Welsh Open 2026 LIVE - Kyren Wilson went 4-1 over Liu Hongyu for last 32 palce, John Higgins and Zhao Xintong still in but Luca Brecel whitewashed

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Hello and welcome to TNT Sports' live coverage of the 2026 Welsh Open as the evening session kicks off with John Higgins playing his first match against Liu Wenwei. Later tonight, Kyren Wilson will face Liu Hongyu, while earlier today world champion Zhao Xintong beat compatriot Fan Zhengyi and Jackson Page whitewashed Luca Brecel.

'Return to your chair!' - Liu sits back down after Higgins fluke

Video credit: TNT Sports

WILSON AND HIGGINS GO THROUGH TO LAST 32

Kyren Wilson was in good form tonight to take an easy victory over Liu Hongyu, while a struggling John Higgins ultimately prevailed over Liu Wenwei in a long match.

The 21-year-old Liu Hongyu put up a good fight, taking the third frame with a break of 87, but the Englishman proved just how hard he was to beat with a tidy performance and his 556th professional century.

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Earlier, Higgins endured a harder battle against Liu Wenwei. The quick turnaround from the Players Championship in Telford, where he made the final, seemed to take its toll as he was unusually error ridden.
The young Liu Wenwei, despite some good safeties, couldn’t capitalise on all of the Scot’s mistakes, and he managed to finish 4-1 after two and a half hours to book his place in the last 32.

Wilson will play Zhou Yuelong, while Higgins will face Hungarian Bulcsú Révész.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

Rewatch the bizarre opening miss that allowed Wilson to take a big lead in the first frame.

'He's missed the red altogether' - Liu misses 'extraordinary' sitter against Wilson

Video credit: TNT Sports

AT THE OTHER TABLES

David Gilbert 4-1 Robbie McGuigan

Elliot Slessor 3-4 Sam Craigie

Chris Wakelin 3-4 Liam Pullen

Stuart Bingham 2-1 Gao Yang

WILSON 4-1 LIU

What a way to clear the table! Wilson slams the cue ball into the black, expecting a double into the yellow pocket, but it pings off two more cushions to slot into the opposite corner. Definitely a crowd-pleaser.

WILSON 3-1 LIU (117-0)

And Wilson is back at it again after a lovely long red. It's a great way to end this match for the Englishman as he denies Liu a single point in this final frame.

He's managed to have breaks of over 50 in every frame, including his fourth frame ton.

WILSON 3-1 LIU (67-0)

Wilson's break comes to an end after his cue ball goes astray, and he plays a safety. It's certainly still possible for Liu, but it will be an uphill battle.

WILSON 3-1 LIU (51-0)

Wilson's cannon goes wrong and the white ends up in the middle of the pack. But he plays a very nice recovery shot into the left middle to keep the break alive.

WILSON 3-1 LIU (25-0)

Liu breaks for the fifth frame. Wilson is first to pot again, he's got a little bit of work to do to break the pack up.

WILSON 3-1 LIU

And it will be a 556th century for Wilson to go one away from advancing!

WILSON 2-1 LIU (96-8)

Four reds left, and Wilson sinks one with a stellar long red up to the yellow pocket. Flawless work from the world no. 2, and he makes it all look so simple.

WILSON 2-1 LIU (57-8)

Wilson is relentless. The pack is spread out for easy pickings, and it's looking very good on the table right now.

WILSON 2-1 LIU (7-8)

Wilson eyes up a long red, and he's off by a decent margin. Liu pots first but doesn't make it far before Wilson catches up to him.

AT THE OTHER TABLES

David Gilbert 4-1 Robbie McGuigan

Elliot Slessor 3-4 Sam Craigie

Chris Wakelin 3-4 Liam Pullen

Stuart Bingham 2-0 Gao Yang

WILSON 2-1 LIU

It's a delightful clearance from Liu to prove that he isn't going to roll over for Wilson, and he halves the Englishman's lead.

WILSON 2-0 LIU (6-78)

Wilson pots six then plays a loose safety. Liu gets an opportunity back on the table, can he make it count?

The pink is blocked off to the right corner pocket in a line by the black, and Liu gets the right angle off a red to sort out the black and free them up. It's some really nice positional work from Liu and this frame is surely his.

WILSON 2-0 LIU (0-35)

Liu pots first, then manages to split the pack nicely. It's clean from him so far but then he just misses the black! It's a good effort but 35 is a small lead against an opponent like Wilson.

