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Zhang Anda makes horrible error against Mark Allen in World Snooker Championship first round - 'Oh my goodness me! What a mistake!'
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Published 19/04/2026 at 13:12 GMT+1
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Zhang Anda made an awful error with the score at 6-6 in his World Championship match against Mark Allen on Sunday afternoon.
'What a dreadful mistake' - Zhang sets up Allen with massive error
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Chinese player had started the day 5-3 up in his first round match against Allen at the Crucible.
With the scores soon level at six apiece, there was plenty of pressure on for both players to take the chance to go in front.
Allen was 41-6 up when he gave Zhang the chance to get back onto the table. Zhang decided he would knock the closest red away, and attempt to hide behind the green.
While he struck the red out of the way, he failed to properly control the cue ball, and it ran away from the position behind the green. Instead, it laid up a superb chance for Allen to take control of the frame.
The white ended up almost perfectly positioned for the Englishman to roll towards a red in the bottom left, just waiting to be knocked in over a corner pocket.
Commentator Dominic Dale was left horrified at just what a dreadful error that Zhang had made: ”Oh my goodness me! What a mistake he's committed there!”
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'This was beautifully played' - Zhang makes impressive escape against Allen
Video credit: TNT Sports
He continued: ”How on earth has he left that red on over the pocket? What was he thinking?”
His colleague, Dave Hendon, then replied, noting the player’s rueful grimace: ”It's a smile, but it's a sick smile, but he knew as he hit it that he'd blundered.”
Allen duly potted, then wrapped up the frame after he manoeuvred expertly onto the blue.
Allen is yet to win the World Championship, but has two other Triple Crown victories. The 40-year-old won the 2018 Masters against Kyren Wilson in the final, and also won the 2022 UK Championship, defeating Ding Junhui.
He has twice reached the semi-finals of this tournament, first in 2009 and then in 2023.Â
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The former world No. 1 found himself 5-3 down after Saturday's session, but left himself in an excellent position to pull off a comeback after he battled back to 6-6 ahead of Zhang's potentially crucial mistake.
In the best-of-19 tie in Sheffield at the Crucible, Allen was left needing three more frames to progress to the next round, with his rival needing four more after a wobble in his form.
Zhang, 34, is yet to win a Triple Crown event, though he won the International Championship in 2023 against Tom Ford.Â
He has already appeared in one final this season, coming close to a title win in the World Grand Prix, though he lost 10-6 to his compatriot Zhao Xintong in the final.
In 2024, he and Allen met in the Players Championship, as the Northern Irishman ran out a 10-8 winner.
How to watch the World Snooker Championship
You can watch every day of the World Championship live on TNT Sports.
It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.
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