always act in the national interest to protect our national security.

He added: “And when it comes to China, we’ve been clear that we’ll cooperate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.”

But amid accusations the Treasury had “brushed off” security concerns for investment, there was a major backlash.

Shadow Cabinet Office minister Alex Burghart described the decision as: “More madness from Rachel Reeves and co-jeopardising national security for a bunch of windmills.”

He added: “When such serious concerns are being raised, the government has to explain how on Earth this was approved. Why is the Chancellor risking national security?”

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith branded it “yet another weak and desperate attempt to crawl on their stomachs to China.”

He added: “The Labour government is going to approve a North Sea wind farm powered by Chinese turbines, handing over control of a vital resource to a brutal and threatening regime. How China is laughing at us.

“This decision flies in the face of warnings from the Energy dept that they could be turned off and from MoD over eves-dropping and spying.

“We have become the weak underbelly of the Western alliance and at this rate of project Kow Tow, no longer trusted by our allies like the USA.”

DONALD Trump has been pushed to rename Greenland as “Red, White and Blueland” and enter negotiations to seize the ice island.

A Republican congressman warned the Danish territory was vital as a “national security priority”.

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Donald Trump has been urged to rename Greenland[/caption]

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Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., unveiled a new legislation to rename the island ‘Red, White and Blueland’[/caption]

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Trump floated taking over the ice island before his second inauguration[/caption]

Georgia Republican Buddy Carter, 67, unveiled a new legislation to encourage Trump to start negotiations to “purchase or otherwise acquire” Greenland.

The congressman even proposed which patriotic name should be bestowed on the island.

“America is back and will soon be bigger than ever with the addition of Red, White, and Blueland,” Carter told The New York Post.

The Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025 would require the secretary of the interior’s team to update federal paperwork with the new name for Greenland.

This department would have just six months to complete the drastic update.

“President Trump has correctly identified the purchase of what is now Greenland as a national security priority, and we will proudly welcome its people to join the freest nation to ever exist when our Negotiator-in-Chief inks this monumental deal,” Carter added.

The Commander-in-chief has long set his sights on the frozen island and even sent his son there for an unofficial visit before his second inauguration.

Denmark, which owns Greenland, has strongly insisted the island is not for sale, but this has not stopped Trump from eyeing the land.

The US President refused to rule out using military force to seize the island.

Trump previously boasted that the people of Greenland wanted to be part of the US, telling reporters in Air Force One on January 25.

The President said: “I think the people want to be with us.”

Trump had been putting pressure on PM Mette Frederiksen despite reportedly being told to “f*** off” by the Danes.

Greenland is a vital strategic asset bursting with natural resources and sits bang in the middle of the main Arctic trade routes.

Greenland sits in the middle of the Arctic Ocean and among the key trade arteries in the region.

The Arctic is increasingly the object of a struggle between international superpowers.

Russia and China have both ramped up efforts to take control of the region, and concerns exist that America has been caught off guard.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also defended Trump’s goals with the island as he highlighted a 1951 treaty which promised to defend the island in the event of an attack.

“If we’re already on the hook for having to do that, then we might as well have more control over what happens there,” Rubio said on The Megyn Kelly Show.

“This is not a joke,” he added.

“This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved.”

RENAMING JOB

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The Gulf of Mexico and Gulf of America are now displayed on Google Maps[/caption]

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Donald Trump Jr. visited Greenland on January 7, 2025[/caption]

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Trump has put pressure on Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen[/caption]

This has not been Trumps only shock international land grab idea.

The President declared February 9 “Gulf of America Day” after he signed a proclamation to rename to basin.

He confirmed the change while flying over the waters, while on his way to the Super Bowl.

The President had signed an Executive Order on his inauguration day which renamed the basin.

As Trump signed the document on Sunday, his Secretary of the Interior – Doug Burgum – explained what the proclamation was.

Burgum said: “The button was pushed, it became official with this proclamation to call today Gulf of America Day, but now it’s going out as we’re sitting here right now.”

Google Maps has since caved into the President’s wishes and renamed the basin on it’s site.

The name has also changed to “Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of America)” on international Google Maps too.

The Gulf is shared between the US, Mexico, and Cuba.

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Trump and other Republicans have argued Greenland is a national security priority[/caption]

THE draw for tonight’s National Lottery EuroMillions (February 11, 2025) has taken place, with life-changing cash prizes at stake.

Check the results to see if you have just won a fortune and bagged enough to start that jet-set lifestyle you always dreamed of.