WILSON 2-0 LIU

The century isn't meant to be as Wilson misses the green, but nevertheless he is now halfway to advancing to the top 32!

WILSON 1-0 LIU (72-17)

Wilson is running circles around Liu, he's making it all look so easy on the table. He's taken the half ton in a flash, could he make it a century the second time around?

WILSON 1-0 LIU (8-17)

Liu manages only 17, and luckily Wilson has nothing. Liu then makes another bad miss, this time he's not so lucky as Wilson pots a brilliant shot up to the left middle pocket.

WILSON 1-0 LIU (0-5)

Liu pots first in this frame.

WILSON 1-0 LIU

Unfortunately, it's only 20 for Liu. Wilson pots a red, then plays a snooker and Liu concedes the frame.

WILSON 0-0 LIU (69-0)

What a shame! Wilson sticks with the black and it just comes off the jaws. He's not quite got this in the bag just yet, can Liu capitalise?

WILSON 0-0 LIU (61-0)

Well isn't this a change of pace? Half ton in a flash for Wilson, and things just keep going his way as he gets a lucky kiss to get on line for his next red.

He's looking great positionally and it doesn't seem like this is going to change any time soon. The Englishman is still on for the 147, will he be tempted?

WILSON 0-0 LIU (28-0)

Liu gets a chance with the red right over the right corner pocket, but the long shot drifts left and he fouls! Wilson won't be stopping to wonder how that happened and he slams the red home to break the pack open.

An ideal start for the world no. 2.

WILSON 0-0 LIU (0-0)

Here we go! Liu breaks for the opening frame.

UP NEXT

We're turning to Kyren Wilson next, who faces Liu Hongyu. Along with him for the late start is Stuart Bingham against Gao Yang, with Elliot Slessor and Sam Craigie still battling for the final frame.

20-year old Liam Pullen has just come out on top over Chris Wakelin, and he will join John Higgins and David Gilbert in the last 32.

AT THE OTHER TABLES

David Gilbert 4-1 Robbie McGuigan

Elliot Slessor 3-3 Sam Craigie

Chris Wakelin 3-3 Liam Pullen

HIGGINS 4-1 LIU

Higgins leaves Liu with a snooker of his own, and the 22-year-old manages not to leave him a chance.

Nice safety from Liu on his next shot to put the blue in between, Higgins gambles on the tiny sliver that edges out from beyond the blue - he fouls!

Liu now tries to pull the last red away from the pocket, it goes all wrong with the red wide open, and he walks to Higgins to shake his hand.

John Higgins advances to the last 32!

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU (67-26)

It's a very nice effort from Liu, he forces Higgins to cue over the black. The only way this match ends is if Higgins sinks the red and another colour, Liu seems intent on wearing the Scot down.

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU (67-26)

That's a shame, Liu's miss on a difficult shot leaves Higgins an easy red. Higgins makes the next few pots look easy, then manages to fluke a brown to continue his run! Two snookers for Liu if he wants to contest this, Higgins plays a safety now.

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU (46-5)

Liu eyes up a long pot, and sinks the red! He's only made two long pots tonight, can he make a difference with this break?

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU (46-5)

Liu eyes up a long pot, and sinks the red! He's only made two long pots tonight, can he make a difference with this break?

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU (46-0)

Higgins only manages 35 on this visit, and it's back to safeties for them both.

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU (33-0)

Higgins pots again, his highest break has only been 59 so far. Can he improve on that in this frame?

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU (11-0)

Early break for Higgins, but he doesn't make it far before the pocket denies him. The red sits just off to the mouth and Liu tries to scoop it up, but that attempt jumps out the jaws of the pocket.

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU (0-0)

Liu breaks in what could be the last frame unless he steps it up.

JUST STRETCHING HIS LEGS

Rewatch the moment Higgins pots a fluke amid a jumble, and Liu only gets a brief walk in as he has to get back to his seat.

'Return to your chair!' - Liu sits back down after Higgins fluke

Video credit: TNT Sports

AT THE OTHER TABLES

David Gilbert 4-1 Robbie McGuigan

Elliot Slessor 2-3 Sam Craigie

Chris Wakelin 2-3 Liam Pullen

HIGGINS 3-1 LIU

Higgins misses the green but he won't need it - he's on the brink of moving on to the last 32.

