Zhang Anda secured a thrilling 6-5 victory over world number three Zhao Xintong in the first round of the China Open, clinching the match in dramatic fashion by potting a respotted black ball. Trailing 3-0 early in the contest, Zhang mounted a determined comeback to shift the momentum of the opening-round clash, eventually pulling ahead before Zhao forced a deciding frame that ended on the final ball of the table.
The match’s frantic conclusion and a parallel upset involving four-time world champion John Higgins reshaped the early stages of the tournament.
“Today was just my day,” Zhang said, as reported by Yahoo Sports. “I hope that I can go far in this tournament, I don’t want them [two pots of the black] again. I was too nervous.”
How the China Open First-Round Thriller Unfolded
The match began with Zhao asserting early control, pushing the world number 19 into a 3-0 hole. However, Zhang steadily dismantled the deficit, clawing his way back to claim five frames and move to the brink of victory at 5-4. Zhao, carrying the pedigree of last year’s world champion as highlighted by SnookerWins, refused to concede, executing a recovery in the final frame that leveled the scores with only the black ball remaining on the cloth.
With Zhang previously holding a 57-0 advantage in that final frame, Zhao fought back to leave both competitors deadlocked on the black. Zhang successfully potted it the first time to trigger a respotted black—a tie-breaker rule deployed when frames finish all square. Under maximum pressure, Zhang held his nerve to sink the black a second time and seal the 6-5 win.
“I made far too many mistakes today and I probably didn’t deserve to win,” Zhao admitted, according to Yahoo Sports. “I had prepared well for coming to Shanxi this time, and I didn’t expect to lose in the first round. I played too badly and there was nothing I could do about it.”
Wider Upgrades and Casualties in the Draw
The exit of Zhao Xintong was not the only major surprise during the opening round of competition. World number five John Higgins also crashed out of the tournament, suffering a 6-4 defeat at the hands of 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham, as detailed by Yahoo Sports. The departure of both Zhao and Higgins opens up the competitive draw considerably for the remaining contenders.
Following his narrow escape, Zhang advances to the second round where he is scheduled to face England’s Chris Wakelin.
Fans and followers can track official tournament schedules, upcoming match times, and live scoring updates directly through major professional snooker portals and tournament broadcasts as the second round gets underway.
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