Every EuroMillions ticket also bags you an automatic entry into the UK Millionaire Maker, which guarantees at least one player will pocket £1million in every draw.

You can find out if you’re a winner by checking your ticket against tonight’s numbers below.

Tonight’s National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers are: 03, 21, 36, 41, 46 and the Lucky Stars are: 01, 06.

The UK Millionaire Maker Selection winner is: HTXG00209.

Tonight’s National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 12, 13, 14, 24, 29 and the Thunderball is 13.

The first EuroMillions draw took place on February 7, 2004, by three organisations: France’s Française des Jeux, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado in Spain and the Camelot in the UK.

One of the UK’s biggest prizes was up for grabs on December, 4, 2020 with a whopping £175million EuroMillions jackpot, which would make a winner richer than Adele.

Another previous UK winner who’s whole life was altered with their jackpot was a player who wanted to remain anonymous on October 8, 2019. They walked off with a cool £170,221,000.

Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs in Scotland, netted a huge £161,653,000 in the July 12, 2011.

Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Haverhill, Suffolk, picked up £148,656,000 after they played the draw on August, 10, 2012, while Jane Park became Britain’s youngest lottery winner when she scooped up £1 million in 2013.

The odds of winning any EuroMillions prize are 1 in 13.

Could tonight’s jackpot of £43million see you handing in your notice and swapping the daily commute for slurping champagne on a super yacht or lying back on a private beach in the Bahamas?

KYLIAN MBAPPE suffered an awkward wardrobe malfunction in Real Madrid’s clash against Manchester City.

The LaLiga giants faced the Cityzens in the Champions League play-off round.

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Kylian Mbappe’s laces snapped against Manchester CIty[/caption]

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He had to go off the pitch to deal with the issue[/caption]

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Hen had to redo the laces[/caption]

Mbappe, 26, started the game but need to leave the pitch inside just nine minutes.

The forward could be seen fiddling with his boots on the touchline while the action continued.

It was then realised that his laces had snapped on his boot and a replacement was needed.

The commentators could not help themselves but poke a bit of fun at the Galactico.

One said: “Surely he has sponsors for this.”

Fans were also unforgiving as they reacted to the wardrobe malfunction on social media.

One posted: “Mbappe’s laces are off haha.”

A second wrote: “Mbappe needs his mum to tie his laces.”

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A third commented: “State of them laces on Mbappe.”

A fourth said: “Mbappe’s laces are cooked.”

Another added: “Mbappe broke his laces and needs a new shoe LOL.”

Manchester City took the lead in the match as Erling Haaland smashed his effort past Thibaut Courtois.

However, fans complained at the length of time that was needed for VAR to check the goal.

Minutes later Jack Grealish was forced off with an injury in front of England manager Thomas Tuchel.

Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney was in attendance as he made his debut for Amazon Prime.

And he was quick off the mark to make a dig against the host team due to his background as at Manchester United player.

JUSTIN Bieber today looked gaunt in his baggy sweats as he joined his wife Hailey at pilates.

The singer, 30, stepped out in LA amid reports that the couple have “marriage troubles”.

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Justin and Hailey Bieber put on a united front today in LA[/caption]

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The singer’s gaunt frame was drowned by his sweat pants[/caption]

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The couple were seen heading out to pilates[/caption]

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The star’s appearance has been worrying fans lately[/caption]

The What Do You Mean? singer’s thin frame was drowned in his jogging bottoms and yellow hooded top.

He was unshaven and he wore a blue woolly hat.

Justin was joined in his outing out by his model wife Hailey, 28, who was dressed in shorts and an oversized sweater.

She completed her causal look with her slicked back and a pair of black sunglasses.

Although Justin still looked dishevelled, today’s look is a vast improvement on earlier this week.

The megastar stepped out of his New York home wearing a dressing gown and slippers.

Again his face looked sunken as headed out onto the street wearing a beany hat.

‘MARRIAGE TROUBLES’

Recently, Justin has been hit by rumors of marital problems with wife of six years, Hailey.

Insiders claim the couple, who welcomed son Jack Blues in August 2024, have been struggling behind closed doors.

A source has previously said of his alleged marriage problems: “Some of Hailey’s friends have advised her to leave him.

“His behaviour is sometimes unacceptable.

“She’s put up with a lot.”

Another source said: “Hailey’s been struggling with Justin almost since the start of the marriage.

