China Open - Day 1

Jimmy White qualified for the latter stages of a ranking event for the first time this season after he defeated Omar Alkojah 5-3 in the wildcard round. White was 3-1 up at the interval but the Syrian player won the fifth to close the scores. The Whirlwind, however, was on track for a 147 in the sixth frame but broke down on 80, making the scores 4-2. Alkojah won the next but White kept his cool to secure the match with two breaks of 67.

Neil Robertson, with his new curly hairstyle, defeated Jamie
Cope in a closely fought match (picture Top147.com)

Also in the wildcard round, Li Hang caused an upset as he defeated world number 34 Michael Holt 5-3. Hang had raced to a 4-1 lead and despite Holt winning the next two, the 21-year-old Chinese ensured his place in the first round by securing the eighth frame. 5-3 was also the score in the other wildcard match as Mark King saw off the Chinese Zhu Yinghui.

The fourth match of the morning session was a first round tie between Neil Robertson and Jamie Cope which went right down to the wire. It was 2-2 at the interval and Stoke’s Cope took the fifth to make it 3-2. The Australian, who was sporting a new curly hairstyle which he claims he will keep until he is defeated, won the next but had to come from behind to win the final two frames to win 5-4.

Meanwhile, in the evening session, the match between Stephen Hendry and Martin Gould also went to a decider after an exciting eight previous frames. The match was close all the way through and Gould had a great opportunity to win it in the final frame as he was 51-25 up but the pressure got to him handing the Scot an unexpected chance to take the match. He did clear up which sets up a second round match against Neil Robertson.



15-year-old Lu Haotian put up a good fight against Peter
Ebdon but lost 5-2

In the evening’s wildcard round matches, 15-year-old Lu Haotian was playing the experience Peter Ebdon, who was old enough to be his dad! Ebdon took the first two frames but the teenager won the next couple to go in level at the interval. However Ebdon’s experience proved decisive as he secured the next three frames to win 5-2. Lu Ning, who had beaten Nigel Bond in the wildcard round of the World Open a few weeks ago, added another name to his list of upsets as he defeated Jamie Jones 5-3. Ben Woolaston made sure there was no upsets in his match as he defeated Chen Feilong 5-1 to set up a first round match against Ding Junhui.