On January 21, 2022, the first round of the snooker limited time round was completed. Ding Junhui suddenly developed symptoms of fever after arriving at the stadium and decided to withdraw temporarily before the start of the match. The only two top 16 players out are from China – Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong lost to Joyce and Holt respectively; Yuan Sijun defeated Fude in the only penalty shootout in the first round.
The first-round showdown between Ding Junhui and Hawkins is one of the highlights of this year's single-time limited time tournament. Unfortunately, WST announced Ding Junhui's retirement about 10 minutes before the start of the match. It is reported that Ding Junhui appeared fever symptoms after arriving at the stadium, in the absence of nucleic acid testing, Ding Junhui in the attitude of being responsible for the audience, opponents, referees and all staff decided to withdraw from the game, go home to isolate and observe, and carry out nucleic acid testing as quickly as possible. As of press time, Ding Junhui has not yet obtained nucleic acid test results.
Ding Junhui's withdrawal will bring him a new embarrassing record. Ding Junhui played his first game after changing careers on September 4, 2003. On November 9, 2004, Ding Junhui defeated White in the first round of the Grand Prix, beating the TOP16 players for the first time in his career, which lasted 14 months and 5 days. On November 20, 2020, Ding Junhui defeated Higgins 4-1 in the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open, and the next nine matches with the TOP16 players all ended in defeat, and in the case of the failure of the match with Hawkins, Ding Junhui's top 16 win-win time will inevitably exceed 14 months and 5 days, setting a new high.
After the three TOP16 players who appeared on the first day were fully qualified, the TOP16 players continued to maintain a high winning rate. Allen and Bingham both won with a 50+ shot; Hawkins took the trouble to beat Ryan Davis, a 19-year-old amateur who played for Patch Junhui. Brechel eliminated Perry 40-20.
The only two top 16 players out of the first round are from China. Yan Bingtao's first attack ended with a white ball falling bag, Joyce won the free ball in his hand and directly scored 76 points in a single shot, although Yan Bingtao became the first top 16 player to lose, he completed the 57-point clearance performance in the remaining time, which received applause from the audience. Zhao Xintong, who finally appeared, also failed to escape the bad luck of losing, losing 27-58 to former tournament champion Holt.
The Chinese players did not play well on the second matchday, with only three promoters. Tian Pengfei defeated the female player Kenna, and Zhang Anda won the "civil war" with Zhang Jiankang. Yuan Sijun defeated Fude in the most dramatic match of the day, Yuan Sijun led 21-20 a few seconds before the end of the match, but Ford scored a red ball, forcing the game into a penalty shootout, the two scored in the first round of penalties, and in the second round, Fude lost the lead, Yuan Sijun swung his fist to celebrate after the goal was won. Xiao Guodong, Si Jiahui, Zhou Yuelong, and Bai Langning all encountered a round trip.
The best performance of the second matchday came from Wafi, who scored a single 123 points against Devlin. This is Waffy's first shot in the single time limited time competition, the second stroke of this competition, the 24th shot in the history of the race, and the 10th highest score in the history of the race. In the end, the round of 64 brought together 7 TOP16 players (Murphy, Selby, Williams, Allen, Bingham, Hawkins, Brechel) and 8 Chinese players (Cao Yupeng, Liang Wenbo, Gao Yang, Lei Peifan, Fan Zhengyi, Tian Pengfei, Zhang Anda, Yuan Sijun).
Results on the 21st (Round 1).
A. Carty 4-74(51) M. Allen, B. Pinches 55-1 R. Muir
I. Boyce 1-67 R. Williams, Tian Pengfei 47-7 R. Kenna
S. Bingham 90(56)-0 M. Davis, N. Thornham 45-69(61) D. Wormsley
M. Mann 32-21 Xiao Guodong, T. Uno 33-49 K. Johar
R. Davis 21-27 B. Hawkins, M. George U 93-30 Scarlett
D. Jones 47-39 Xu Si, M. Joyce 78(74)-61 Yan Bingtao
Jang Health 17-66 Jang Anda, J. Clark 38-10 B. Hankorn
A. Padgett 35-17 L. Graham, J. White 5-56 Lin Shan Peak
L. Brechel 40-20 J. Perry, C. Wakelin 37-2 M. White
S. Donaldson 24-27 D. Leary, H. Waffy 124 (123)-7 P. Devlin
Sijun Yuan 31-26 T. Ford, B. Cassol 61-23 S. Maddox
A. Hamilton 82 (77)-0 R. Milkins, J. Brown 48-20 J. Jones
M. King 38-24 G. Dort, L. Clex 67-1 L. Heathcote
R. McQuegen 21-64 L. Hayfield, Zhou Yuelong 1-49 S. Halworth
Browning 26-32 K. Dachdi, A. Hicks 23-76 G. Wilson
M. Sert 66-36 A. Hugh Gill, M. Holt 58-27 Zhao Xintong
22nd (second round) schedule
21:00
B. Hawkins vs. A. Carter, Fan Zhengyi vs. D. Jones
G. Wilson vs. K. Johar, Liang Wenbo vs. Z. Shuldi
21:40
S. Murphy vs. I. Burns, L. Hayfield vs. C. Stederman
M. Joyce vs. J. Clark, M. GeorgeU vs. F. Ajayb
22:20
M. Lloyd vs. M. Allen, O. Lynnes vs. S. Moody
Anda Zhang vs. M. Celt, B. Pinches vs. H. Waffy
23:00
S. Blackwell vs. L. Brechel, P. Dewell vs. Jak. Jones
A. Hill vs. J. Page, M. Williams vs. M. King
27:00
E. Slather vs. M. Selby, N. Bond vs. P. Lanes
L. Klex vs. Tian Pengfei, D. Yang vs. Yuan Sijun
27:40
S. Bingham vs. Repefan, M. Mann vs. J. Brown
Cao Yupeng vs. A. Taylor, Gao Yang vs. S. Halworth
28:20
K. Dahdi vs. D. Gilbert, B. Cassol vs. A. Padgett
A. Hamilton vs. C. Wecklin, L. Fernandez vs. D. Womersley
29:00
M. Holt vs. S. Lichtenberg, Lin Shanfeng vs. R. Bruman
D. Leary vs. A. Higginson, J. Lisowski vs. R. Williams