Sheffield, England, witnessed a thrilling showdown at the World Snooker Championship as Zhao Xintong of the Chinese mainland secured his first-ever quarterfinal spot with a 13-10 victory over compatriot Lei Peifan. 🎱
After taking a comfortable 10-6 lead, Zhao faced a late surge from Lei, who won three straight frames to bring the score to 12-7. With nerves of steel, Zhao produced a brilliant break of 62 in the 23rd frame, forcing Lei to concede and earning his place in the last eight, where he will face qualifier Chris Wakelin.
In another highlight of the event, world No. 1 Judd Trump hit his 100th century break of the season during a match against Shaun Murphy. Despite a slow start in the second session, Trump’s explosive play and a spectacular 132-point clearance in one frame earned him a rare mid-frame standing ovation.
The Championship also featured intense encounters in other matches. China’s Si Jiahui built a 9-7 lead over Ben Woollaston, while snooker legends like Ronnie O'Sullivan and Luca Brecel edged closer to their quarterfinal dreams. O'Sullivan, after a commanding 6-2 win in the afternoon session, is set to complete his match against Chinese mainland's Pang Junxu on Monday evening.
This Championship is packed with record-breaking performances and nail-biting finishes that prove why snooker continues to capture the global stage. Stay tuned for more sensational updates straight from Sheffield! 🚀
Reference(s):
Zhao beats Lei to reach World Snooker Championship quarterfinals
cgtn.com