HIGGINS 2-1 LIU (67-20)

Higgins pots the black, and now Liu will need too many snookers to keep contesting this frame. It will be back to two up for the Scot.

HIGGINS 2-1 LIU (58-20)

It's looking better from Higgins as he builds his break on Liu's foul, still three reds left on the table. He gets a kiss off his shot on the black, has to play a recovery shot and go for the brown up the table instead.

HIGGINS 2-1 LIU (17-20)

Lucky for Liu as he avoids leaving anything on the table after a miss. But oh what a disaster! Liu tries to hide the cue ball behind the black, sitting near the mouth of the right corner pocket, but instead it rolls straight in.

HIGGINS 2-1 LIU (13-7)

Higgins pulls out two extensions for a difficult shot on the black right down at the right corner pocket - but unfortunately, he misses.

HIGGINS 2-1 LIU (13-7)

Higgins isn't playing like his usual self right now, he's missed another relatively easy pot. Is this Higgins off his game today or lasting fatigue from going all the way to the final in the Players Championship?

HIGGINS 2-1 LIU (9-0)

Higgins kicks off the scoring. He gets nine before again losing focus on his shot trying to split the pack.

AT THE OTHER TABLES

David Gilbert 3-1 Robbie McGuigan

Elliot Slessor 2-2 Sam Craigie

Chris Wakelin 2-2 Liam Pullen

HIGGINS 2-1 LIU

One snooker behind for Higgins but he's determined not to let Liu halve his lead. He manages nine, but a miss sees him concede the frame.

HIGGINS 2-0 LIU (0-53)

Slow but steady here, Liu is determined not to let this frame go like last time. But he's one blue away from taking this frame - he misses! What can Higgins do?

HIGGINS 2-0 LIU (0-30)

Liu gets a very lucky kiss and he frees up the pink. The black is still in an awkward spot but he'll be glad to have the extra points.

HIGGINS 2-0 LIU (0-5)

Higgins eyes up a very very narrow chance on a red to the middle, and he misses it by a mile. Good safety from Liu on a dangerous table - the reds are all over the place now and one mistake could be costly.

Higgins is the next to make an error, can Liu make him pay for it? Lovely pot but a kiss has left him only the green to pot, and it's excellent into the middle pocket.

HIGGINS 2-0 LIU (0-1)

Liu breaks. Higgins gets lucky now, he just avoids rolling the cue ball in on his first shot.

Liu pots first, but he doesn't get the angle on the black he wanted. Will it be a safety? Yes and he will have to be content with one on this visit.

HIGGINS 2-0 LIU

Higgins takes a second to eye up the angle he needs off the pink, and his shot couldn't be any better. Higgins pulls out the rest for the black - and it's in! A great break to come back from behind for Higgins, and a very frustrating frame for Liu.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (34-60)

Higgins is on for the clearance, he's on 34 with colours left. Liu will be praying for a mistake, his only saving grace might be the black, which is up beyond the blue on the right side of the table.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (34-60)

Higgins is on for the clearance, he's on 34 with colours left. Liu will be praying for a mistake, his only saving grace might be the black, which is up beyond the blue on the right side of the table.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (18-60)

Liu brings the black back into play on his safety, but leaves a red open for Higgins now to start his break! This could be bad for Liu, who has worked so hard to pull that 50-point lead.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (10-60)

Liu is doing well right now despite not being able to play the pink or the black. The balls are currently near the side cushions and he hasn't been able to make use of them, which means this break has been built with gargantuan effort.

But now he gets out of position after his cue ball runs on too far, and he misses his shot into the middle pocket.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (10-44)

Liu plays a tidy little plant and opens up the pack. He gets himself back into position with the blue, and it's looking a lot better after the rerack for the 22-year-old.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (10-32)

Laughs get pulled from the crowd as Liu stands up, only to realise that Higgins' red did go in after a jumble with the black and a second red. He gets his opportunity shortly after though and manages to pot.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (9-23)

Liu lines up a long red to the yellow corner, but despite the miss he gets a stroke of luck and leaves nothing on for Higgins.

