On January 16, 2025, the Snooker Masters continued with the Chinese team suffering a first-round defeat, leaving only Ding Junhui to advance while Zhang Anda was eliminated in the first round. Facing world number two, Kyren Wilson, Zhang Anda fought nine rounds but lost 4-6, failing to continue his impressive performance from last season.
Born in 1991, Zhang Anda is known for his stable playing style and excellent mental fortitude. Last season, he rose to prominence with one championship and two runner-up finishes, achieving the best record of his career and ranking tenth in the world, just behind Ding Junhui. However, in this competition, he failed to maintain his peak form. His slow pace and inaccurate offense in critical situations allowed Kyren Wilson to seize multiple opportunities, ultimately missing out on the chance to advance.
In the crucial seventh game, Zhang Anda struggled with consecutive weak attacks, scoring only 24 points before being forced to stop; while his opponent, Kyren Wilson, locked in the victory with a precise single shot of 69 points. Although Zhang Anda managed to win back a game with a high-quality clearance of 141 points in the eighth round, he could not sustain his momentum in the final stages, missing several chances to play, and eventually exited the competition.
Kyren Wilson, born in 1990, is one of the top snooker players among the post-90s generation. He has twice defeated Trump in the World Championship finals and has won a total of eight ranking titles, making his world number two ranking well-deserved. Although he surpasses Zhang Anda in personal achievements, this match was not without suspense. Zhang Anda has shown impressive performances on multiple occasions, and this focus battle against Wilson highlighted the importance of on-site performance.
After a prolonged standoff, Wilson's overall strength and experience prevailed. He secured the victory in the ninth round with a score of 68-43, ultimately eliminating Zhang Anda with a 6-4 scoreline. This result, though expected, was impressively intense in its process.
With the elimination of Zhang Anda and Si Jiahui, Ding Junhui became the sole hope for Chinese snooker players in this Masters. His next opponent is the formidable Trump, and the match is full of challenges. However, Ding Junhui has maintained a stable state this season and is still highly anticipated.
Over the past few years, Ding Junhui has made breakthroughs in major competitions, and the upcoming focus match will determine whether he can advance to the next round. For the Chinese snooker team, Ding Junhui carries not only honor but also the expectations of fans for the future.
The results of this competition exposed the gap between China's new generation of snooker players and the world's top players in top-level competitions, but their stable performances also showed potential for future development. The upcoming battle between Ding Junhui and Trump will become another focus for Chinese fans. We look forward to him breaking through with his strength and bringing new good news to China's snooker cause.