On February 21, 2022, Beijing time, the snooker European Masters kicked off, and in the first round of the main tournament, Yan Bingtao eliminated Li Xing 5-1 and successfully advanced to the round of 32, and Zhou Yuelong and Xiao Guodong also easily advanced. The 31-year-old Cao Yupeng was in a slump, he lost 2-5 to Joe Perry, suffered a round of travel, and the youngster Gao Yang also regrettably stopped.
Zhao Xintong was out of the qualifiers, Ding Junhui did not register, Yan Bingtao is the leader of this competition, but also a good opportunity for him to impact the championship. In the first round of the main tournament, Yan Bingtao played a derby, and the opponent was the experienced Li Xing. In the game, Li Xing won the first set, but then played poorly, Yan Bingtao hit a three-shot 50+ to reverse the promotion 5-1.
Xiao Guodong was eliminated in the previous Welsh Open qualifiers, and being late was the main reason for his exit, and he was also criticized for being late. However, Xiao Guodong adjusted his state in time, and facing Andy Hicks in the first round of the European Masters, Xiao Guodong played a hundred and two 70+, eliminating the opponent 5-2 and advancing to the round of 32.
There was also a Chinese derby in which Zhou Yuelong shot a four-shot 70+ to beat Gao Yang 5-1. In the game, Gao Yang took the lead many times, but his ability to score consecutive points was relatively weak, and there were many mistakes, which needed to be summarized well.
In addition to Gao Yang being eliminated, there is another Chinese player who has suffered a round of the main game, that is, Cao Yupeng. Cao Yupeng, who returned to the professional arena, had high hopes, but his performance was not stable, facing Joe Perry, Cao Yupeng had more offensive mistakes, especially in the sixth set, Cao Yupeng lost a black ball in the last moment, which was very demoralizing. In the end, Cao Yupeng lost 2-5 to Joe Perry and missed the round of 32.
So far, Yan Bingtao, Xiao Guodong, Zhou Yuelong and other 3 Chinese players have taken the lead in advancing to the round of 32, and Gao Yang and Cao Yupeng are unfortunately out.
In the other match, world number five Karen Wilson shot a one-hundred-hundred and three-shot 50+ to eliminate Jamie Jones 5-2. Next, O'Sullivan, Trump, Selby, Neil Robertson and others will play a postponement qualifier, and seeded players such as Barry Hawkins and Luka Brechel will also play in the first round of the main tournament, good luck to all the players!