Snooker UK Championship: Youngster Jiang Jun Eliminated in Round 26, Zhao Xintong Returns with Two Consecutive Wins to Declare His Return as King
Beijing time on November 18th, the second round of the Snooker UK Championship qualifying matches continued, with 112 players competing for 80 spots. All qualifying spots will be decided on this match day, with the competition adopting an 11-frame, 6-win format. The UK Championship is a major ranking event and the 11th stop of the WST World Snooker Tour, alongside the World Championship and the Wembley Masters as the top three snooker events. The champion's prize money is £250,000, with the runner-up receiving £100,000. This year's defending champion is Ronnie O'Sullivan, the number one player in snooker history.
According to the competition rules, the event is divided into qualifying rounds and the main draw. The top 16 ranked players in the world advance directly to the main draw, while the rest must compete through 1 to 4 rounds of qualifying to secure their spots in the main draw. From the qualifying rounds to the semi-finals, a uniform 11-frame, 6-win format is used, with the final being a 19-frame, 10-win format. The qualifying rounds are held in Leicester, UK (from November 16th to November 21st), with opponents assigned based on rankings. The bottom 32 ranked players start with the first round, followed by 16 winners who then face off against 16 players from the second round of qualifying. This process continues until the fourth round ends, with 16 players advancing to be drawn against seeded players after the qualifying rounds. After the qualifying rounds, there is a one-day break before the main draw begins, which takes place in York (from November 23rd to December 1st).
A total of 26 players from China have entered this competition, including Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, Si Jiahui, and Xiao Guodong, who are among the top 16 in the world and qualify as seeded players for the main draw. In the first round of qualifying, Bai Yulu, Zhang Jiawei, Lei Peifan, Wang Yuchen, Huang Jiaha, Gong Chenzhi, and Zhao Xintong, who returned from suspension, were among the seven players in action. The second round of qualifying saw eight players, including Long Zehuang, Fu Jiajun, Xing Zihao, Ma Hailong, Tian Pengfei, Jiang Jun, He Guoqiang, and Liu Hongyu, in action. Familiar names such as Pang Junxu, Wu Yize, Xu Si, and Zhou Yuelong started in the third round of qualifying. All top 16 players are participating in this competition, making the level of competition fierce.
Match Review:
In the first round of qualifying, 144 to 112, the Chinese team had seven players in action, winning six and losing one, with only Huang Jiaha eliminated in the first round.
Gong Chenzhi 6-2 Daniel Womersley
Bai Yulu 6-4 Farakh Ajaib
Wang Yuchen 6-2 Lewis Ula
Zhang Jiawei 6-1 Harvey Chandler
Lei Peifan 6-0 Gladiniari
Zhao Xintong 6-3 Akani Songswat
Huang Jiaha 4-6 Mustafa Doggum
In the second round of qualifying, the Chinese team currently has five players in action, achieving four wins and one loss, with youngster Gong Chenzhi suffering a whitewash elimination.
Bai Yulu 6-4 Jamie Jones
Long Zehuang 6-3 Liam Greym
Ma Hailong 6-3 Liam Preun
Wang Yuchen 6-5 Mark Davis
Gong Chenzhi 0-6 Ian Burns
The remaining players will participate in the second round of qualifying, 112 to 80, on this match day. Specific match details are as follows:
Jiang Jun 2-6 Zhao Xintong
Jiang Jun is a promising post-00s player from China, ranked 72nd in the world. He turned professional last year and reached the quarterfinals of the International Championship this season, losing to eventual champion Ding Junhui. This is his best career result so far. He is currently in the relegation stage and needs to win ranking matches to secure enough points to stabilize his professional status, with a strong desire for victory that cannot be underestimated.
Zhao Xintong is the first post-90s player to win a snooker triple crown event. He defeated Brechel to win the UK Championship in 2021 and added another title at the German Masters in 2022. He was subsequently suspended for suspected match-fixing for 1 year and 8 months. After his ban was lifted on September 1st this year, he won the Q Tour third station amateur tour to secure a wildcard entry into the UK Championship. This is his first WST professional event since his return. Although he has not yet officially returned to the professional ranks, it is only a matter of time before he regains his professional status and returns to the court with his own strength.
The match began with Jiang Jun having average form and only scoring 14 points before interrupting his shot. Zhao Xintong seized the opportunity with a single stroke of 92 points to win the first frame. In the second frame, Jiang Jun made a defensive error, allowing Zhao Xintong to skillfully pot from a medium-long range with delicate ball control, scoring 85 points to win. In the third frame, Jiang Jun missed a crucial shot after scoring 15 points from a pocket ball, converting the ball rights and presenting a scattered excellent opportunity. Zhao Xintong gratefully accepted the gift, taking over with a single stroke of 98 points to win another frame, giving him a dreamlike three consecutive victories to start the match. In the fourth frame, Jiang Jun scored 10 points from a long-range shot but lost his position and entered defense. He then scored again with a century break of 107 points to win a frame, with the score at 1-3 entering the short break between frames.