In a stunning turn of events at the World Snooker Tour (WST) International Championship in Nanjing, China's Xu Si defeated world No. 1 Judd Trump of England with a 6-4 victory on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Xu, ranked significantly lower than his esteemed opponent, showcased exceptional skill and composure to advance in the tournament.
Xu began the match with confidence, securing a 2-0 lead with two impressive breaks of 76. However, Trump, known for his resilience and tactical prowess, fought back by clinching the next three frames, seizing a 3-2 advantage. The tension heightened as both players exchanged the following two frames, bringing the score to a close 4-3 in favor of Trump.
Demonstrating remarkable determination, Xu dominated the final three frames without allowing Trump to score a single point. With outstanding runs of 104, 69, 58, and 68, Xu sealed his victory against the 29-time ranking event winner, marking one of the most significant wins of his career.
"It was my mindset during the key moments that helped," Xu reflected after the match. "In the last frame, I felt a bit of tension, but luckily things went well, and I didn't leave any easy shots. Finishing the match felt really good. Sometimes you reach a point where you're very nervous, and then suddenly you're not nervous anymore."
He added, "I feel there's a much smaller gap now between myself and the top players. Recently, many Chinese players have been advancing to the latter stages of tournaments, which shows a significant improvement overall."
This defeat ended Trump's remarkable streak of reaching at least the quarterfinals in 15 consecutive tournaments since January, during which he claimed four titles and reached two additional finals. Xu's victory not only halted Trump's run but also highlighted the rising prominence of Chinese players in the international snooker scene.
Elsewhere in the tournament, China's Ding Junhui triumphed over compatriot Jiang Jun with a 6-3 scoreline, featuring a top break of 109. This win propels Ding into his first ranking event quarterfinals of the season, reigniting hopes among his fans.
Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong continued his impressive form by defeating England's Jack Lisowski 6-3. Xiao's advancement to the elite round of 16 marks the first time in his career he achieves this milestone, earning him a seeded position for the upcoming UK Championship in November.
Reference(s):
Xu Si upsets World No. 1 Judd Trump at WST International Championship
cgtn.com