“She loves him madly but he’s a loose cannon.”

Speculation intensified after Justin unfollowed Hailey on social media, before quickly refollowing her and blaming it on hackers.

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The couple have been married for six years[/caption]

CONCERN FOR JUSTIN

Meanwhile, this latest sighting of follows growing fears over Justin’s wellbeing.

Fans have expressed concerns over his increasingly erratic public appearances in recent weeks.

Many have also commented on him looking weary and unshaven.

JACK GREALISH suffered injury agony in front of England manager Thomas Tuchel.

The midfielder was forced off against Real Madrid on a rare start for Manchester City.

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Jack Grealish went off injured agaisnst Real Madrid[/caption]

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Grealish had treatment on the pitch[/caption]

City led through Erling Haaland’s 19th minute opener – with Grealish involved in the build-up.

But the former Aston Villa favourite went down on his knees not long afterwards.

He’d been holding his leg at times earlier and this time needed treatment on the pitch.

The 29-year-old soon realised he couldn’t continue and had to be replaced by fellow Three Lions star Phil Foden.

Etihad chief Pep Guardiola had a conversation with Grealish, who looked unsure about going straight to the dressing room.

Eventually he headed down the tunnel – a sensible choice perhaps on a bitter night.

Grealish’s fortunes appeared on the up over the weekend.

His sublime angled pass teed up sub Kevin de Bruyne’s clincher in a 2-1 FA Cup comeback win at Leyton Orient.

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A NUMBER of “hugely influential” names in politics and industry have been plotting “behind the scenes” in a bid to take down Kanye West’s business interests in the US following his shocking hate-filled X rants.

Tech mogul Daniel Starr told The U.S. Sun that secret WhatsApp groups had been set up by high-profile people across entertainment, fashion, tech and politics who were outraged by the rapper’s vile anti-Semitic posts in which he proclaimed “I LOVE HITLER.”

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Kanye West went on an anti-Semitic rampage on X at the weekend[/caption]

Daniel Starr

Entrepreneur Daniel Starr says Kanye will find it difficult to conduct business in the US now[/caption]

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Starr claims Donald Trump is taking Kanye’s anti-Semitic comments very seriously[/caption]

The groups were working together to ensure the shamed Yeezy founder would no longer be able to conduct business in the States, Starr said.

The multi-millionaire entrepreneur alleges that manufacturing companies will no longer produce clothing products for his brand and that his music will “disappear” from streaming platforms.

He says that outrage over Ye’s three-day X rampage—in which he also claimed he had “dominion” over his wife Bianca Censori, that rape victims were liars, and that accused sex trafficker Sean “Diddy” Combs should be freed—had reached the “very top of government.”

Starr also claimed he had spoken to White House insiders who told him President Donald Trump has taken Kanye’s comments “very seriously” and was “not playing around” when it came to anti-Semitism.

In an exclusive interview Starr, 45, said: “A number of WhatsApp groups have been set up that I’m part of, with people that are very significant in tech, in Hollywood, in real estate, people who are super influential in government, people who work at the big streaming platforms, people from all of the major U.S. companies and I can assure you the right thing is happening.

“Kanye is done.

“He just will not be able to conduct business in this country in the way he used to. There is a lot happening behind the scenes to ensure this.

“I work with a number of people in the manufacturing and production of clothing for Kanye and they are not going to be doing production for him any longer. I’ve spoken directly to them.

“And I’m involved in a bunch of different fashion companies and other companies that do manufacturing and production here in the States. And the only way that he will be able to continue doing anything in fashion is if he takes it overseas.

“And there will be tremendous tariffs on that. So he’ll have an extremely difficult time conducting any sort of real business. He’s going to need to go outside the US to do that. And the pressure from the US government is going to make it nearly impossible for him to do what he does.

“And by creating and selling merchandise with anti-Semitic logos on it and things of that nature, he can be sure that the Trump administration is not going to let that slide 100%.

“Donald Trump signed an executive order against anti-Semitism last week. He’s going out there and saying, if you’re in America and you’re on a Visa of any kind and you make anti-Semitic statements, if you’re involved in anti-Semitic protests, we’re going to send you back to wherever you came from.

KANYE WILL ‘FEEL REPERCUSSIONS’

“He’s basically putting it out there that businesses that engage with anti-Semites, like Kanye West, are going to feel the repercussions. So he’s taking it seriously. As we know, his daughter and son-in-law Jared Kushner are Orthodox Jews,” Starr added.