Safety up to baulk for the Scot.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (9-15)

Liu up to the table now after a missed black from Higgins, and he pots a nice rest shot. He follows it up with the pink, then a fantastic double on the red into the middle pocket.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (9-0)

Liu puts the cue ball against the pack, and Higgins will do the same. Liu puts the cue ball against the cushion, and Higgins plays a lovely shot to sink a loose red into the middle pocket.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (0-0)

Take two on this frame, get comfortable in your seats. Higgins breaks again.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (0-0)

And it seems we have a rerack.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (30-21)

Higgins over cuts a red, and gets a lucky kiss to avoid leaving it on for Liu. Back to safeties within the pack now.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (24-21)

Liu manages 21 before he resorts to a safety. Higgins goes thin on a red, and it rolls agonisingly slow across the table before finally dropping in. He decides to snooker Liu behind the brown.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (23-6)

Higgins gets distracted by the cannon on his next shot on the blue, and balls go flying as he misses. Liu now steps up, but Higgins hasn't broken the pack too wide, and may not be too expensive a mistake.

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU (14-0)

Higgins pots first, and it looks like smooth sailing so far. Will this be a faster frame than the first?

HIGGINS 1-0 LIU

Higgins leaves the brown in the mouth of the pocket, and Liu doesn't take it. He gets lucky not to roll the white in, but it doesn't matter as Higgins pots the brown. Liu finally concedes and the opening frame goes to Higgins.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (67-38)

Liu does step up, and he pots the yellow. He tries to hide the cue ball behind the blue, but overshoots it and there's just enough room for the Scot to sink the green. Higgins doesn't manage the brown however.

Two snookers now, and Liu decides it's worth playing out.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (64-36)

Higgins snookers Liu, and he responds well by sending the red up to the baulk cushion.

The Scot then goes for a double, nearly pots the red, and leaves Liu an open line down the table to the left corner pocket.

Liu misses, is the angle there for Higgins to slot it into the middle pocket? Yes it is - one snooker needed if Liu wants to contest this.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (63-36)

Higgins pots the black, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. His cue ball is near the two remaining reds on the left side of the table, and he chooses a thin angle to push one into the right middle pocket.

Then he plays a safety instead behind the brown.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (46-36)

Liu's lead has evaporated in a flash. It's so dangerous to let Higgins at the table, and the Scot is currently inch-perfect.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (8-36)

How much will this mistake cost Higgins? Liu picks up a small lead, but he gets out of position and undercuts his attempt on a red. It's left right in the mouth of the pocket, and Higgins sinks that comfortably.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (7-12)

Lovely response from Liu, gets a double on the red that allows his cue ball to come back above the green. And Higgins has fouled now! He rolls the white in, can Liu capitalise? He pots a nice long red and now he's on the black.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (7-0)

Liu has a chance to the right corner pocket now, but he overcuts it. Higgins eyes up the red, which has gone near the bottom cushion, but decides to play a safety up behind the green.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (7-0)

Liu leaves one open and Higgins will pot into the left middle pocket. He sinks the blue into the opposing pocket but his next shot on the red isn't even close.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (1-0)

Higgins immediately pots a long red, but chooses to try for a safety instead behind the yellow. It's not quite covered, and Liu will go for the pot - he misses.

HIGGINS 0-0 LIU (0-0)

Liu breaks to get us underway.

A LOOK BACK ON THIS AFTERNOON

Lady Luck shone on Welshman Jackson Page as he dominated on the table to stun Luca Brecel 4-0, watch this stroke of luck from the final frame.

'A double bump from heaven!' - Page benefits from 'game changer' in Brecel clash

Video credit: TNT Sports

WELCOME BACK

John Higgins headlines the action tonight as he faces Liu Wenwei, then Kyren Wilson will take on Liu Hongyu with both matches on TNT Sports 4 and discovery+.

Action on the other tables are as follows:

19:00

David Gilbert v Robbie McGuigan
John Higgins v Liu Wenwei
Elliot Slessor v Sam Craigie
Chris Wakelin v Liam Pullen

20:00

Kyren Wilson v Liu Hongyu
Stuart Bingham v Gao Yang

PAGE STUNS BRECEL 4-0 TO MOVE INTO LAST 32

Jackson Page whitewashed Luca Brecel 4-0 to advance to the last 32, while Fan Zhengyi nearly pulled off a comeback against Zhao Xintong before falling 4-3.

The Welshman was near perfect and despite being the favourite ahead of this match, Brecel could barely respond, scoring only 67 points to Page’s 289.

Page set the tone in the second frame, shutting out the 2023 world champion completely to pave his way to victory. It was a tenser fourth frame, but he effectively punished Brecel’s mistakes to advance with ease.

Zhao was also the favourite to win and he scooped up two lovely centuries in frames three and four.

