Thursday, 14 February 2019

LIVE BLOG: Zhao Xintong Vs Alexander Ursenbacher

Zhao Xintong 4-2 Alexander Ursenbacher - That was another very special break from Zhao Xintong. He just pots them from everywhere when he's on it. A fine cut on the penultimate red is followed by a cannon on the last red from the black but it leaves him in no man's land. Nevertheless he takes it on into the green pocket, another absolutely stunning shot and from there the rest was like shelling peas. A clearance of 86 to book a quarter-final with Stuart Bingham tomorrow. He was by far the better player on the night and while he is still a little rough around the edges, he did not miss the balls by the volume Ursenbacher did and is simply a joy to watch. A deserving 4-2 win for Zhao.

Frame 6 - Ursenbacher gets in first again in the sixth as he hopes to force a decider and it's going well so far. It has not been plain sailing for him again but nonetheless he is building a good lead together until missing on 34, 40 ahead but with plenty left for Zhao who is in now.

Frame Ursenbacher - Ursenbacher gets his chance on the final three reds potting two and playing safe on the last, leading by 35. Zhao gets a snooker and then wins the battle on the final red, and looks to be clearing up until he misses the blue into the corner. Ursenbacher pots it and could make Zhao regret that mistake. He still trails though 2-3.

Ursenbacher does not tighten his game up and cannot keep good control of the cue ball, eventually losing position with five reds left. A good long pot now for Zhao has given him a counter chance but this time he fails to make the most of it. Ursenbacher 24 ahead then with three reds left now. A nice lead with the baulk colours in awkward spots.

Frame 5 - It's been a rare slow start to a frame with both players missing early half chances but not doing much damage. Zhao misses an overly ambitious blue though to leave Ursenbacher in with a nice opportunity but he needs to tighten up and stop missing simple shots.

Frame Zhao - On 56 and just as he only needed a red and colour for the frame Zhao runs out of position slightly and misses a red into the yellow pocket. Another miss from ranges gives Ursenbacher a chance but he misses the black and leaves the final red for Zhao who comes back to finish the frame off on this occasion and he's now one away from victory at 3-1.

Frame 4 - Another missed long red leaves Ursenbacher in but this time the Swiss player is looking like taking advantage when he opens the reds up confidently and gets an excellent split. The next red though leaves a tough black which he misses and now Zhao is left in with a decent chance to pick up the pieces once again.

Frame Zhao - Well that was quick once again. Once he was passed the first two or three shots in the break Zhao was comfortable and never looked like missing while the frame was live. He does miss a red down the cushion with the rest to deny him a chance for his second century of the match but a 73 break is more than enough for a 2-1 lead.

Frame 3 - With reds spread all over, Zhao misses a long red to leave Ursenbacher seemingly perfect in amongst them, but he fails on the opening red to middle and now you would fancy Zhao to deliver some heavy punishment.

Frame Ursenbacher - Zhao misses a rare black in the twenties allowing Ursenbacher off the hook. The Swiss potter clears the remaining four reds and that is more than enough to secure this second frame and level the natch up at 1-1

Ursenbacher misses on 33 trying to power a red in along the bottom cushion. Another poor shot soon after leaves Zhao in and after a stunning blue when most players would play safe he's flying again now.

Frame 2 - Time to see what Ursenbacher can respond with. He's in first this time with reds again in nice positions for a sizeable contribution. Very early stages here but if they play like this all evening it will be a very entertaining game.

Frame Zhao - Well that's a sensational start for Zhao. Some great recovery pots in there and a break that contained 13 reds and blacks before he just ran out of position on the final two reds, which were on cushions safe. Nonetheless it's a sixth century of the week as he goes 1-0 up with a run of 104.

Frame 1 - Zhao is in first here after Ursenbacher leaves him in from close range and this is an excellent chance with reds nicely placed to make another big break, as he has been all week. He loses the cue ball in the thirties a little but pots an excellent recovery black to keep the break going.

My live blog from the last 16 and my final live blog before heading home tomorrow will be Zhao Xintong Vs Alexander Ursenbacher.

Zhao is in fine form having beaten Jackson Page, Zhou Yuelong and Jimmy Robertson this week so far, making five centuries in the process. Victory here will see him reach his second quarter-final of the season, having made the semi-final of the China Championship back in September.

Alexander Ursenbacher this week meanwhile has overcome Yan Bingtao, Zhang Jiankang and produced a stunning victory this afternoon on the TV table against Ronnie O'Sullivan. That was a big win as he is also battling for his tour place, and is now up into the top 8 on the one-season money list that are not already qualified for next season.

This should be an exciting contest between two young and aggressive players and hopefully Ursenbacher does not suffer a hangover from his performance over O'Sullivan earlier as this could go all the way.

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