Snooker Saudi Masters: China achieves 4 wins and 4 losses, Chang Bingyu causes an upset & Zhao Xintong wins 5-0 & Ding Junhui advances

On August 13, Beijing time, the first round of the Snooker Saudi Masters concluded. The Chinese team, consisting of 8 players, ended with a record of 4 wins and 4 losses, which is still acceptable. Ding Junhui made a strong comeback, defeating Maguire 5-2, while Chang Bingyu delivered a surprising performance, pulling off a stunning 5-4 upset against Mark Allen. In the derby match, Si Jiahui surged in the later stages to win 5-3 against Wu Yize. The newly crowned world champion Zhao Xintong was in top form, sweeping Horvath 5-0, while Zhang Anda, Wu Yize, Long Zehuang, and Yuan Sijun were eliminated and sent home!

Ding Junhui faced Maguire. In the first four frames, both players were evenly matched, ending in a 2-2 tie. However, Ding Junhui then launched a powerful offensive surge, winning three consecutive frames to secure a 5-2 victory over Maguire. Despite advancing, Ding only managed to score 2 breaks of 50+, indicating a lack of scoring consistency, which poses a risk when facing top-level opponents. Winning will be challenging!

Zhao Xintong faced Horvath. This match had no suspense, as Zhao Xintong, the newly crowned world champion, was truly on fire. Throughout the match, he scored two centuries and three breaks over 90, leaving his opponent questioning his abilities. It must be said that this was quite brutal, as Zhao won all five frames with single breaks, showcasing a flow and dominance that was simply impressive!

Chang Bingyu faced Mark Allen. Returning from suspension, Chang Bingyu showed significant improvement. Starting strong from the first round, he won four consecutive matches to qualify for the main event, earning the chance to challenge Mark Allen. In this match, Chang displayed sharp accuracy, initially taking a perfect 3-1 lead. However, Mark Allen responded with a streak of three consecutive frames to reach match point at 4-3. Chang showcased his composure, saving the match point with excellent defense and pulling off a dramatic finish to defeat his opponent 5-4, causing a major upset that was truly unexpected!

Si Jiahui faced Wu Yize. This match was a Chinese derby, and regardless of who advanced, one of them would secure a spot in the top 16. Both players are strong competitors, making the outcome uncertain. After the first six frames, they were tied 3-3. Si Jiahui then stepped up, winning two consecutive frames to claim victory at 5-3 and successfully securing a spot in the top 16. Both players had similar statistics, each scoring 4 breaks of 50+!

By/ Sports Novel