On October 25, the World Snooker Tour announced the 2022 Snooker Championship Championship Draw through its official social media account, and the grouping of the two Chinese players is: Fan Zhengyi is in Group 3, facing Neil Robertson in the first round, and if he advances, he will compete with the winner of the match between Kyren Wilson and Ryan Day for a place in the top 4; Zhao Xintong is in Group 2, facing Wangharutai in the first round, and if qualified, he will face the winner of O'Sullivan and Milkins for a ticket to the last four.
It is worth noting that Wangharutai is a women's player from Thailand, who entered the championship by winning the 2022 Women's Snooker World Championship, although it is a world champion in the women's field, but expanding the scope to the professional snooker tour of any gender, Wangharuthai's ability is very average, many tournaments and a round, in the confrontation with men's snooker players, Wangharutai is difficult to win, therefore, for Zhao Xintong, the first round of the championship against Wangharutai, There is no suspense in advancing to the next round of the top 8.
Zhao Xintong's test should be in the second round of 1/4 finals, after all, O'Sullivan is the most likely potential opponent of Zhao Xintong, if O'Sullivan pays enough attention to the championship game, there is no doubt about eliminating Milkins in the first round, the key is that the fire teacher's fighting spirit is doubtful! For the average snooker player, the championship is definitely an important event, but for the fire teacher, the champion of the championship is not an important title, 7 World Championships + 7 British Championships + 7 Masters, 7 sets of snooker three major slams in hand, O'Sullivan has willful capital!
In the just-concluded Snooker Northern Ireland Open, the fire teacher released water quite obviously in the second round against David Grace, deliberately losing the game, so as to put all his energy into the commentary work, this championship, O'Sullivan's fighting spirit is still in doubt, moreover, O'Sullivan and Zhao Xintong's personal relationship is very good, if O'Sullivan is not enough, then Zhao Xintong's chances of advancing to the top 4 will be greatly increased.
As for another Chinese snooker player, Fan Zhengyi, he will face the favorite Neil Robertson in the first round, which means that Fan Zhengyi will be out of the first round! Two other groups: Group 1, Trump Bressel, Mark Allen Joopery; Group 4, Selby Lee Walker, Higgins Wafi. Groups 2 and 3 are in the same half zone, and groups 1 and 4 are in the same half zone.