Chen Zifan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong - After a snooker escape from Zhou, Chen knocked an excellent red and pink to follow up into the green pocket. A clearance to the final red left Zhou requiring a snooker but Chen eventually got over the line. Overall it was a solid display from Chen while Zhou just didn't look to have his best form.
Zhou only made 26 before finding himself out of position so has to play safe. Chen now leads by 14 but there are still four reds remaining.
Frame 5 - A good pot from Chen Zifan has him in first again at the start of the frame and he's going along pretty nicely again here. However, he's just gone into the reds from a red and not landed on a colour nicely. It means he has to attempt a tricky yellow and misses, so Zhou has a chance to counter.
Frame Zhou - This is much more like it from Zhou who swiftly gets his first frame on the board. A run of 94 is more than enough, but can he now get on a run of frames and put the pressure on Chen? It's still Chen Zifan that leads 3-1.
A rare miss from Chen Zifan has opened the door for his opponent to put the wheels of a comeback in motion. Zhou's break is up to 39 and it's a good chance to get his first frame on the board.
Frame 4 - Chen was in first with 28 at the very start of the frame and even after he plays safe, Zhou Yuelong is looking angry with himself and is not enjoying this match at all.
Frame Chen - A long end to the frame that lasted a total of 40 minutes. In the end Zhou potted a red but missed a brown on the stretch meaning he needed a snooker and as soon as Chen potted the resulting red Zhou had left on, Zhou conceded and now has a mountain to climb. 3-0 Chen
A break of 46 from Chen has put him 53 ahead with four reds left. Not looking good for Zhou with the black safe if he does get a chance to make the clearance.
Chen has been solid here thus far. Another good safety and a good pot to middle give him the first good chance of the frame. Pink and black are safe but he's working nicely from the blue and baulk colours and is building a nice lead here.
Frame 3 - Plenty of safety play to start frame three here. Chen has the upper hand you'd have to say. Been a couple of signs of frustration from Zhou already.
Frame Chen - A great start here for Chen now as a break of 90 doubles his lead. He'll be slightly disappointed not to have made a century break there but can't complain about the score. 2-0 Chen.
With reds in good positions and high value colours in open play this should now be heading towards a 2-0 lead for Chen.
Frame 2 - A missed long red from Chen left Zhou a half chance of a red but it was difficult with the spider. Zhou missed and left the red over the corner and Chen is now in on 25 and going along nicely.
Frame Chen - When Zhou escapes from the snooker on attempt 3 he also leaves the red over the middle pocket. From there Chen clears the final three reds and leaves Zhou needing snookers. 1-0 Chen Zifan.
It's gone a little scrappy in this opener now in the last couple of minutes but Chen is back in and with the upper hand. Last 3 reds not all in easy positions though and with a bad angle on a colour, he chooses to play safe and lays a brilliant snooker behind the yellow.
From Zhou's safety though, Chen Zifan knocks a good red into the middle. It's a decent chance with reds open but pink is safe and the black doesn't look like it's available either. Hard work ahead to make it a frame winning opportunity.
Frame 1 - Zhou Yuelong in first but doesn't land on a red from his split and plays safe on 17.
It's table 7 first up for me today to watch Zhou Yuelong take on Chen Zifan. Zhou was a quarter-finalist here in Cardiff last year, while Chen Zifan has had good wins of his own in his rookie year. In Belfast he overcame Shaun Murphy and also saw off Barry Hawkins at the English Open so it should be a good contest.
I'll also have updates from table 6 where one of my players to watch this season Yuan Sijun faces Fang Xiongman.
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