China’s snooker stars Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong have advanced to the last 16 of the World Open in Yushan, Jiangxi Province, after securing thrilling victories in their third-round matches on Tuesday.
Ding Junhui faced a tough challenge from Iran’s Hossein Vafaei. Despite falling behind 1-0 and later 3-2, Ding rallied to win three consecutive frames, clinching a 5-3 victory. The World No. 9 impressed the home crowd, notably with a brilliant 119 break in the third frame.
Speaking after the match, Ding admitted, “I had a good start and took the lead early on. But I lost concentration and made several errors that allowed my opponent to catch up. Honestly, I wasn’t in my best form, but I’ll give it my all in the upcoming matches.”
Ding now prepares to face former world champion Shaun Murphy in the next round. Murphy, in spectacular form, recorded a maximum 147 break on the tournament’s opening day.
In another gripping encounter, Zhou Yuelong pulled off an upset by defeating World No. 2 Kyren Wilson. Zhou dominated the early stages, storming to a 4-0 lead with two century breaks and two half-centuries.
However, the momentum shifted after the interval. England’s Wilson fought back fiercely, leveling the match at 4-4 with consecutive century breaks and a half-century.
Under immense pressure, Zhou kept his cool in the deciding frame. “Whether I was leading or not, I remained calm,” Zhou reflected. “I didn’t get anxious when he caught up. We both played very well, and he put a lot of pressure on me. But I waited patiently, stayed composed, and finally won the deciding frame.”
The victory sends Zhou, ranked World No. 31, into the last 16, where he will face Scotland’s John Higgins.
The World Open continues to deliver high-quality snooker action, capturing the attention of fans around the globe.
