🎱 Ding Junhui put on a snooker masterclass in the first round of the WST International Championship in Nanjing, in Jiangsu Province on the Chinese mainland. The home favorite and defending champion wasted no time, racing to a 2-0 lead with back-to-back breaks of 134 and 97.
He maintained his momentum throughout the match, doubling his advantage before Michael Holt of England managed a brief rally. After Holt claimed the fifth frame, Ding responded with a clinical 56-46 win for match point. Though Holt fought back to make it 6-1, Ding closed out the contest in style with an 86-point break in the seventh frame. Next up for Junhui is another English opponent, Liam Highfield.
Another thriller unfolded between Chinese mainland talents Zhao Xintong and Fan Zhengyi. The pair traded frames to level 2-2 after four. Fan looked set to seize control with a 62-point break in the fifth, but Zhao edged a nail-biter 63-62 and then took the sixth to lead 4-2. Fan extended the match by winning the seventh, but Zhao sealed his victory with back-to-back frames.
The win sets up a round-two showdown with compatriot Lei Peifan. Stay tuned as the action heats up! 🔥
Reference(s):
Ding Junhui eases through 1st round at WST International Championship
cgtn.com
