Manchester, England — China’s Ding Junhui celebrated his 38th birthday in style on Tuesday night with a commanding 10-3 victory over Wales’ Mark Williams at the Snooker Tour Championship.
Entering the second session with a 5-3 lead, Ding showcased exceptional form, securing five consecutive frames. He capped off the match with his second century break of the evening, a stunning 102 in the 13th frame.
Currently ranked ninth globally with 15 ranking titles to his name, Ding advances to face world No. 2 Kyren Wilson in the quarterfinals.
In an all-Chinese showdown, Xiao Guodong mounted an impressive comeback to defeat compatriot Wu Yize 10-8. Wu, who started strong with a 3-0 lead, maintained his advantage for much of the match, delivering six breaks over 70 points, including a century break of 100 in the 12th frame.
However, Xiao turned the tables by clinching the final three frames from the 16th to the 18th, securing his spot in the next round where he will face four-time world champion John Higgins, affectionately known as the “Wizard of Wishaw.”
Meanwhile, English world No. 3 Mark Selby overcame China’s Si Jiahui with a 10-6 scoreline. Selby will meet Australia’s Neil Robertson in what promises to be an exciting quarterfinal clash.
