Quarterfinals decided! Snooker Northern Ireland Open report: China 1 win 3 losses, Zhou Yuelong stands as the last hope

On October 24th Beijing time, the round of 16 at the Snooker Northern Ireland Open has finished, revealing all eight quarterfinalists. Four Chinese players competed to reach the quarterfinals, but their results were poor and disappointing, with only 1 victory against 3 defeats. Zhou Yuelong progressed by default after Carter withdrew, advancing to the last eight. The other three Chinese players all lost: Si Jiahui suffered a 1-4 defeat to the seasoned Higgins; He Guoqiang was beaten 2-4 by the talented young Karen Wilson; Yuan Sijun faded in the later stages, losing 2-4 to Tom Ford.

Si Jiahui faced off against Higgins, one of the '75 trio.' There is a significant gap in overall strength between them. Although Higgins is 50 years old, he remains sharp and formidable. The match started evenly with both players tied 1-1 after two frames, but then Higgins dominated, delivering three consecutive breaks over 50 with sharp and consistent precision, winning three frames straight to claim a 4-1 victory and advance to the quarterfinals!

Yuan Sijun competed against Tom Ford. The first frame was very intense, with Ford pulling off a dramatic final shot to take the lead. The score went back and forth, reaching 2-2 after four frames. However, Ford maintained strong offense and defense, winning the next two frames to secure a 4-2 victory and a place in the quarterfinals!

He Guoqiang faced the post-90s World Champion Karen Wilson, a tough upset to pull off. Wilson was in excellent form and accuracy, seizing a commanding 3-1 lead early on. He Guoqiang fought back with a notable 79-point break to save a match point. But in the sixth frame, Wilson calmly compiled a 53-point break to clinch the frame and eventually win 4-2, advancing to the quarterfinals!

Zhou Yuelong was extremely lucky as his opponent Carter withdrew, allowing him to advance to the quarterfinals by default. This marks Zhou’s second consecutive tournament reaching the last eight, once again making him the sole Chinese player remaining in the quarterfinals!

With the quarterfinal lineup set, Zhou Yuelong will face Tom Ford to compete for a semifinal spot. Ford is not a particularly strong opponent, so Zhou has a good chance. Two leading post-90s players, Karen Wilson and Lisowski, will clash, with Wilson expected to advance. Among the ‘80s five tigers, Trump will battle Higgins from the ‘75 trio’—a highly competitive match with an unpredictable outcome. Mark Allen will face the dark horse Brown, who recently upset Murphy; Brown is considered a wildcard, giving Allen many opportunities to reach the semifinals!

Written by/Titan Sports Novel

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