Here are the reports by WST on the action in Wuhan yesterday:
WUHAN OPEN DAY THREE AFTERNOON UPDATE
Xiao Guodong scored a stunning 5-4 win over world number two and World Champion Kyren Wilson to make the last 16 of the Wuhan Open.
The Chinese cueman has already shown positive signs this season after a run to the quarter-finals of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, which included a 5-1 demolition of Mark Allen.
Wilson enjoyed a significant first victory as Crucible king earlier in the season when he triumphed at the Xi’an Grand Prix, beating Judd Trump 10-8 in the final. However, since then he has failed to make any further quarter-finals.
It was Wilson who appeared to be in the ascendency in the early stages this afternoon, making two breaks of 63 to earn an early 2-0 lead. Xiao responded by coming from requiring snookers to take the third on the black and then adding the fourth to head into the mid-session level at 2-2.
When play resumed, Xiao took the next two frames to make it four on the bounce and move one from victory at 4-2. However, Wilson summoned century runs of 118 and 108 to force a decider.
The final frame came down to the pink, which Xiao eventually deposited to the yellow pocket to emerge victorious. He now faces Barry Hawkins, who beat Stan Moody 5-3.
“Kyren is ranked number two in the world and became World Champion this year so I kept a clear head and reminded myself to be patient for my chances. Whether I was leading or trailing, I couldn’t let my guard down,” said two-time ranking finalist Xiao.
“When I compete in China, I really want to win. Having fans and my family in the audience makes me want to show my best. Thankfully I managed to get the result today.”
Ali Carter was a 5-3 victor in a fiercely contested encounter with Hong Kong’s Marco Fu.
The pair traded the opening two frames, before the high quality encounter sprung into life. Carter made 107 in the third to take the lead, but a stunning 139 from Fu restored parity at 2-2.
After the mid-session a break of 66 saw Carter come from behind to steal the fifth and he then moved one from victory at 4-2. Fu fired in a 108 to pull within one, but Carter got over the line a 5-3 victor. That sets up a mouth watering clash with Shaun Murphy, who beat Noppon Saengkham 5-3.
Carter said: “Marco always scores really heavily. I’m delighted to get through that game. Wins have been a bit dry of late. I’ve come here with not a lot of expectation or confidence. It is nice to get a couple of wins.
“Shaun is a top player and I’ve known him forever. I need to keep reminding myself I’m a top player as well. It is good to be competing against the top boys, that is where I want to be, it is my job and I’m thoroughly looking forward to it tomorrow.”
Local player Long Zehuang scored a huge 5-0 win over Jackson Page to delight his home fans in Wuhan. He now plays Ben Woollaston, who edged out Elliot Slessor 5-3.
Long said: “I felt particularly nervous today because my family was watching. I’m from Wuhan and my wife and child were also here too. Maybe that brought me good luck today, as it is very rare for my family to watch me play.
“My child was born this year and is now eight months old. My wife has been taking care of everything at home. She is incredibly supportive of me and my entire family is behind me. Without their support, I might have already given up.”
WUHAN OPEN DAY THREE EVENING ROUNDUP
Judd Trump fought hard for a 5-2 defeat of Anthony McGill to set up a blockbuster last 16 showdown with John Higgins at the Wuhan Open.
Trump and Higgins have battled it out over the years, in what has become one of snooker’s greatest rivalries. They’ve met in two world finals, in 2011 and 2019, with Higgins winning the former and Trump the latter.
It is 29-time ranking event winner Trump who leads the head to head standings between the pair, having won ten of their last 11 meetings.
The Ace in the Pack wasn’t at his brilliant best in this evening’s clash with McGill and knows he will have to up his game against 31-time ranking event winner Higgins, who emerged a 5-3 victor against Zak Surety.
“I find it easier playing John because I know I have to play at my absolute best to stand a chance. John is in good form and I will have to play well and improve if I am going to win,” said 35-year-old Trump.
“I think, at this moment in time, we have had the best games against each other of anyone. He has been one of the best rivalries I’ve had in snooker. If you look at the top five or ten games I’ve been involved in then at least two or three are with him. There have been some great memories in the games between us.”
China’s 14-time ranking event winner Ding Junhui continued his strong form with a 5-2 defeat of compatriot Yuan Sijun.
Ding fired in breaks of 58, 95, 110 and 77 on his way to this evening’s win and now faces Chris Wakelin, who whitewashed David Lilley 5-0. After this evening’s match Ding stated that he feels the standard of snooker in China is improving all of the time.
Ding said: “Chinese players are improving their technical skills and gaining more experience, they are getting better. They have become familiar with the different styles of players and Chinese competitors stand out in various events now.”
Jack Lisowski put on a brilliant display to brush aside world finalist Jak Jones 5-1. The Englishman made century runs of 136 and 130 during the win. He now faces Wu Yize.
All the detailed scores are available on snooker.org
As always there are some surprising omissions, or unsurprising as WST reports mainly focus on the British players results.
- Wu Yize’s name is in the report, but what isn’t is how he booked his place in the round of 16. Well, here goes: He beat Jamie Clarke by 5-4 . The match was close but Wu’s scoring was impressive: he had three centuries, a 135 and two 115, plus a 69 break for good measure.
- From 0-2 down, Zhang Anda beat Hossein Vafaei by 5-3. He will now play Mark Joyce
- Mark Joyce is competing as an amateur. He replaces Ronnie in the draw. He’s not doing badly! He whitewashed Robbie Williams yesterday.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 