World Grand Prix

Could be a chance for one of the fresher faces to bring home the glory, then.

The Hawk had his wings clipped. Ronnie also bit the dust, but again, at least he went.

With Hawkins out that's 2 down 1 to go. Sadly Carter beat Yuan Sijun 5-2. Nice to see Queenie Lu as the referee for Ronnie's match, even though Xiao Guodong was too strong and consistent on the day.

Zhao Xintong came back from 4-1 down to beat Selby 5-4, including breaks of 140 and 112. This tournament is the cutoff for the Players Championship, and Zhao will be in the top 16 on the 1 year list if he can beat Chris Wakelin tomorrow. Wakelin himself had to come back from 4-2 down to beat Slessor 5-4.

Si Jiahui won the 8th frame on the black to beat Pang Junxu 5-3 and avoid playing a decider. Wu Yize beat Chang Bingyu. Zhou Yuelong beat Jak Jones. 6 of 8 quarter finalists are Chinese.

Quarter final lineup:

Zhou Yuelong v Ali Carter
Wu Yize v Zhang Anda
Si Jiahui v Xiao Guodong
Chris Wakelin v Zhao Xintong

With places in the Players Championship up for grabs, the quarter finals were very competitive with Zhao Xintong, Zhang, Carter and Si Jiahui all vying to get into the top 17 on the 1 year list (with Ronnie O'Sullivan pulling out the player ranked 17th will play in Telford) and Zhou Yuelong trying to protect his 16th place.

Happily Carter won't be playing in Telford. Carter came back from 3-1 to take a 4-3 lead against Zhou Yuelong, but Zhou made a 66 break to level at 4-4. and in the decider made a 56 break from a fluke to go 43 up with 35 on the table. Zhou tried to pot a difficult red and missed, but fluked one in the opposite pocket.

Zhang continued his good form and beat Wu Yize 5-2. Xiao Guodong beat Si Jiahui 5-2.

Zhao Xintong survived a Chris Wakelin comeback to win 5-4. Zhao led 4-1, but Wakelin came back to 4-4, making a 118 break in the 8th frame. Zhao was 70 ahead with 51 on the table in the decider, and Wakelin needed 4 snookers, but he got to within needing only 1 snooker before Zhao eventually pulled away to win. Zhao's win means he leapfrogs Si Jiahui into the 17th spot on the 1YL and puts him in line for a place in Telford, but Zhang can still take the last place off him.

History was made as this is the first professional tournament with all Chinese semi finals. Zhang, plays Zhou Yuelong; Zhao plays Xiao.

Just in time for the New Year (more or less).

Zhang beat Zhou, in a decider.

Yes, Zhang potted the last 3 balls to beat Zhou on the black.

Zhao Xintong joins Zhang in the final after beating Xiao 6-3, making a 121 break in the final frame.

The upshot is that Zhou, Zhang and Zhao all take over Lisowski, Higgins and Gary Wilson on the 1 year ranking list. Higgins hangs onto 17th position for the Players Championship, Wilson is unlucky number 18.

Zhao could certainly do with the win, but Zhang also has redemption arcs to play with.

In just over a week it will be the Chinese year of the horse, and from 4-4 at the end of the 1st session, Zhao Xintong (the ox) galloped away from Zhang Anda (the goat) to win 10-6. He made 5 centuries, including the 145 highest break of the tournament.

Chinese new year is in Telford on 17th February when 5 Chinese players will arrive for the Players Championship.