But Fan made it harder than anticipated by winning the next two - with a ton of his own in the sixth - to hold Zhao at bay from the last frame he needed.

It was all to play for in the seventh frame, but Zhao was able to make a break of 71 to book his ticket into the last 32.

Zhao will take on Stan Moody, who dominated 4-0 over Jimmy Robertson, while Page will play Chang Bingyu, who pulled out a masterclass of four centuries that opponent Shaun Murphy could only applaud at.

Action continues again tonight at 7PM with John Higgins and Liu Wenwei on TNT Sports 4.

AT THE OTHER TABLES

Jack Lisowski 4-2 Louis Heathcote

Ryan Day 3-4 Bulcsu Revesz

Zhou Yuelong 4-0 Alexander Ursenbacher

Zhang Anda 1-1 Mitchell Mann

Jimmy Robertson 0-4 Stan Moody

Gary Wilson 2-0 Amir Sarkhosh

PAGE 4-0 BRECEL

Brecel doesn't make it far, taking only four. Page gets a chance at the table, but after potting the yellow he's got only the thinnest angle on the green.

The Welshman makes it flawlessly, and Lady Luck stays on his side as he narrowly avoids rolling the white in. He pots the brown and the blue, and Page has whitewashed Brecel!

PAGE 3-0 BRECEL (44-35)

One last red left, and Page can't pot it so it's back to safeties.

Brecel plays a very nice snooker, he hides it behind the green next to the right cushion. Page misses, and it's free ball for Brecel.

PAGE 3-0 BRECEL (42-35)

Page isn't letting up on Brecel. He's obliterated the Belgian's lead in no time, and leaves him with a snooker for good measure. Brecel avoids the foul, and the cue ball comes to rest against the left cushion.

Page eyes up a tricky shot on a red near the mouth of the left corner pocket, and sinks it. Lovely stuff.

PAGE 3-0 BRECEL (0-35)

It's crunch time for Brecel as he goes on his first break. But he only manages 35 before letting Page back to the table, a lead that isn't quite good enough considering the performance that Page is showing.

AT THE OTHER TABLES

Jack Lisowski 4-2 Louis Heathcote

Ryan Day 3-4 Bulcsu Revesz

Zhou Yuelong 4-0 Alexander Ursenbacher

Zhang Anda 0-1 Mitchell Mann

Jimmy Robertson 0-2 Stan Moody

Gary Wilson 0-0 Amir Sarkhosh

PAGE 3-0 BRECEL

Brecel steps up in hopes of rescuing this frame. It's a lot to ask for, and after a couple of misses he concedes. Page is one away from advancing to the last 32!

PAGE 2-0 BRECEL (80-18)

Brecel can only manage 14 before Page takes back control. The Welshman needs the red as frame ball - and he sinks it! Nerves of steel against the 2023 world champion.

PAGE 2-0 BRECEL (64-5)

Lovely snooker from Brecel with the cue ball behind the brown. Page finds a red, but how unlucky as the white rolls into a pocket! Big change for Brecel to shorten Page's lead.

PAGE 2-0 BRECEL (64-0)

Brecel has his arms crossed in his chair as he watches Page's break continue. Page makes a slight mistake now as his cue ball goes short of the line he wanted on the black, but he pots it beautifully anyway to recover. But just as he seems to have righted the ship, he misses his next red!

PAGE 2-0 BRECEL (25-0)

Brecel just can't get into this match as Page gets on the scoreboard first yet again. Will he get a chance or is Page going to storm his way into our third whitewash today?

PAGE 2-0 BRECEL

And it's looking all Page as he goes two up!

PAGE 1-0 BRECEL (73-0)

Slow but steady for Page as the home favourite is well on his way to going two-up this match. He's cueing well, and the few recovery shots he has had to make have been tackled easily.

PAGE 1-0 BRECEL (48-0)

Smooth sailing for Page so far, he's in a touch of trouble to get on a red but an excellent shot on the black sees him on the perfect line. Lovely work from the Welshman right now.

PAGE 1-0 BRECEL (1-0)

It's safety after safety to start, but Page pots first this time.

PAGE 1-0 BRECEL

Surely this is wrapped up now, Brecel needs a snooker. Page pots another red and green for good measure and the opening frame is his.

PAGE 0-0 BRECEL (37-10)

Page pots again, he's doing some excellent work to open the table up for himself. It's not a massive lead just yet but he's on the right path.

