Snooker: 4-hour thriller at the China Open - Big disappointment for young prodigy

Ireland's young snooker prodigy Aaron Hill and world rank #7 Kyren Wilson took the crowd the distance at the China Open 1st round on Monday. Lasting over 4 hours, the match finally ended in disappointment for the young challenger, as Wilson prevailed in an 11th frame decider.

Hill was already looking like securing an unlikely 6-5 victory with a break of 51. However, an unfortunate white ball scuppered his attempt, as it rolled into the middle pocket after potting the brown.

It's a date with three-time world champion Mark Selby for Wilson in round two. The "Jester from Leicester" defeated China's own Pang Junxu 6-3, showing no signs of a new cue for this season bothering him too much.

In the morning matches Neil Robertson disposed Chang Bingyu convincingly, finishing the match 6-3. China's Si Jiahui was even more dominant winning 6-0, although his compatriot Jiang Jun most likely wasn't quite as tough as the Aussie will be in their 2nd round bout.

"The thunder from Down Under" could steal Judd Trump's world number 1 spot with a victory here, after Trump suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Noppon Saengkham yesterday. It would be the first time the Aussie holds the top spot of snooker for over 11 years.

- Getting to number 1 in the world isn't a particular goal of mine. Judd's been so far ahead for so long that others haven't really been going for it. However if it's on offer, I'm going to try, Robertson told WST.

Below you can find the results from the 1st round of the China Open.













Source: WST