World Champion Zhao Xintong defeated Long Zehuang 5-4 in an all-Chinese second-round clash at the Snooker World Open in Shangrao, east China's Jiangxi Province, on Tuesday.

Zhao began the contest off a break of 95 points to take the first frame, but Long responded immediately with back-to-back breaks of 81 and 92 points in the second and third respectively, gaining the lead 2-1.

Zhao then fired a run of 92 in the fourth end to level the match before interval.

Long clinched the fifth frame that was built on enhanced defense by both sides, but Zhao launched counterstrike in the following two ends with two breaks of 93 and 139 points before jumping ahead 4-3.

Though Long kept the competition alive by winning the eighth frame, he failed to come back in the end as Zhao sealed the deal with his second century of the match.

The 28-year-old world champion will face Sam Craigie of England in the third round on Wednesday.