On October 21, the second day of the 2024 Northern Ireland Snooker Open unfolded, and the performance of the Chinese players left much to be desired, as they faced significant challenges. Out of the seven participants, only Tian Pengfei and Wang Yuchen advanced to the top 32, while prominent players like Xiao Guodong, Si Jiahui, and Zhang Anda were unable to secure victories against their opponents.

Wang Yuchen, currently ranked outside the top 100, stood out among the Chinese contestants that day. Despite losing the first two frames against world No. 20 Jack Lisowski, Wang found his rhythm in the third, scoring a remarkable 60 points to bring the match to 1-2. Both players showcased impressive skills as the match progressed, resulting in a tense final frame. In a pivotal moment, Wang delivered an outstanding break of 82 points to ultimately win the match 4-3, pulling off a surprising upset.

In another match featuring Chinese player Zhang Anda, ranked No. 10 in the world, he faced world’s No. 53 Martin O’Donnell. This match, which was initially thought to be straightforward, turned into an unexpected challenge. Zhang struggled to find his form early on, quickly falling behind 0-3. Although he rallied to win three consecutive frames, a critical mistake in the deciding frame allowed O’Donnell to seal the victory, eliminating Zhang from the tournament.

The day also featured an intriguing battle between Chinese rising star Si Jiahui and veteran Tian Pengfei. Despite holding a much higher ranking, Si Jiahui lost 2-4, failing to advance. After the match, Tian commented that luck may have played a role in his victory and noted that Si’s performance might have been affected by the time zone adjustment after the recent Wuhan Open.

Fresh off his championship win at the Wuhan Open, Xiao Guodong faced England’s Jimmy Robertson but was eliminated after a 2-4 defeat. Young talent Fan Zhengyi couldn’t overcome 14th-ranked Higgins, losing 4-2 as well. In another match, young player Liu Hongyu faced a tough challenge against Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen, resulting in a 0-4 loss.

As the competition progressed, only five out of 14 Chinese players advanced to the top 32. Notably, with “Rocket” Ronnie O’Sullivan’s earlier withdrawal, Chinese player Long Zehuang automatically advanced to the next round.

Looking ahead to the third day of the tournament, two Chinese players from the post-2000 generation will make their entrance. Wu Yize, who has shown significant promise this season, is set to compete against British player Oliver Lines, while fellow Chinese competitor Ma Hailong will face veteran Ali Carter.

Moreover, the matches in the round of 32 will begin on the third day, with Zhou Yuelong taking on the renowned “Magician” Shaun Murphy, and Tian Pengfei going up against seasoned English player Robert Milkins.