“So it hits home all the way at the top of the US – Donald Trump – down to the people that were manufacturing his merchandise.

“I’m in constant contact with people in Trump’s administration and he is not playing around with stuff like this. He’s very, very, very serious.

“Trump is not going to let people go out and spew anti-Semitic hate without doing anything about it. We will see very quickly that our government is going to stand up and do the right thing.”

Kanye is not a gangster, he’s just some wacko behind his iPhone talking trash.

Daniel Starr, entrepreneur

Kanye was widely condemned for his misogynistic, racist and anti-Semitic tirade, which began on Friday.

The rapper proclaimed: “I AM A NAZI”, “I LOVE HITLER” and wrote: “I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THE F*** ANTI SEMETIC MEANS.”

He later boasted about his wife’s naked Grammys look, claimed rape victims were liars and declared he was “God”.

Ye also posted a picture of a swastika t shirt and called it his “greatest art”.

Fans took to social media threatening to cancel their Yeezy orders and boycott his upcoming album Bully over the crazed rants.

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Kanye proclaimed his love for Hitler during his X tirade[/caption]

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Kanye’s wife Bianca Censori wore this see-through dress to the red carpet of the Grammys[/caption]

Starr claimed he was also in touch with senior employees of streaming platforms and believed Kanye’s ability to use them to promote his music would soon be limited.

“I’m on WhatsApp groups with people who are high up at the major streaming platforms, and Kanye will not be able to use those platforms to distribute his music,” he said.

“I don’t think there’ll be a big announcement, I think it just disappears. I think there’s going to be broken links.

‘BEYOND CANCELING’

“They don’t even want to give Kanye the mention of ‘we’re removing you’, which is the only thing he wants, because obviously he’s doing all of this for attention and to get people p****d off. But the net result of that is going to be he just disappears.

“This has gone beyond cancelling, you’re not even worth our time.”

The U.S. Sun reached out to Spotify and Apple Music for comment on the claims but received no response.

Starr, who is Jewish, offered up $2 million after reading the hateful comment to have five minutes in a boxing ring with Kanye, who he branded an “idiot Nazi”.

He said he stood by his original comments and had received praise for them.

“While obviously the method of my outrage was not the most graceful way of going about it—saying I’ll fight him for money—might be seen as a little bit lowbrow, but it called attention to the issue,” he said.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people after the first article, and they told me they appreciated what I did. It’s bold. Some people have told me I’m crazy, and he’s going to have people come after me, but Kanye is not a gangster; he’s just some wacko behind his iPhone talking trash. I’m not worried about my safety at all.”

‘DELUSIONAL’

Starr added that Kanye’s pleas to free Diddy, who is currently in jail in New York awaiting trial, were “delusional.”

“Kanye asking Trump to free Diddy and to have meetings with him just shows how detached from reality he is,” he said.

“And if Kanye thinks that President Trump would do anything or associate with anyone who is an anti-Semite, he’s more delusional than he already appears. Trump freeing Diddy is not something that’s ever going to happen.”

Kanye’s X account was given a “sensitive content” warning on Sunday night, with boss Elon Musk posting: “Given what he has posted, his account is now classified as NSFW. You should not be seeing that anymore.”

Ye later addressed the disclaimer on X and urged Musk to let him keep his account before “logging out” and appearing to deactivate it.

In a video posted before his account was taken offline he claimed he was of sound mind and had found his Twitter rant “cathartic”.

A rep for Kanye declined to comment on Starr’s claims.

One of Kanye’s previous US suppliers for clothing for his Yeezy line, Los Angeles Apparel did not respond to requests for comment.

EXETER CITY took a shock lead against Nottingham Forest in the final FA Cup match of the fourth round.

Josh Magennis gave the League One side the lead inside five minutes but Ramon Sosa equalised before Taiwo Awoniyi bent in a smart second.

The winner of the game will host Ipswich Town in the fifth round.

Elsewhere Manchester United will host Premier League rivals Fulham at Old Trafford, while Manchester City welcome fourth round giant killers Plymouth Argyle to the Etihad.

Newcastle take on Brighton in a blockbuster all-Prem clash at St James’ Park.

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Follow our live blog below…

THE Welsh Open returns for the 34th consecutive year – making it the third longest-running ranking event on the World Snooker Tour.

The huge tournament in Llandudno is the final contest of this season’s Home Nations Series.

