Oliver Lines
Oliver Lines scored a stunning 4-2 win over world number one Zhao Xintong in a day of shocks at the English Open in Brentwood.
It’s a first victory for the Yorkshireman against China’s first ever World Champion Xintong, with their only other meeting at the 2022 Welsh Open ending in a 4-1 defeat. Recent times have seen Lines working alongside coach and former German Masters winner Anthony Hamilton.
In what was a high quality affair this evening, 31-year-old Lines stood up against a fine display of break building from his illustrious opponent.
Xintong composed contributions of 102 and 100 to leave the tie locked level at 2-2. However, it was Lines who made 71 and 84 to take the next two frames and book his place in the last 32 against Yuan Sijun.
“You know you have to raise your game. You try not to think about it, but you know if you don’t play somewhere near your best then you are going home,” said world number 53 Lines.
“When you come away it is nice to have a coach in your corner that really wants you to win. When I was going back to my seat I could see him in the corner of my eye just giving me a nod of encouragement.”
Chinese tour rookie Luo Zetao scored a surprise 4-3 win over world number four Neil Robertson to seal his progression.
25-year-old Zetao earned his place on the circuit earlier this year thanks to his performances on the CBSA Tour. Robertson came within a match of the world number one spot in Wuhan last month, losing a winner-takes-all clash with Xingtong. He joins him in an early exit this week.
Zetao top scored with 112 in today’s win and will now face compatriot Gong Chenzhi, who overcame former European Masters winner Jimmy Robertson 4-3.
2024 World Champion Kyren Wilson scored a 4-1 win over Poland’s Mateusz Baranowski to book a mouth watering clash with Wuhan Open winner Chang Bingyu.
Wilson said: “It was quite hard as he is a really lovely lad. I just met him and he was saying how excited he was and that this was his first time on the TV table. I had that in my mind, but you have to be ruthless, focus on yourself and I managed to finish the game off quite strongly.”
ROUND ONE RESULTS:
Ding Junhui (Chn) bt Michale Holt (Eng) 4-3
Robbie Williams (Eng) bt Si Jiahui (Chn) 4-1
Luo Zetao (Chn) bt Neil Robertson (Aus) 4-3
Yuan Sijun (Chn) bt Tom Ford (Eng) 4-2
Ali Carter (Eng) bt Jackson Page (Wal) 4-1
Zhang Anda (Chn) bt Zak Surety (Eng) 4-1
Chris Wakelin (Eng) bt Louis Heathcote (Eng) 4-3
Gong Chenzhi (Chn) bt Jimmy Robertson (Eng) 4-3
Kyren Wilson (Eng) bt Mateusz Baranowski (Pol) 4-1
Chang Binyu (Chn) bt Jak Jones (Wal) 4-0
Ashley Hugill (Eng) bt Elliot Slessor (Eng) 4-3
Oliver Lines (Eng) bt Zhao Xingtong (Chn) 4-2
Zhou Yueling (Chn) bt Stan Moody (Eng) 4-3
Joe O’Connor (Eng) bt Florian Nuessle (Aut) 4-0
