Currently, one of the three major snooker events that has captured the attention of snooker enthusiasts worldwide is the Masters, which is in full swing. As the standard-bearer of Chinese snooker, Ding Junhui is also participating in this prestigious tournament, which only features the top sixteen players in the world rankings. In a recent high-profile match, Ding Junhui defeated the renowned Mark Williams with great strength, advancing to the quarter-finals. After overcoming such a formidable opponent, Ding Junhui also displayed his strong self-confidence: "I love the Masters, and as long as I am given an opportunity, I can seize it." In China, when it comes to snooker, despite the emergence of many young talents in recent years who have performed well, the first person that comes to mind for everyone is still Ding Junhui, even though he has been in poor form in recent seasons, experiencing a prolonged championship drought. It is precisely because of this that Ding Junhui, whose state is gradually recovering, has given fans more expectations. Among the ongoing three major events, the Masters, with its gathering of top players, did not disappoint the fans who like and support Ding Junhui in his first-round appearance. Ding Junhui's first-round opponent was the veteran Mark Williams, who, although older, still possesses top-level skills as a world-class player. Such a matchup undoubtedly presented a tough challenge. Indeed, from the start of the match, both sides quickly entered a fighting state, with each winning a game in the first two rounds, resulting in a 1:1 draw. In the third round, Ding…

The Snooker Masters has completed its first three match days, and the situation is gradually becoming clear. The latest standings show that the Chinese team has one win and one loss. In his debut, Si Jiahui lacked experience and suffered a crushing defeat of 2-6 against Mark Allen, failing to meet Ding Junhui. Zhang Anda will take the stage tonight, aiming to set a new record, as the three tigers from the 80s may meet in the semi-finals. Ding Junhui has won four consecutive victories in the new year, defeating Mark Williams again after the exhibition match, completing six single-shot victories in the first round of the Masters, and winning 6-5 in a full 11 games. Si Jiahui's debut was a disaster, facing Mark Allen with almost no resistance, suffering a crushing defeat of 2-6 and being eliminated in the first round. Zhang Anda will take the field at 21:00 tonight to face off against world champion Kyren Wilson. Despite holding eight ranking tournament titles, "Jiongge" has only managed one victory in five previous matches against Chinese players born in the 90s. Zhang Anda, who won one title and two runners-up last season, has been in poor form this season with his best result being the quarter-finals. In tonight's match, "Da Zai" will not only strive for victory but also aim for a perfect score of 147. If he achieves the maximum break, he will become the first player this season to complete two 147s in three major events, setting a record while earning £147,000, equivalent to a prize of…

In the quarterfinals of the Snooker Masters, Ding Junhui once again demonstrated his tenacious fighting spirit and competitive spirit, successfully reversing a precarious situation. He won two consecutive games, eventually defeating his opponent 6-5 and advancing to the semifinals with his head held high. This battle not only made fans feel the excitement but also allowed Ding Junhui to showcase his true style as a top player. A Tough Battle: Ding Junhui vs. Williams Ding Junhui's opponent in this match was Mark Williams, an experienced and technically mature player. In the early stages of the game, both sides had their attacks and defenses, fighting fiercely. Although Ding Junhui reversed his opponent with a single shot of 69 points in the third round, gaining a temporary lead on the scoreboard, Williams also relied on his strong stability to win back a round through a single shot of 57 points in the fourth round, and the two entered a stalemate. As the game progressed, Ding Junhui missed the opportunity to score more points in the ninth round and was overtaken by Williams, falling behind 5-4 in total score. This meant that if Ding Junhui lost another round, he would be eliminated from the competition. At this critical moment, Ding Junhui was not overwhelmed by the pressure but instead became more determined in his beliefs and resolutely met the challenge. The Spirit of a True Champion: Rising from Despair Ding Junhui's true champion spirit is reflected in his ability to turn things around when he is trailing 4-5 and almost in despair, showing…

