Li upset Williams to reach China Championship semi-finals
By CGTN's Yan Yangchen
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China’s Li Hang upset Mark Williams in the quarter-finals of the WPBSA China Championships to record his career best in a ranking event.
By making the last eight, the 27-year-old Chinese had already gone farther in a ranking event than ever before in his career and hoped to take another big step into the semi-finals.
Williams finds his rhythm early and takes the opening frame. He then compiles a break of 56 in the second frame for a 2-0 lead.
Mark Williams, a Welsh professional snooker player / Tencent photo
Mark Williams, a Welsh professional snooker player / Tencent photo
Li would stall on 55 points in the third frame, and the Welshman goes on to clear the table and take it 56-55 to move within two frames of victory.
But Li isn't about to give up, and a break of 66 points in the fourth frame sees him cut the deficit to 3-1 before the interval.
After the break, the Chinese really comes into his own as he wins the next two frames to level the match at 3-3.
He then takes the crucial seventh frame for a 4-3 with a century break of 103. The eight frame becomes a safety battle early, and when Williams misses a key red, Li is able to take control and complete the comeback for a 5-3 victory that sees him into the semi-finals.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is stunned out of China Championship. / CFP Photo
Ronnie O’Sullivan is stunned out of China Championship. / CFP Photo
Favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on Luca Brecel of Belgium and the Englishman quickly goes up 4-1 up with breaks of 85 and 55.
But Brecel fights back and a break of 110 in the sixth frame makes it 4-2. O'Sullivan can't get to the reds after two attempts and Brecel seizes the opportunity for a 110-run to make it 4-3.
Luca Brecel of Belgium in China Champion / Chinanews Photo
Luca Brecel of Belgium in China Champion / Chinanews Photo
The five time world champion misses this bank shot in the eighth frame and Brecel would go on to level the match.
The final frame comes down to the colors and O'Sullivan misses a straightforward brown to allow Brecel to complete the comeback 5-4. The Belgian will face Li in the semi-finals.