In a thrilling twist at the World Snooker Championships, Zhao Xintong made snooker history by becoming the first amateur to reach the second round. He defeated last year\u2019s finalist Jak Jones 10-4 on Monday, setting the stage for an all-China clash.
Now, Zhao faces fellow giant killer Lei Peifan, who recently stunned the field by beating 2024 champion Kyren Wilson. This match marks a road to redemption for Zhao, who served a 20-month ban for breaching betting regulations. Although he is playing as an amateur in Sheffield, he will return to the professional circuit next season, making every match count.
"I don\u2019t see anyone who is playing better than him," said Jones. "If he wins it, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised at all and that would be good for the game."
Zhao's victory also means there are now at least four Chinese players in the last 16—a record that underscores the growing strength of Chinese talent in snooker. Zhao admitted that battling through four qualifying rounds helped shake off some of the rust he felt due to a lack of big tournament play. "This match was about regaining confidence," he said. "I won\u2019t be back on tour until next season, so every match is very important."
Other matches added to the excitement: Fan Zhengyi fell to Mark Allen 10-6, Mark Williams mounted a comeback to edge out Wu Yize 10-8, and Xiao Guodong clinched only his second-ever victory at the Crucible by beating Matt Selt 10-4. Meanwhile, 2016 runner-up Ding Junhui held a 6-3 lead over Crucible debutant Zak Surety after the first session, setting the stage for more thrilling snooker action.
Fans can look forward to a three-day showdown between Zhao and Lei starting on Friday—a match that promises redemption, fierce competition, and plenty of snooker magic. 🎱
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
