In a dramatic opening to the 2026 Welsh Open, 20-year-old Chinese snooker sensation Jiang Jun delivered one of the tournament's biggest upsets by defeating four-time world champion Mark Selby 4-3 on Monday. The victory marks a career-defining moment for Jiang, who joined the World Snooker Tour in 2023, as he overcame a 3-1 deficit against the current World No. 7.
The match began with Selby demonstrating his signature precision, crafting a 123-point break to claim the first frame. Undaunted, Jiang responded with a 77-point break to level the score. While Selby extended his lead with another century break (137) in the third frame, Jiang's resilience shone through as he secured three consecutive frames with decisive breaks of 52 and 65.
Jiang's triumph sets up an all-Chinese second-round clash against compatriot Yuan Sijun, who narrowly defeated Belgium's Julien Leclercq in a tense seven-frame match. Meanwhile, other Chinese players made strong showings: Wu Yize dominated Ben Mertens 4-0, while Pang Junxuan advanced with a 4-2 victory over Poland's Antoni Kowalski.
The Welsh Open continues through March 1, with Jiang's performance already positioning him as a rising star to watch in this year's snooker circuit.
