Live now! Snooker Grand Prix schedule: Zhao Xintong vs Zhang Anda in the second stage, who will claim the championship?

On February 8th Beijing time, the Snooker Grand Prix final is heating up as two Chinese stars, Zhao Xintong and Zhang Anda, face off fiercely for the title. The first stage of eight frames has concluded with a tightly contested score, evenly matched at 4-4. The champion will be decided in the second stage!

This Grand Prix is held in Hong Kong, China, with an attractive winner’s prize of £180,000. Benefiting from home advantage, 10 players have shown incredible skill, continuously breaking records and making history. For the first time, they secured all four semifinal spots in a ranking event, guaranteeing a Chinese final. Zhang Anda and Zhao Xintong emerged from a derby battle to reach the final, setting up an intense clash for the ultimate title. The suspense is high: will Zhao Xintong win his fourth crown or will Zhang Anda claim his second? Plenty to watch for!

Zhao Xintong is ranked eighth in the world. Last season, as an amateur, he shocked everyone by winning the championship, making history for Chinese snooker. However, he did not soar at the World Championship and fell into a slump, performing poorly in ranking events and often losing unexpectedly, drawing criticism from fans. Yet in this Grand Prix, Zhao has shown championship-level form by consecutively defeating top players Higgins, Selby, Wakelin, and Xiao Guodong to reach the final, making his achievements highly credible!

Zhang Anda previously won the National Championship, ending a long title drought in his career. Like Zhao, he didn’t break through dramatically afterward and also suffered a dry spell, dropping out of the top sixteen rankings and currently sitting at 23rd. In this tournament, he has demonstrated fierce determination by eliminating strong opponents such as Mark Williams, Hawkins, Wu Yize, and Zhou Yuelong to reach the final, making his run equally impressive. Zhang is eager to win the title and return to the top sixteen!

The first stage between the two has ended with intense competition, like a clash of titans. The match has been full of twists and turns, with the lead exchanging hands repeatedly, tied at 4-4. Zhang Anda scored four breaks over 50, while Zhao Xintong made two centuries including a high break of 145, likely securing the highest break prize. Both players are in fiery form, keeping the championship suspense alive!

The second stage is underway. Will Zhao Xintong’s attacks prove sharper, or will Zhang Anda’s defense hold stronger? The answer is about to be revealed. Let’s watch closely and cheer them on!

Written by / Sports Fiction