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Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby lhpirnie

The CBSA's Chinese National Championships run from 31st May-4 June 2019, in the city of Xi'an in Shaanxi province (north China). This is the home town of Zhao Xintong. The holder is Zhou Yuelong, who beat Yan Bingtao in the final in Zibo, Shandong province (Yan's home town).

They play best-of-7 until the semi-finals, which will be played on 4th June, followed by the final.

In the draw are 12 professional players: Xiao Guodong, Li Hang, Zhou Yuelong, Zhao Xintong, Yuan Sijun, Lu Ning, Zhang Anda, Mei Xiwen, Fan Zhengyi, Zhang Jiankang, Chang Bingyu and Bai Langning, as well as some former professionals and some talented juniors. There were 4 regional qualification tournaments held over the last few weeks.

This tournament is one of the events that count towards the Chinese rankings, which award two professional Tour Cards each season.

The play is very open and attacking: not much safety but many century breaks. They even have a 147 break prize!!

They have 4 tables, two of which broadcast live on:
http://www.cbsa.org.cn/gnnews/2019/0530/241619.html
or
http://www.zhibo.tv/special/schedule/n/snookerchina2019

China is 7 hours ahead of UK time.

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby lhpirnie

First round draw:
Chang Bingyu vs. bye
Yuan Sijun beat Lu Ning 4-1
Yao Pengcheng beat Zhao Hanyang 4-1
Xia Bo beat Ma Chunmao 4-3
Zhao Jianbo vs. bye
Bo Junjie beat Liu Hao 4-1
Li Yan beat Wu Junchi 4-3
Ju Reti vs. bye
Bai Langning vs. bye
Chang Feng beat Shen Cheng 4-2
Liu Hongyu beat Xiao Guodong 4-2
Li Yungdong beat Deng Haohui 4-1
Xi Guoxiao beat Huang Zhong 4-0
Pa Ruke beat Zhang Kai 4-3
Ma Tingpeng beat Luo Zetao 4-1
Mei Xiwen vs. bye
-------------------------------------
Fan Zhengyi vs. bye
Wu Shengguan vs. Tian Wenshun
Lei Zhen vs. Jin Long
Huang Jiahao vs. Li Yuan
Zhang Jiankang vs. Xie Jintao
Zhang Yang vs. Liu Yiqi
Tao Xun vs. Gao Yang
Zhang Anda vs. bye
Zhou Yuelong vs. bye
Gong Chenzhi vs. Tang Jun
Ren Jiaxing vs. Qin Jianfeng
Yin Xiaowei vs. Wang Haonan
Rouzi Maimaiti vs. Yang Jiaxin
Cai Jianzhong vs. Yang Xiaolong
Zhao Xintong vs. Jiang Jun
Li Hang vs. bye

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby lhpirnie

An amazing win by 12-year old Gong Chenzhi!

Apparently he was taught to play by Yan Bingtao's father (both come from Zibo, Shandong province). Now coached by former professional Ju Reti.

Tomorrow he will play against Zhou Yuelong.

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby SteveJJ

Maimatti qualified for the tour didn't he but couldn't take his place?

Has the event been weakened by the absence of those at q school?

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby lhpirnie

SteveJJ wrote:Maimatti qualified for the tour didn't he but couldn't take his place?

Has the event been weakened by the absence of those at q school?

Yes, there is an unfortunate conflict. Obviously, there are many professionals in Xi'an, who are better than the amateurs at Q School, so it's not much of a weakening. It's a shame that Lei Peifan and Chen Zifan had to miss a big tournament in their home province - maybe the only chance they will ever have of playing in front of their family as a professional. Zhao Xintong (also a Xi'an boy) lost in the first round to a 15-year old. So the tournament is probably a bit of a disappointment for the Xi'an locals.

The tables are playing heavy and slow, which means the quality is not so good - they are struggling to build breaks. Also, the regional qualifications seem to have produced some weak contenders. It's not as good as it was last year, but we've reached the Q-final stage and the matches should be better.

Rouzi Maimaiti is a fine player who came from a poor family in a remote part of China. He never got the support that might have allowed him to play professionally. Other former professionals in Xi'an were Ju Reti (whose situation was similar to Rouzi), Li Yan (who had terrible health problems) and Li Yuan (who was technically a professional until last month, but had stopped competing earlier this year).

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby HappyCamper

thanks for the updates.

looks like the bottom half of the draw is the trickier. yuan sijun should have a pretty clear path from the top.

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby lhpirnie

The bottom half semi-final match is now determined. In the quarter-finals Li Hang beat Zhou Yuelong 4-2, and Zhang Anda beat Jin Long 4-0.

Zhang Anda got married the day before the start of the tournament. I'm sure his new wife has ordered him to win, to make up for cancelling their honeymoon!

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby Dan-cat

lhpirnie wrote:The bottom half semi-final match is now determined. In the quarter-finals Li Hang beat Zhou Yuelong 4-2, and Zhang Anda beat Jin Long 4-0.

Zhang Anda got married the day before the start of the tournament. I'm sure his new wife has ordered him to win, to make up for cancelling their honeymoon!


Haha. Go Zhang!!

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby lhpirnie

The final is underway, between newly-married Zhang Anda, and the 15-year old prodigy Zhao Jianbo.

Zhao recently won the Asian U21, beating Ka Wai Cheung in the final. His performance this week will lift him high enough in the Chinese rankings that he is almost sure of a professional Tour Card for 2020-21. He comes from Sichuan, and looks and plays very similar to Yan Bingtao.

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby SnookerFan

lhpirnie wrote:Zhang Anda wins 5-3.

He reclaims the trophy that he won 2 years ago.

Wife happy as well!


Happy Wife, Happy Life.

Re: Chinese Nationals in Xi'an

Postby lhpirnie

Dan-cat wrote:Great updates Pirnie.

And go Zhang! Now you can take away on a slap up honeymoon. How much did he win? Sorry if I missed it in an earlier post.

Image

So 50000 for the winner! But it's in Chinese RMB, which is about £6000.

Note that they have a 147 break prize, perhaps the last one ever... Fan Zhengyi won the high break prize with 143.

(Lewis is the name, by the way).