China's rising snooker star Pang Junxu delivered a career-defining performance on Wednesday (December 3, 2025), defeating three-time world champion Mark Williams 6-3 in York to reach his first UK Championship quarterfinal. The 25-year-old from the Chinese mainland demonstrated nerves of steel at York's Barbican Centre, maintaining composure despite a late fightback from the Welsh veteran.
Pang established early dominance with consistent heavy scoring, crucially preserving his fourth-frame advantage when Williams threatened to level. Though the Welshman responded with a 112 break in the seventh frame, Pang silenced doubters with a tournament-high 116 clearance to seal victory.
The breakthrough win sets up an intriguing quarterfinal clash against 2013 champion Neil Robertson. The Australian veteran overcame China's Wu Yize 6-1 earlier in the day, recovering from an initial frame loss with five consecutive half-century breaks.
This year's tournament continues to highlight Asia's growing influence in professional snooker, with multiple Chinese players advancing through early rounds. Pang's progression marks China's strongest quarterfinal representation since 2021, as the nation builds toward hosting the 2026 World Snooker Championship in Shanghai.
