Thursday 30 November 2017

LIVE BLOG: Xiao Guodong vs Chen Zifan

Xiao Guodong 6-0 Chen Zifan - Xiao made 46 from his original chance, playing a great shot to bring the final red out but was unable to do the same for the green. Another chance was forged though when he played a long thin cut on the green, coming around the table, in and out of baulk for the brown. Another good shot brought the pink into the middle of the table and helped Xiao complete the 25 clearance and with it the whitewash. Chen Zifan was not quite at the races all night really while Xiao Guodong was on it from his first chance and gave no let up. Like I said before the start of the match he could be dangerous in the draw this week.

Frame 6 - Great chance for Chen Zifan here. Break's up to 50 which is his best of the night as he looks to avoid the whitewash. Now into the reds on 57 and needs a good pot to continue, and he can't find one. Chance for Xiao to counter and wrap this match up.

Frame Xiao - Really not happening for Chen Zifan. He leaves Xiao Guodong in again and Xiao is in really good form here tonight. With the balls nicely positioned he does more than enough to move a frame from the second round. 5-0 Xiao

Frame 5 - Xiao had the first good chance of frame five but missed a tricky little red and left it in the jaws. Chen pots another red and follows with the green but then plays the red that was hanging towards the left jaw, missed it and left it for Xiao. Starting to become a really uncomfortable night for Chen Zifan.

Frame Xiao - Just after my last update, Xiao picked out a good red into the yellow pocket and from the resulting black he was straight into the reds. A perfect split led to a great example of break building. A brilliant break of 78 was more than enough to put him four frames ahead. Xiao Guodong cruising. 4-0 Xiao

Frame 4 - Chen Zifan in first in the fourth and needs to get it on the board. Makes 30 before missing but leaves nothing. Remaining reds are now all in the bunch so there's some important safety to come here.

Frame Xiao - This is becoming very one sided here. Xiao plays a good snooker behind the brown on the final three reds and that gives him the chance to clear. Pot on the green with the rest confirms a big advantage now for Xiao. 3-0 Xiao

Frame 3 - Both players have had chances in this frame but the last was to Chen who misses another black. That has left Xiao in but he has his work cut out to make him pay for the error.

Frame Xiao - A good chance it was and an easy run of 47 from Xiao is enough to leave Chen needing snookers but he is unable to fight back into the frame. Great start for Xiao. 2-0 Xiao

Frame 2 - Chen had the first good chance of this frame but again has missed when in and left everything on for Xiao Guodong. An excellent opportunity to double his lead.

Frame Xiao - Xiao picks up the pieces left by Chen missing and makes 50 before making the last red difficult and missing with the rest and extensions. Chen tried to power it in but missed and gave an easier chance to Xiao, who with the colours on their spots was able to take the first frame. 1-0 Xiao

Frame 1 - This is a fast start from Chen Zifan. In straight away with a magnificent long red and on the fifth red he opens the rest of the bunch. Potting two in the process. However, just when he was looking good to fire through the first frame he misses the black off its spot and leaves Xiao in.

Quick turnaround from this afternoon for me, but it's time for my final live blog of the week. An all Chinese clash between Xiao Guodong and Chen Zifan.

Xiao has been in good form this season with a few good wins against top players and he could be a dangerous player if he's on heavy scoring form this week in York.

As for Chen he was brilliant in beating Shaun Murphy 4-1 in the Northern Ireland Open and also overcame Barry Hawkins in the English Open. He's looked impressive whenever I've watched him so this should be a good contest tonight.

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