Liu Chuang meets the Whirlwind at the 2011 China Open Qualifiers – Round two
China’s Liu Chuang is set to face snooker legend Jimmy White, the Whirlwind, in the second qualifiers round of 2011 China Open at World Snooker Academy, Sheffield. The young Chinese cueist will surely have the competition of a lifetime and the 20-year-old
is determined and excited to play against one of the greatest names in the game.
The Chinese beat young 17-year-old Welshman, Jak Jones 5-3, to paddle into the second round of the qualifiers against Jimmy White. Chuang faced some difficulties in the beginning of the match but he settled himself later. He got an early lead of 1-0 grabbing
the first frame 65-58 before Jones jumped back striking back to back two frames 19-73 and 58-64 respectively, despite Chuang’s break of 44 in the third.
Chuang vaulted back into the game clicking two consecutive frames. He fired a fine 71 clearing in the fourth frame taking it 71-10 to level the game at 2-2. A stunning half century break of 58 gave him a 3-2 lead at the end of the fifth frame that he won
85-15 but despite his 44 in the sixth frame, he could not extend his lead. Jones, winner of 2010 European Under-19 Snooker Championship, finished the frame 50-64 with his impressive 48 break to level the scores at 3-3.
Chuang, the 2010 Asian Under-21 Snooker Championship winner, swept the next two frames 69-9 and 61-53 to clinch victory at 5-3. The Whirlwind has been struggling with his form for a couple of seasons facing early exits. In the qualifiers draw of China Open
2011, he is again going to face tough contenders. The frame score of Chuang - Jones match were 65-58, 19-73, 58-64, 71-10, 86-15, 50-64, 69-9 and 61-53.
So far, four Chinese cueists have qualified for their second round matches including Liu Chuang, Xiao Guodong, Liu Song and Zhang Anda. Xiao Guodong beat Dermot McGlinchey 5-2 in the first round to play against England’s Joe Jogia while Liu Song is going
to face Adrian Gunnell of England in the second round.
Song defeated Noppon Seangkham of Thailand 5-1 in his first-round qualifier while Zhang Anda reached the next qualifiers stage beating Northern Ireland’s Pattrick Wallace 5-2. He is going to battle against Alfie Burden of England in his next match.
Thirteen qualifiers have moved into the second round and the best-of-9 frames qualifiers will end on February 27. The main event will be staged from March 28 to April 3, 2011. Welshman Mark Williams, the 2000 and 2003 World Champion, is defending the title
he won last season after beating China’s Ding Junhui 10-6 in the final.
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