On January 14, 2025, the Snooker Masters continued with all five members of the "80s Tigers" advancing to the quarter-finals without any dropouts. At the same time, Ding Junhui's second-round opponent was revealed as Judd Trump, who defeated Barry Hawkins 6-1 to compete against the Chinese star for a semi-final spot, setting the stage for another peak confrontation. The 35-year-old Trump is the cream of the crop among post-80s players, ranked No. 1 in the world. He has won 30 ranking titles and 5 major titles (1 World Championship, 2 UK Championships, 2 Masters). Although his major tournament results are not as impressive as those of Selby and Robertson, in terms of championship numbers, Trump is undoubtedly the top player of his peers. Moreover, he is currently at the peak of his career, winning titles every year. His opponent is the 45-year-old Hawkins, ranked No. 12 in the world, who has won four ranking titles in his career, with the best result in the three major events being runner-up. As a frequent semi-finalist, Hawkins' results are very stable; it's just that he always falls short at critical moments. Last year, Trump and Hawkins competed for the UK Championship title, with Trump winning the final 10-8. Looking at their playing styles, Hawkins is quite balanced without any obvious weaknesses. After the match began, both sides made mistakes in the first game, with no state and low long-range success rates. Trump took the lead several times and started with a score of 59-14. In the second game, Hawkins missed a shot, and…

In the recently concluded first round of the Snooker Masters, Ding Junhui narrowly defeated Williams with a slim margin of 6-5. This victory not only showcased his abilities in a critical moment but also bolstered his confidence for future important events. However, it is noteworthy that Ding mentioned a sense of "侥幸" (lucky) victory in his post-match interview, reflecting his psychological changes and deep contemplation of his own state during this high-pressure confrontation. During the crucial moments of the match, Ding found himself trailing 4-5, facing immense pressure and challenges. At that time, he did not overly consider winning or losing but instead focused on his technique and mindset. As he stated, he has been watching videos of his younger self playing, trying to recapture that feeling of fluidity and ease. This process of self-reflection is often overlooked by many athletes when facing tough times. Ding's approach undoubtedly provided him with psychological support, allowing him to remain calm under pressure. In the final stages of the game, Ding's performance was commendable yet filled with twists and turns. He made mistakes on several difficult red balls but managed to avoid giving his opponent any opportunities each time. This was not just a competition of skill but also a battle of psychology. Although Williams had the lead at one point, his few critical errors cost him the chance to secure the win. Ding's lucky moment came when he seized the opportunity during his opponent's mistake and successfully overtook. In the post-match interview, Ding admitted that there was still an element of luck…

On January 14, 2025, four of the top eight players have emerged in the Snooker Masters, coincidentally being four of the "Five Tigers" from the 80s: Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui, and Selby have advanced in order, with only Trump remaining. Selby won a big victory 6-1, eliminating last year's runner-up Carter. Born in 1983, Selby is the first person to win major tournaments among those born in the 80s, ranked 5th in the world, with a career record of 23 ranking tournament titles, including a total of 9 major tournament championships (World Championship 4 times, UK Championship 2 times, Masters 3 times). His last championship was at last year's British Open. Selby's playing style requires high personal concentration, and his results are not very stable due to aging, with average overall performance during this period. Carter, born in 1979, is ranked 11th in the world, with six ranking tournament victories in his career, many runners-up in the three major events. What stands out in the memory of fans is that Carter lost 7-10 to O'Sullivan in last year's Masters, ultimately finishing as the runner-up. Now, in the first round against Selby, although both are top players, there is a significant gap in personal achievements, and Carter was not favored by everyone for this match. After the start of the game, Selby made a single shot of 62 points in the first game, taking the lead with a score of 95-24. In the second game, both sides made mistakes, but Selby seized the opportunity to narrowly win 63-59. In the…

This morning, the second day of the Snooker Masters competition concluded. Upon waking up, all three legends from the '75 era were eliminated! Selby defeated Carter 6-1, setting two major records. Ding Junhui played a full 11 rounds, defeating Mark Williams 6-5 in a thrilling match, breaking through to the second round for the first time in the last four Masters tournaments. He may face world number one Trump in the quarter-finals. This Masters tournament has not been kind to the '75 trio. First, defending champion O'Sullivan withdrew on a whim. Then Higgins, who was leading 5-1 on the first day, suddenly lost his touch and was defeated by Robertson with a streak of five wins, ending his run at 5-6. Mark Williams had bad luck, facing Ding Junhui in the first round, against whom he had previously lost more than won. The two were evenly matched until the decisive round, where Ding Junhui secured victory with a single shot of 90 points, eliminating all three legends from the '75 era. Selby, a four-time world champion, has returned to peak form this season. He defeated Higgins in the final of the British Open to claim his 23rd ranking title, and in the previous event, he emerged from Group 4 of the Champions League to enter the winners' group. In the Masters, Selby faced his former opponent Carter and played brilliantly, scoring two century breaks and three 50+ shots, easily advancing with a score of 6-1 and setting two records: one being a five-match winning streak against the Captain, and the…

