China Open Day 2

Jack Lisowski won a highly entertaining match against close
friend Judd Trump 5-3. Image: World Snooker

Jack Lisowski produced a stunning performance to defeat his close friend and world number 1 Judd Trump 5-3. The 21-year-old’s potential is starting to flourish after he also defeated number 2 Mark Selby a fortnight ago in the PTC Grand Finals. The Cheltenham man, who until recently was housemates with Trump, started off like a steam train, making breaks of 85 and 131 in frames one and three although Trump won the other two to go into the interval level. He also won frame five to go 3-2 up but Lisowski’s excellent potting paved the way to make breaks of 63, 80 and 94 as he progressed into the last 16 in some style.

Earlier in the day, Robert Milkins impressed after he knocked out an out-of-sorts John Higgins after a deciding frame winner. Higgins was 3-1 up at the break and in relative control although Milkins won the next two to tie at 3-3.Higgins pulled of an impressive 116 to go within a frame of victory but Milkins won the next two to secure a spot in the second round.

Defending champion Peter Ebdon was tripped up at the first stage as he was defeated 5-3 by Marcus Campbell. Ebdon has had a poor season so far and although he stayed within a frame of Campbell until it reached 3-3, the Scot took seven and eight to win the lengthy match.

The afternoon session provided another surprise as world number 40 Rory McLeod defeated Matthew Stevens 5-2. The last time the Welshman played in China, he made it all the way to the final of the Haikou World Open and things looked good for him in the early stages as he took two of the first three frames. However Wellingborough’s McLeod won the next four on the bounce including breaks of 134 and 52.

He’ll face Shaun Murphy who survived a fight back from Andrew Higginson to win 5-3. He took three of the frames before the interval with breaks of 50 and 52 but Higginson won the next two including an 83 break in frame six. However Murphy kept his cool to hit breaks of 89 and 61 to secure the win.

Ali Carter also secured a place in the last 16 thanks to a 5-2 win over Zhao Xintong. Zhao, who beat Jamie Cope yesterday, won the opener with a 66 although Carter hit back winning the next four, including breaks of 58 and 50. Zhao won the sixth but Carter secured the win thanks to a 76 in frame seven.

In the final wildcard round match of the event, Dechawat Poomjaeng defeated Chinese player Zhu Yinghui 5-2. The Thai took the opener with a 91 but 16-year-old Zhu took the next two to go 2-1 up. However Poomjaeng won the next four with top runs of 67, 80 and 51.