Fan Zhengyi narrowly beat Williams 5:4 in the deciding game to advance to the top 32 of the Shenzhen Open. Zhao Xintong lost to Donaldson 4:5 and was eliminated.

China News Service, Shenzhen, September 29 (Reporter Zhang Lu) The 2026 World Snooker Shenzhen Open (referred to as the "Shenzhen Open") kicked off in Shenzhen on September 28. In the 64th round of 32nd, Chinese player Fan Zhengyi narrowly defeated Mark Williams 5:4 after a decisive game and advanced to the top 32. Chinese player Zhao Xintong lost to Scott Donaldson 4:5 and missed the top 32.

According to the competition format, this game adopts a best-of-9-innings system. In the first game, Mark Williams scored 68 points on a single stroke. Fan Zhengyi adjusted his condition and shot three consecutive 50+ shots, winning three games in a row and leading 3:1. After that, both sides won one game each, and Fan Zhengyi took the lead in getting the match point at 4:2.

Mark Williams, who was two games behind, launched a counterattack and chased two games in a row. The two sides fought to a 4:4 tie. In the deciding game, Mark Williams made a mistake when hitting the pink ball and the cue ball fell into the pocket. Fan Zhengyi withstood the pressure and accurately scored the pink ball with a long shot, and finally won 5:4.

Fan Zhengyi said after the game that there was pressure on both sides in the decider. He had better luck playing at home and won the game. He hopes to perform better in the next game. "I have been training in Shenzhen since I was a child, and the snooker atmosphere here is particularly good."

In another game, Zhao Xintong lost to Scott Donaldson 4:5. At the beginning, the two were in hot form, and the score increased alternately, reaching a 3:3 tie at one point. After that, Scott Donaldson scored 62 points in a single stroke and led 4:3. At the critical moment, Zhao Xintong tied the score with a single shot of 79 points. In the deciding game, Scott Donaldson seized the opportunity and finally sealed the victory 5:4.

It is reported that this Shenzhen Open gathers Zhao Xintong, Trump, O'Sullivan, Wu Yize, Ding Junhui and other famous players. In terms of competition format, the first five days of the competition adopt a best-of-9-game system, the semi-finals adopt a best-of-11 games system, and the final adopt a best-of-19 games system. (over)