XI’AN, China – Ding Junhuiโ advanced to the โquarterfinals of the Worldโฃ Snooker โฃXi’an Grand Prix on Friday, defeating Oliver lines 5-1 and setting up โฃa Saturday โclash with Shaun Murphy.
Ding secured consecutiveโข frame wins with breaks of 63 and 134, leading 3-1 at theโ intermission.He thenโข closed out the match with breaks of 83 and 121, โขeliminating the world No.64.
“My physical condition is good, and my performance has been stable in these rounds. I think I’m playing better than in the last two days,” said the 38-year-oldโ Ding. “The home crowd gives โChineseโ players great support and encouragement, helpingโ us stay focused and execute our shots well.”
Murphy earned his quarterfinal berth โฃwith a 5-0โ victory over Kyren Wilson, intentionally fouling in the final frame after a break of 101 to award Wilson six points. A further 15 points would have establishedโ aโข new personal scoring โขrecord for Murphy in ranking events.
“It is โindeed a great feeling,โข that areโค the moments that we put the practiceโ for,” โMurphy told Xinhua. “If I could play โlike that every day, I will be a very happy person.”
In other matches, Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated Jak Jones 5-1, Daniel โwells won overโ Robert Milkins 5-2, Liam Pullen โdefeated Aaron โฃHill โค5-1, and Mark Williams secured a 5-4 comeback victory against Barry Hawkins.
Chineseโ rising star He Guoqiang lost to Gary Wilson 5-0, despite a strong startโ inโ the first frame. He โคGuoqiang, who previously defeated Neil Robertson to reach the last 16, expressed disappointment. “I could have won the first frame, itโ was a pity that I failed to win any frame,” Heโ said. “I beat Neil Robertson and reachedโ the last 16 round in Xi’an. For me, the โขresult is a millstone.”
The tournament is scheduled to conclude on October โ13.