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Gary Wilson is the reigning Wesh Open champion but CRASHED OUT in the first round[/caption]

Gary Wilson arrived on the coast of North Wales as top seed after he beat Martin O’Donnell to claim the Ray Reardon trophy last year.

The Englishman enjoyed a stunning tournament in 2024, hitting a 147 during his semi-final clash with John Higgins before taking home the huge £80,000 jackpot.

But Wilson will not make it back-to-back Welsh Open wins after he CRASHED OUT in the first round to Ishpreet Chadha.

Many stars remain in the conversation for the Home Nations bonus, with the race for the extra £150,000 concluding at the Welsh Open.

Neil Robertson is in pole position for the cash prize, which is given to the best performer across the four counting events.

When is the Welsh Open 2025?

• The Welsh Open begins on Monday, February 10.
• The event concludes on Sunday, February 16.
• Llandudno’s Venue Cymru will host.

What TV channel is the Welsh Open 2025 on and can you live stream the event?

• The Welsh Open will be broadcast LIVE on Eurosport.
• The event will also be aired on BBC Wales.
• Eurosport customers can live stream all the action via the discovery+ app/website.
• Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog.

Welsh Open 2025 schedule and results

Monday, February 10 – Last-64

10am

• Si Jiahui 2-4 Jamie Jones
• Mark Selby 4-2 Haydon Pinhey

1pm

• Neil Robertson 4-2 Mark Davis
• Mark Williams 4-1 Florian Nuessle
• Pang Junxu 4-2 Dominic Dale
• Zhou Yuelong 1-4 Yuan Sijun

2pm

• Stuart Bingham 0-4 Robbie Williams
• Jackson Page 4-2 Jimmy Robertson
• Gary Wilson 3-4 Ishpreet Singh Chadha
• Stephen Maguire 4-2 Xu Si

7pm

• Robert Milkins 4-1 Wang Yuchen
• Elliot Slessor 4-0 Liam Davies
• John Higgins 4-0 Graeme Dott
• Mark Allen 4-3 Stan Moody

8pm 

• Zhang Anda 4-2 Ross Muir
• Tom Ford 4-2 Andrew Higginson

Tuesday, February 11 – Last-64

10am

• Shaun Murphy 3-4 Ma Hailong
• Barry Hawkins 1-4 Sanderson Lam

1pm

• Ryan Day 4-2 Ben Mertens
• Wu Yize 4-3 Scott Donaldson
• Lyu Haotian 0-4 Joe O’Connor
• Jamie Clarke WO Ronnie O’Sullivan

2pm

• Kyren Wilson 4-3 Marco Fu
• Matthew Selt 4-0 Ricky Walden
• David Gilbert 4-3 Jordan Brown
• Jak Jones 2-4 Matthew Stevens

7pm

• Chris Wakelin v Michael Holt
• Hossein Vafaei v Fan Zhengyi
• Noppon Saengkham v Dylan Emery
• Luca Brecel v Stuart Carrington

8pm

• Jack Lisowski v Joshua Cooper
• Ali Carter v Rory Thor

Wednesday, February 12 – Last-32

10am

• Ishpreet Chadha vs Jackson Page
• Robert Milkins vs John Higgins

1pm

• Pang Junxu vs Zhang Anda
• Tom Ford vs Neil Robertson
• Stephen Maguire vs Mark Williams
• Wu Yize vs Sanderson Lam

2pm

• Jamie Jones vs Robbie Williams
• Jamie Clarke vs Matthew Selt
• David Gilbert vs Matthew Stevens
• Yuan SIjun vs Mark Allen

7pm

• Ma Hailong vs Ryan Day
• Joe O’Connor Kyren Wilson
• Mark Selby vs Elliot Slessor

Thursday, February 13 – Last-16

• TBC

Friday, February 14 – Quarter-finals

• TBC

Saturday, February 15 – Semi-finals

• TBC

Sunday, February 16 – Final

• TBC

What are the Home Nations Series events?

The Home Nations Series includes four tournaments hosted in the four home nations of the United Kingdom.

They are as follows:

• English Open (September 16-22)
• Northern Ireland Open (October 20-27)
• Scottish Open (December 9-15)
• Welsh Open (February 10-16)

The trophies for each of the Home Nations Series events are named after snooker icons of the respective country:

• English Open – The Steve Davis trophy
• Northern Ireland Open – The Alex Higgins trophy
• Scottish Open – The Steven Hendry trophy
• Welsh Open – The Ray Reardon trophy