Chang Bingyu became the ninth player in snooker history to make four consecutive century breaks during a 4-0 thrashing of Shaun Murphy in round one of the BetVictor Welsh Open.
Chang had a 100% pot success rate and conceded just a single point in an extraordinary display, described by Reanne Evans on BBC Wales as “the best performance ever on a snooker table”.
It’s the 11th occasion that a player has made four tons in a row in a professional match; only Neil Robertson and Mark Allen have done so twice. And only Robertson and Allen had previously achieved this feat in a best-of-seven frame contest.
Four in a row
Players to make four consecutive centuries
John Higgins, 2005 Grand Prix Shaun Murphy, 2007 Welsh Open Neil Robertson, 2013 Ruhr Open Gary Wilson, 2019 UK Championship Stephen Maguire, 2020 Tour Championship Mark Allen, 2020 European Masters Lu Ning, 2020 UK Championship Neil Robertson, 2022 European Masters Jack Lisowski, 2022 UK Championship Mark Allen, 2023 English Open Chang Bingyu, 2026 Welsh Open
China’s 23-year-old Chang, who was runner-up to Chris Wakelin at the BetVictor Scottish Open in December, opened with total clearances of 130 and 136 to lead 2-0. Former World Champion Murphy potted his solitary red in frame three, but Chang’s 119 made it 3-0. And the talented potter continued the barrage in frame four with another 130 total clearance. He will now face Jackson Page or Luca Brecel in the last 32 in Llandudno.
Chang said: “I honestly didn’t expect to play that well today. Before the match, my mindset was more about learning from him. After finishing the match, I felt really happy. It was probably the first time I’ve played at this level in a best-of-seven. Earlier this season I had quite a few matches where I played well and made some good breaks, but making four centuries in a best-of-seven is definitely a first for me.
“Since finishing runner-up (in Scotland) earlier in the season, I’ve become a bit more relaxed when I play against the top players now. Before, I sometimes felt like I couldn’t beat them, but that feeling isn’t as strong anymore. It’s never easy, of course. But I’ve always wanted to play attacking snooker and bring my scoring game to its best level. I don’t know how far I can go this week. I just want to focus on playing well in each match.”
Murphy said: “That’s the best performance in a best-of-seven match I’ve ever seen. If that were Ronnie O’Sullivan or Judd Trump it would be on the news.”
Feeling “more excited and more confident”, Zhao Xintong kept alive his chances of winning three consecutive ranking events by beating Fan Zhengyi 4-3 in the first round of the BetVictor Welsh Open.
February has been a marvellous month for Crucible king Zhao as he has won the World Grand Prix and Players Championship back-to-back, earning £330,000 and climbing to a career-high fifth place in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings. Shrugging off any fatigue, the 28-year-old from China is determined to ride the wave and has the opportunity to become the sixth player to win three consecutive ranking titles, after Ray Reardon, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ding Junhui and Judd Trump.
Zhao took a 3-1 lead today with top breaks of 65, 132 and 111, bringing his tally of centuries for the season to 61. Fan battled back to 3-3 with a top run of 115 and had first chance in the decider but could only make 19, and Zhao took advantage with a winning 71, earning a last-32 tie with Jimmy Robertson or Stan Moody. So far this season Zhao has played 22 deciding frames and won 16.
He said: “Fan and I both played very well today. After I went 3-1 up, there was one frame I probably should have taken, but I made one or two small mistakes in shot selection and he punished me. In the next two frames I didn’t really get many chances, so it went to a decider. I believed that as long as I got one chance, I could take it and win the match.
“After winning the title in Telford, I went back to Sheffield that same night. The next day I had a lie-in, packed my bags, had a nice Chinese meal, and then travelled here in the afternoon. So there wasn’t much rest, maybe half a day. But for me, playing more matches is a great experience. While I’m still young, winning more matches will be very beneficial for my future.
“At first, I did feel some mental and physical fatigue after those two tournaments. But coming here this time, I actually feel more excited and more confident than before. I really want to win more matches.“
Earlier in the day, Chang Bingyu’s astonishing display of break-building earned him a 4-0 win over Shaun Murphy.
Gary Wilson, who won this title two years ago, almost matched Chang’s performance as he saw off Amir Sarkhosh 4-0 with 93, 135, 118 and 119.
Welshman Jackson Page was in superb form in a 4-0 thrashing of 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel, knocking in breaks of 86 and 64, while Stan Moody was another 4-0 winner, beating Jimmy Robertson with a top run of 107.
Jack Lisowski and Zhou Yuelong both stayed in hunt for the £150,000 BetVictor bonus, the former beating Louis Heathcote 4-2 while the latter saw off Alexander Ursenbacher 4-0. Hungary’s Bulcsu Revesz scored one of his best wins as a pro as he edged out Ryan Day 4-3.
Kyren Wilson hopes he is building towards a strong finish to the season as he cruised into the last 32 of the BetVictor Welsh Open with 4-1 win over Liu Hongyu in Llandudno.
It has been a season of highs and lows for Wilson as he has won two huge invitation events, the Shanghai Masters and the Masters, but has struggled for results in ranking events and failed to qualify for last week’s Players Championship, where he would have been defending champion. He needs a giant leap up the one-year list, from 22nd into the top 12, to earn a place in the Tour Championship next month. Tonight the Kettering cueman fired breaks of 65, 65, 100 and 75 as he set up a tie with Zhou Yuelong on Wednesday evening.
“I was really disappointed not to be in Telford last week,” said Wilson. “But it has been well documented that I have had issues to deal with away from the table this season and I think I have done well to win two tournaments. And this is another opportunity this week. I would love to qualify for the Tour Championship although if I miss out that does give me the chance to take a break before the Crucible.“
John Higgins narrowly missed out on the Players Championship title, losing 10-7 in the final to Zhao Xintong, and the veteran Scot was straight back on the winning trail with a 4-1 defeat of Liu Wenwei. Higgins has captured the Welsh Open crown a record five times and this time he’ll meet Hungary’s Bulcsu Revesz in the last 32 on Wednesday night. In a scrappy encounter against Liu, Higgins managed top breaks of 56, 51 and 59.
Liam Pullen, who beat Higgins earlier in the season at the Xi’an Grand Prix, took another top-16 scalp by knocking out Chris Wakelin. York’s 20-year-old Pullen made breaks of 100 and 107 in taking a 3-2 lead before Wakelin recovered to 3-3.
In a tense decider, Pullen led by 37 points with one red left when he missed a routine black, and his opponent got the snooker he needed then potted the final red, only to miss a tough brown to a centre pocket. A relieved Pullen added the points he needed to set up a tie with Zhang Anda.
“I played some really nice stuff in parts,” said Pullen. “I have lost quite a few deciders this season but I know I just have to keep at it and play better snooker. I am learning a lot about myself and improving a lot.”
The result ends Wakelin’s hopes of landing the £150,000 BetVictor bonus, with Mark Allen the front runner-up for that prize and only Jack Lisowski, Zhou Yuelong and Chang Bingyu in the chasing pack.
Sam Craigie top scored with 99 and 110 as he got the better of a North-East derby against Elliot Slessor by a 4-3 scoreline, and he now meets another Tynesider, Gary Wilson.
Did Murphy really say in an press interview!! about Chang’s performance there that if it would’ve been Ronnie or Judd it would be on the news?
Find the error.