Selby defeats Zhang to progress at English Open
World number two Mark Selby fought back from a frame down to beat China's Zhang Anda in a deciding-frame thriller, reaching the third round of the English Open in Brentwood. The result was one of several eventful matches in the round, which also saw a shock exit for a player who had earlier knocked out the world number one, underlining the unpredictable nature of the tournament so far.
Selby trailed 2-1 before edging ahead 3-2, only for Zhang to level at 3-3 with a century break; the 43-year-old then sealed victory with a clearance of 39, winning the decider 59-49 on the black. He will next face Kyren Wilson, a 4-3 winner over Wuhan Open champion Chang Bingyu. Elsewhere, Oliver Lines, who had beaten world number one Zhao Xintong in round one, lost 4-3 to Yuan Sijun after squandering a 3-2 lead, while Judd Trump, Anthony McGill, Mark Williams, Barry Hawkins and others also progressed, with Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter recording the only 4-0 whitewashes of the round.
In short
- Selby beats Zhang Anda in decider to reach English Open third round
- Selby will next play Kyren Wilson in the last 16
- Oliver Lines, Zhao Xintong's conqueror, knocked out by Yuan Sijun
Explained simply
The English Open is a professional snooker tournament, part of the sport’s Home Nations Series, which is played in venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Matches are played in frames: players score by potting red and coloured balls, and a match is decided by whoever wins the required number of frames.
Mark Selby is an English professional and former world champion, while Zhang Anda represents China. Snooker is popular in both countries, and matches between established players from different national teams form part of the sport’s international competition.
The tournament brings together leading professionals and offers ranking points that can affect players’ positions on the world rankings. Its knockout format means a player is eliminated after one defeat, so even a brief run can change the draw and open opportunities for others.