Pang Junxu made a dramatic comeback to defeat fellow Chinese player Zhang Anda 10-7 in an all-Chinese first-round clash at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, England, on Wednesday. This victory propels Pang into the round of 16 for the first time in his career.
The match began with Zhang leading 5-3 after the first session. Pang narrowed the gap with a brilliant break of 111 in the ninth frame, but Zhang quickly responded by taking the tenth frame to maintain his lead. The two players exchanged frames, with Zhang holding a 7-5 advantage.
Undeterred, Pang unleashed a fierce counterattack from the 13th frame, winning four consecutive frames with one century and three breaks over 50 points. This impressive streak turned the tables, giving Pang a 9-7 lead. In the 17th frame, Pang sealed the victory, leaving Zhang no chance to recover.
Looking ahead, Pang is set to face snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, in the next round. O’Sullivan, 49, demonstrated his enduring skill by defeating Ali Carter 10-4, advancing to the second round for the 29th time in his 33rd consecutive World Championship appearance.
Meanwhile, world number one Judd Trump secured a 10-4 win over Zhou Yuelong of China. Trump will next face Shaun Murphy, who earlier this year clinched his second Masters title.
