(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Snooker Stars Shine at Wuhan Open with Century Breaks and Near 147s
Wuhan, China –
Snooker action at the Wuhan Open saw thrilling performances as Zhao Xintong narrowly missed a 147 maximum, while Xiao Guodong earlier hit a perfect break.
World champion Zhao Xintong, 28, came close to snooker perfection, just missing the final pink in a 5-3 win over Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko. Zhao showcased his form with back-to-back breaks of 132 and 134, finishing the match with a 122 break.
Defending champion Xiao Guodong, 36, had earlier produced a flawless 147 during a 5-0 victory over Thailand’s former women’s world champion Mink Nutcharut. “To make my first-ever 147 in China was really special,” Xiao said.
World number one Judd Trump dominated Pakistan’s Farakh Ajaib 5-1, including a 130 break. Mark Williams made three consecutive century breaks to defeat Liam Davies 5-3, while Hong Kong’s Marco Fu eliminated veteran Jimmy White 5-2.
Other stars, including Mark Allen, Mark Selby, Jak Jones, Gary Wilson, Barry Hawkins, and Jackson Page, also advanced to the second round, promising more high-quality snooker action ahead.