Zhangjiagang Open 2023-24

An impressive turnout at Zhangjiagang (in Jiangsu province) of 65 players in this CBSA event, running from 27-31 December. There were 12 current professionals, plus 6 former professionals, and several who have come close or will likely qualify sooner or later.

The matches were best-of-7 until the final, which was best-of-9.

I've strained my eyes out trying to translate the results from very unclear images, so apologies for any mistakes.

Last-65:
Li Chengjie 4:2 Fu Jing

Last-64:
Yuan Sijun 4:2 Li Chengjie
Jiang Jun 4:0 Jin Peng
Lei Peifan 4:3 Lu Lu
Jin Long 4:1 Li Jianbing
Luo Zetao 4:0 Zhou Jinhao
Li Yan 4:1 Chen Qien
Fan Zhengyi 4:2 Zhang Zhijie
Cai Jianzhong 4:1 Xing Zihao
Zhou Hanwen 4:2 Wang Zepeng
Gao Yang 4:1 Ren Zuijie
Chen Ruifu 4:2 Feng Yu
Yao Dongcheng 4:2 Wu Qiang
Liu Wenwei 4:0 Peng Yisong
Chen Qiyu 4:1 Ren Jiaxing
Xu Si 4:2 Deng Haohui
Huang Jiahao 4:1 Gu Xiaoming

Zhao Hanyang 4:1 Zhong Lin
Gong Chenzhi 4:3 Wang Xinzhong
Lan Yuhao 4:2 Feng Jingkun
Wang Xinbo 4:1 Yang Weihong
Liang Xiaolong 4:3 Qin Jianfeng
Long Zehuang 4:1 Deng Fuyi
Chen Xiaolong 4:1 Li Zihao (Lee Tsz Ho)
He Guoqiang 4:0 Li Ting
Ma Hailong 4:2 Mei Xiwen
Zhang Yang 4:0 Pan Yiming
Yao Pengcheng 4:3 Bai Yulu
Liu Yang 4:0 Tu Xuan
Chen Feilong 4:1 Ma Rongjie
Pang Junxu 4:1 Wu Yize
Liu Haitao 4:1 Zhang Yinhu
Liu Hongyu 4:0 Chen Yuxiang

Last-32:
Jiang Jun 4:3 Yuan Sijun
Lei Peifan 4:0 Jin Long
Li Yan 4:0 Luo Zetao
Fan Zhengyi 4:0 Cai Jianzhong
Gao Yang 4:0 Zhou Hanwen
Chen Ruifu 4:3 Yao Dongcheng
Chen Qiyu 4:1 Liu Wenwei
Xu Si 4:2 Huang Jiahao

Gong Chenzhi 4:2 Zhao Hanyang
Wang Xinbo 4:2 Lan Yuhao
Long Zehuang 4:0 Liang Xiaolong
He Guoqiang 4:2 Chen Xiaolong
Ma Hailong 4:3 Zhang Yang
Yao Pengcheng 4:0 Liu Yang
Chen Feilong 4:0 Pang Junxu
Liu Hongyu 4:2 Liu Haitao

Last-16:
Jiang Jun 4:3 Lei Peifan
Fan Zhengyi 4:0 Li Yan
Gao Yang 4:1 Chen Ruifu
Xu Si 4:2 Chen Qiyu
Gong Chenzhi 4:2 Wang Xinbo
He Guoqiang 4:3 Long Zehuang
Ma Hailong 4:0 Yao Pengcheng
Liu Hongyu 4:3 Chen Feilong

Q-Finals:
Jiang Jun 4:2 Fan Zhengyi
Xu Si 4:2 Gao Yang
Gong Chenzhi 4:2 He Guoqiang
Ma Hailong 4:1 Liu Hongyu

Semi-finals:
Xu Si 4:2 Jiang Jun
Gong Chenzhi 4:0 Ma Hailong

Final:
Xu Si 5:3 Gong Chenzhi

Thus Xu Si wins his first CBSA (senior) title, having previously won a couple of junior titles, and also the 2016 World U21. Gong Chenzhi continued his impressive season, and now looks nailed on to finish top of the CBSA amateurs list, which will likely get him a tour card for 2024-25.

well done Xu Si.

First Chinese world champion?

The_Abbott wrote:well done Xu Si.

First Chinese world champion?

No, but he's steadily building a decent career for himself. I'd say a potential top-32 player in the next few years. At the moment he comes unstuck against the top players on TV tables, and is also easily intimidated by players who show dissent. But a tournament win should help his confidence.