International Championship

Notable win that for Jackson Page over Pang Junxu who has been in great form just recently. It's a real feather in the cap for the Welshman.
A really interesting last eight line up now too.

If Kyren gets through, he might be favourite for more gold.

Chris Wakelin is putting together a decent season so far too it must be said.
Progression in quite a few events already so some consistency is developing in his game.

Although I was watching the Higgins v Wakelin match to swoon at referee Queenie Wu, I flicked over to watch the Guodong v Page match between frames and Guodong was playing like granite, always putting balls on cushions and playing good safety shots. Granite Jr Guodong won 6-4. Granite Sr Higgins was putting Wakelin in all sorts of trouble, and preventing him from getting high breaks, but Wakelin still managed to win 6-5. Higgins started off the decider with a break of 24, but Wakelin finished it with a decisive break of 62.

Ding made 2 successive centuries of 129 and 123 from 4-4 with Kyren to win 6-4. Gary Wilson also made 2 successive centuries to go 5-3 up against Xu Si, but Xu took the last 3 frames with frame winning breaks to win 6-5.

Semi Finals:
Chris Wakelin v Xiao Guodong
Ding Jinhui v Xu Si
There's a place in next week's Champion of Champions if anyone but Xiao wins, as Xiao has already qualified.
Another successful tournament for the Chinese with 3 of the last 4 players.

(06-11-2024 22:39 )Doddle Wrote:  If Kyren gets through, he might be favourite for more gold.

There I go again

That line about Ding not having won since 2019 looks like it will be part of this weekend's storyline (but all credit to Xu on being the surprise semi-finalist this time).

He's done it! Chris Wakelin with a decisive break of 67 in the decider beats Xiao Guodong 9-8!

Wakelin was just as granite as Guodong in taking an 8-5 lead in a very tactical match. Then Wakelin started to miss a few shots he would have potted earlier and Granite Guodong took full advantage to level to 8-8. It looked like Wakelin was never going to get there until Guodong, on a break of 15 in the decider, missed the yellow with the rest and Wakelin put an end to the proceedings.

Whoever wins the International Championship now will play in next week's Champion of Champions. Ding v Xu is on tomorrow with the final on Sunday.

Wakelin held himself together well in that deciding frame. He needs to produce another good performance to claim the title though.

I dread to think what nickname he gets lumbered with. I read he was a delivery driver, but they already do that shtick with Big Bob Milkins. As his name is so close to "Weakling" maybe he should be relieved he's not a boxer or wrestler or etc Be top 16 at the UK Championship, though.

Bad luck to Xiao, though, but he's having a good season anyway.

Xu Si started like a house on fire with 2 centuries in the first 3 frames and taking a 5-3 lead in the 1st session. In the 2nd session Xu was feeling the pressure and making too many unforced errors. Ding, by keeping his head and playing solid was able to forge an 8-6 lead. In the 15th frame Ding put together a well worked 58 break working, mainly on the baulk colours, which proved enough to give him a 9-6 victory.

The International Championship is the cutoff point for the UK Championship. Xiao Guodong and Chris Wakelin are in the top 16 at the expense of Jak Jones and Neil Robertson, which unfortunately means Robertson and Jones now have to qualify for the UK Championship.

(07-11-2024 22:18 )Doddle Wrote:  That line about Ding not having won since 2019 looks like it will be part of this weekend's storyline (but all credit to Xu on being the surprise semi-finalist this time).

Yup, he must be a runaway favourite, and his victory will reinforce the pundit myth that he's a future world champion etc