At 1 a.m. on January 14th, Beijing time, the 2025 Snooker Masters continued. On the second day of the first round, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui staged a major comeback, eliminating three-time world champion "Golden Left Hand" Mark Williams with a total score of 6-5. In the opening match, "Melbourne Machine" Neil Robertson also made a comeback with a 6-5 victory over four-time world champion "Wizard" John Higgins. The Snooker Masters is one of the top three snooker events and is highly regarded by all players. Last season, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui achieved a maximum break of 147 points in the competition but unfortunately lost to his old rival, seven-time world champion "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan, missing out on the chance to compete for the final championship. After defeating Ding Junhui, O'Sullivan went on to win the championship after reaching the final. Unfortunately, O'Sullivan's form has been very poor this season, suffering consecutive losses and multiple withdrawals, even pulling out of this year's Masters. After O'Sullivan's withdrawal, Robertson, the first Grand Slam winner from the 80s, stepped in to participate and made a comeback against Higgins with a 6-5 victory. On the second day of the first round, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui made a strong appearance, facing off against three-time world champion "Golden Left Hand" Williams. For Ding Junhui, who has already won the National Championship this season, coming to one of the top three events, the Masters, he hopes to launch an assault on his second championship of the season. The specific matchups for the second day of…

Ding Junhui's Championship Bid + $3.12 Million, Scores 147-0 Yet Loses, Returns to Masters: Eliminates "Golden Left Hand" 6-5 At 1:14 am Beijing time on January 14th, the 2025 Snooker Masters continued. On the second day of the first round, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui staged a great comeback, defeating three-time World Champion "Golden Left Hand" Mark Williams with a total score of 6-5. Last season's Masters, Ding Junhui scored a single maximum of 147 points but lost to "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan. The Snooker Masters is one of the top three snooker events and is highly regarded by all players. Last season, "China's No. 1" Ding Junhui scored a single maximum of 147 points in the competition, but unfortunately, he still lost to his old rival, the seven-time World Champion "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan, which was very regrettable. Compared to facing "Rocket" O'Sullivan, one of the "Three Musketeers," where every confrontation between the two is considered to have a very small chance of victory before the match even begins, facing another member of the "Three Musketeers," "Golden Left Hand" Williams, Director Ding seems unafraid. Ding Junhui last faced Mark Williams at the UK Championship, one of the top three snooker events in 2023. In the quarter-finals at that time, after the ninth game, Ding Junhui once trailed 4-5 behind his opponent and was given match point. In desperate circumstances, Ding Junhui launched a desperate counterattack, winning two consecutive games under very difficult conditions, reversing and eliminating this three-time World Champion with a total score of 6-5. Among them, in the decisive…

Two Match Points, 6-1 + 6-3: Four Players Have Locked in the Quarterfinals, World Championship 4-Crown King Wins Big, Chinese Veteran Shows Greatness Beijing time on January 14th at midnight, another focus match of the first round of the 2025 Snooker Masters ended, with four-time world champion Mark Selby winning 6-1 and advancing. Including Shaun Murphy's 6-3 victory over Gary Wilson, as well as the two match points from Ding Junhui and Neil Robertson, a total of four players have now secured their spots in the quarterfinals: Selby, Murphy, Ding Junhui, and Robertson.‌ Selby, a four-time world champion and the No. 4 seed for the tournament, faced "Captain" Carter, who is seeded 12th. Although they have had mixed results in previous encounters, Selby was in scorching form in this match. In the first half, Selby made a century break (108) and two 50+ breaks (62, 93), winning four consecutive frames to lead 4-0! After the intermission, Carter managed to pull one frame back, but Selby continued his dominance with breaks of 126 and 53 to win two more frames and easily defeat Carter 6-1, advancing smoothly to the quarterfinals.‌ Chinese veteran Ding Junhui exploded with brilliance, facing "Golden Left Hand" Mark Williams. Ding Junhui withstood the pressure, as the two players drew five times. In the decisive frame, Ding Junhui capitalized on Williams' mistake and won with a single stroke, securing a 6-5 victory! Throughout the match, Ding Junhui made six 50+ breaks, while Williams made one century break and two 50+ breaks.‌ Neil Robertson, who replaced O'Sullivan in the…