Snooker has been quite lively recently, and our Chinese players have really made a splash at the beginning of the new year. Whether it's veterans or newcomers, they've all made quite a stir on the court, which makes us fans both nervous and excited.
Xiao Guodong's game was really nerve-wracking. He was压制 by Mark Williams at the start, and the score quickly reached one to three. This kind of situation would have panicked any other player, but Xiao Guodong managed to steady his composure and slowly found his rhythm again.
Once he regained his form, the next few games were played with vigor, winning four consecutive games and turning the score around. This kind of rollercoaster match is enough to make your heart race.
The most incredible moment came in the eighth game when Xiao Guodong scored a perfect 147, the first maximum break of the year, and even more so under such critical circumstances. This performance left everyone speechless.
This perfect break not only won him the victory but also earned him a bonus of 147,000 yuan. That's quite a hefty New Year's red envelope, and I'm sure Xiao Guodong himself didn't expect such a big surprise.
Speaking of Ding Junhui's game, it was truly eventful. Facing world number one Judd Trump, he fell into a one to four deficit at the start, which is tough for anyone.
But Ding Junhui's years of experience weren't for nothing. In this critical moment, he relied on his tenacity to chase points one by one, eventually catching up to five to four.
Judd Trump also showed no signs of backing down in the game, scoring his first 147 of the year. This high-level duel was truly exhilarating to watch.
The last few games of the match were like a psychological battle, with both players pushing their limits. In the end, Ding Junhui won with stronger willpower.
The biggest surprise of this competition has to be Pang Junxu. The post-00s youngster's performance in the championship league really caught everyone's attention.
With three century breaks, he swept aside Wakelin. This kind of strength display is not something an average player can achieve, let alone that he followed it up with a win against Slessor.
Although he eventually lost to Ryan Day, his overall record remained at two wins and one loss, which is quite commendable for a newcomer.
Currently, he ranks third in his group, and there's still a chance to challenge the winners' group. This momentum makes people can't help but look forward to his future.
The format of the championship league is actually quite interesting. It starts with a round-robin group stage, followed by selecting the top four from each group to play in the playoffs.
This format looks simple, but it actually gives each player plenty of opportunities, without being eliminated directly due to a single loss.
Each player faces the other opponents in the same group, making it easy to demonstrate their abilities, with no room for luck.
Those who can emerge victorious from the playoffs are definitely players with both skill and form, and this survival of the fittest approach is actually quite fair.