In the early morning of December 14, Beijing time, the 2021 Snooker Grand Prix opened at the Coventry Building Association Stadium in the United Kingdom, and Zhao Xintong, who had just won the British Championship eight days ago, appeared as the top seed in the opening match but was unfavorable, although he scored a hundred single shots, he still lost 2-4 to England player Martin Gould, missing the round of 16 of this tournament.
Results of the first day: Zhao Xintong 2-4 Gould; Yan Bingtao 4-1 Mark King; Karen Wilson 3-4 Hamilton; Mark Williams 3-4 Lissovsky.
Only the top 32 players in this tournament are eligible for the tournament in a single season. Gould scored in the round of 16 at last week's Scottish Open to create opportunities for himself, while Li Xing, a Chinese player who could squeeze Gould out of the top 32 of a single season, was eliminated by O'Sullivan 5-4 in the quarterfinals, so that the "Glasses Man" just happened to catch the last train to reach the Grand Prix.
Although he received a total of £380,000 in tickets, Gould, who ranked 32nd in a single season, was signed in a snake-like draw against No. 1 seed Zhao Xintong in the first round. Gould fell behind 1-2 at one point in the game, but eventually won three straight sets to win.
China's Zhao Xintong won his first career title at the British Championships at the beginning of the month, jumping to the top of the single-season rankings with a prize of 200,000 pounds. In the first round of the Grand Prix opener, Zhao Xintong led 2-1 with a single 101-point break in a 101-point break, but he only scored three goals in the subsequent schedule. Gould shot consecutive singles of 75, 52 and 79 to win.
"The one-shot break he played in The 3rd game actually got me on," former German Masters and single-time champion Gould said after the game, "and since then I've decided to pick up speed and get into a very good rhythm." ”
"I didn't watch the game Ronnie (O'Sullivan) against Li Xing. I was on my way home when they were racing, and when I got home, I started washing things and making myself a cup of tea. A friend texted me to tell me (this week) that it was in. The next time I play the game I have to invite Ronnie to dinner! It felt like I was getting free bread. ”
"I've used a new club for the last two weeks and I feel comfortable playing and enjoying some new challenges. I used that club for 25 years, and then it broke shortly before the Scottish Open. I almost dropped out of the game because I felt like I didn't have any chances with a new club, but I'm happy with my performance now. I'm waiting for the week when everything will be lucky, maybe this week, and no one can say for sure. ”
Gould's opponent in Round 2 will be Masters champion Yan Bingtao, who beat Mark King 4-1 to advance to the Round of 16 with a single-shot-high score in the first round of the tournament at the same time.
Last year's runner-up Jack Lisovsky beat Mark Williams 4-3 in game 2 on table 1, a fast-paced match that averaged just 13 minutes innings, with the two sides winning six singles with more than 50 points.
The Tournament's No. 3 seed, British Open champion Mark Williams, with a lucky luck ball 117 points in a 1-2 deficit, then played a 77 points 3-2 to win and get the match point; Lisovsky equalized with a single 74 points, williams scored 35 points in the decider and did not score the difficult red ball, Lisovsky played a wonderful single 94 points to win.
Lissovsky, who is ranked 30th in a single season, will face the winner between Maguire and McGill in the next second round.
"To beat these top players in the decider, you have to improve your performance." Lisovsky said.
"I'm probably the worst of all the players. I spoke to Peter Alberton, and in the final innings I had in mind what he said to me. He [Alberton] is the most powerful player psychologically, even if he asks me to do the opening and closing jumps in the game, I don't need to know why. When I was behind, it was the time to practice what he said. I resisted when I got into problems, which is what the top players can do. There's no better feeling than that. ”