PAGE 0-0 BRECEL (15-10)

Page eyes up a long red from the right cushion, and sinks it. But he then chooses to make it a safety and puts the cue ball up against the baulk cushion next to the yellow.

PAGE 0-0 BRECEL (14-10)

Page gets out of shape on the table, but delivers a nice recovery only to see the white roll into the green pocket. What a curious start to this match!

Brecel steps up to pot, then slips it behind the brown for a snooker.

PAGE 0-0 BRECEL (5-5)

Page attempts to put the cue ball behind the green, but overshoots it to leave a red open for Brecel. The Belgian pots that easily.

But Brecel rolls the white in shortly after and Page starts his break now.

PAGE 0-0 BRECEL (0-0)

Page breaks to get this match started.

UP NEXT

Focus turns to Jackson Page and Luca Brecel now, with the lineup for the rest of this afternoon's session as follows:

Zhang Anda v Mitchell Mann
Jimmy Robertson v Stan Moody
Gary Wilson v Amir Sarkhosh

AT THE OTHER TABLES

Jack Lisowski 2-2 Louis Heathcote

Ryan Day 3-3 Bulcsu Revesz

Zhou Yuelong 4-0 Alexander Ursenbacher

ZHAO 4-3 FAN

Zhao holds on! Fan comes out to shake his hand, and despite a great performance that put Zhao's win in doubt, the world champion moves on to the last 32.

ZHAO 3-3 FAN (52-19)

Fan will surely feel his hopes fading as Zhao plows forward. But suddenly the world champion is out of position, he has a big recovery shot ahead of him to pot the pink into the left middle, and cannon the cue ball into a red just right of him.

It's inch-perfect, and Zhao needs only a couple more to seal this match.

ZHAO 3-3 FAN (14-19)

Zhao plays a fantastic safety behind the brown, and he gets a chance off Fan's response. How far can he get on this break compared to Fan's 19?

ZHAO 3-3 FAN (0-19)

It's looking tense for Fan, he needs a lot of action on his cue ball off his blue if he wants a chance at continuing his break. He pots a red, but he stays in trouble as he puts the black on the cushion and blocks off a pot on the colours. Not disastrous, but he chooses to finish on a safety.

ZHAO 3-3 FAN (0-1)

Zhao breaks for the final frame. Neither player wants to give up any opportunity, but Zhao gets a kiss on his cue ball. Has he left a red on for Fan?

Fan takes the shot - pots it!

ZHAO 3-3 FAN

Fan makes it a century, his 10th of this season. Such brilliant work against the world champion!

ZHAO 3-2 FAN (0-87)

Fan needs one more red, but he's not in a great position. But he sinks it smoothly and pots a pink for good measure. He's still looking composed, and did well to punish Zhao for his mistake.

All to play for in the last frame!

ZHAO 3-2 FAN (0-36)

Fan tries to break up the pack, but doesn't quite get his intended result. But he pots a brilliant red up to the green corner to recover.

ZHAO 3-2 FAN (0-7)

Fan scoring first this time, it looked all but over but he looks determined to stay in this. The 25-year-old still looks calm as he levels up a rest shot.

AT THE OTHER TABLES

Jack Lisowski 0-1 Louis Heathcote

Ryan Day 3-1 Bulcsu Revesz

Zhou Yuelong 2-0 Alexander Ursenbacher

ZHAO 3-2 FAN

Well it appears that one mistake has cost Zhao the chance to end the match there. Fan easily pots all but the black and cuts the deficit back down to one.

ZHAO 3-1 FAN (42-57)

What a shame! Zhao looked well on his way to seal this match but he rolls the cue ball backwards and into the left middle pocket!

What can Fan do?

ZHAO 3-1 FAN (34-53)

It's an admirable effort but Fan is out of position after his cue ball comes off the black too straight. It's a 24-point lead, 59 remaining.

Zhao leaves Fan a snooker, and wins a foul off it. He will take the shot, and sinks it.

ZHAO 3-1 FAN (29-29)

Fan isn't letting his chance slip by this time, and quickly draws level with Zhao.

ZHAO 3-1 FAN (29-1)

Zhao is in first again and he looks well on his way to taking this match. But his attempt to break the pack leaves him with a very delicate shot down to the left corner, and he overcuts it.

Fan bounds up to take his shot, and sinks the red that Zhao has left in the mouth of the pocket.

ZHAO 3-1 FAN

Zhao sinks another wonderful double. He's had to put some work in considering the pink and black were tied up early on, but there is no doubt he has absolutely earned this frame and he makes the century and the clearance.

Two up for the world champion!

ZHAO 2-1 FAN (71-0)

Zhao pots frame ball, can he take another century? Fan looked good in the second frame, but Zhao has responded by shutting down any chance at the table.

ZHAO 2-1 FAN (39-0)

Lovely judgement on a cannon off the blue, and the table looks good for Zhao. In the blink of an eye he is up to 34, but he's overhit his red slightly and he has a difficult shot on the blue now.

Once again the world champ makes it look simple.

ZHAO 2-1 FAN (6-0)

It's another lovely long red to the bottom right, this time from Zhao. He pulls the cue ball back all the way to baulk as well, and pots the brown all the way down into the left corner pocket.

ZHAO 2-1 FAN

What a stunning century from the Crucible King! Zhao makes it 16 and Fan will rue having missed that second red.

Zhao pots the black to make it a clearance of 132, and he made it look easy.

ZHAO 1-1 FAN (67-8)

It looks good for Zhao as he seems to be the favourite for this frame as well, and he's up to 60. Shame for Fan after that fantastic long effort.

ZHAO 1-1 FAN (1-8)

Zhao breaks, then Fan opens the third frame with a delightful long red! But he can only make it eight before he undercuts his second red, leaving it in front of the pocket for Zhao to take.

ZHAO 1-1 FAN

Zhao manages to push his score up to 24, but with Fan potting another red, he concedes this frame. All level!

ZHAO 1-0 FAN (17-72)

Zhao attempts a difficult shot with a red on a narrow angle to the left middle, and that miss allows Fan to get back into scoring position.

But Fan then misses his second red up to the yellow corner, and despite needing two snookers, Zhao steps up to fight for this frame.

ZHAO 1-0 FAN (8-65)

The two are locked in safeties, and the reds have slowly been migrating up towards the baulk end.

ZHAO 1-0 FAN (8-65)

This time it's Fan with the big lead, he's tried to play it safe by tucking the white up against the bottom of the pack. Zhao shows his mettle with a brilliant double, but then ends his run early off his potted black as the cue ball kisses the blue.

ZHAO 1-0 FAN (0-57)

It's slow but steady from Fan, though he now finds himself having to pot the red by cueing over the black. He hasn't been the cleanest but he is recovering well.

ZHAO 1-0 FAN (0-57)

It's slow but steady from Fan, though he now finds himself having to pot the red by cueing over the black. He hasn't been the cleanest but he is recovering well.

ZHAO 1-0 FAN (0-14)

Fan picks out a red among the pack and slides it neatly into the middle pocket, then follows it with the blue as well. Nice work to get into this match for the first time.

ZHAO 1-0 FAN (0-0)

Fan breaks for the second frame.

ZHAO 1-0 FAN

A tidy half ton left Zhao in a great position from the start, and the world champion wraps it up easily to take the opening frame.

ZHAO 0-0 FAN (75-0)

Zhao pots the red he left at the right corner pocket, but gets a kiss off another red to ruin his line on the colours.

Fan misses another pot to allow Zhao back into scoring position, and this frame is surely over.

ZHAO 0-0 FAN (65-0)

Zhao has the blue in sight, he needs to get the pink right on to spread the pack open. It goes just as planned, but he overcuts his shot on the red. A great lead, but it's not a win just yet.

ZHAO 0-0 FAN (52-0)

Fan misses his first pot, and Zhao will take the opportunity. In no time at all he's up to a half ton - could we have another repeat of this morning's masterclass on our hands?

OFF WE GO

Crucible King Zhao Xintong takes on Fan Zhengyi now, and Zhao breaks to get us underway!

FROM THIS MORNING

Chang Bingyu overwhelmed Shaun Murphy 4-0 with four fantastic centuries, while Xiao Guodong and Long Zehuang remain locked at 3-3.

Watch in full: Chang rattles off FOURTH century in stunning whitewash of Murphy

Video credit: TNT Sports

GOOD AFTERNOON

Welcome to our coverage of the second day of the Welsh Open. It's all up for grabs after defending champion Mark Selby was denied a place in the last 32 by Jiang Jun with a delightful comeback for 4-3.

Mark Allen also failed to advance against David Grace, while Neil Robertson and Mark Williams move on.