Thriller: Zhang Anda stuns Zhao Xintong at China Open

At the China Open Billiards, a dramatic match took place when veteran player Zhang Anda (world number 19) defeated defending world champion Zhao Xintong (world number 3) with a score of 6-5 in a respotted black ball decider. The match saw Zhang Anda come back from 0-3 to lead 5-4, then Zhao leveled at 5-5 forcing a deciding frame. In the final frame, Zhang Anda led 57-0 but Zhao fought back fiercely to bring the match to a respotted black. Ultimately, Zhang Anda won on the respotted black, creating one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. The match took place in Shanxi, China, and was a round 1 match of a WST ranking event. Zhao Xintong, the 2026 world champion, was highly favored but fell early. He admitted: "I made too many mistakes and played too badly. I probably didn't deserve to win." Meanwhile, Zhang Anda expressed: "I was very nervous, but I stayed calm in the final black shot." In another match, John Higgins (ranked 5th) was also eliminated when he lost to Stuart Bingham 4-6. This shows the fierceness of the tournament as top players can all be beaten by underdogs. Zhang Anda will face Chris Wakelin in the next round, who beat Ben Woollaston 6-5. This is an opportunity for Zhang Anda to confirm his form after the big win. The match between Zhang Anda and Zhao Xintong was not only a huge professional upset but also a tense psychological battle. Zhang Anda proved he can beat top players when keeping his composure in crucial moments. However, letting go of a 57-0 lead in the deciding frame is a weakness he needs to improve. As for Zhao Xintong, being eliminated early in the first round of a tournament where he is the defending world champion is certainly a worrying signal. Although it is just one match, the psychological pressure of defending the title may be affecting his form. Is this a sign of a long-term decline or just an accident? The next tournaments will give us the answer. The China Open is taking place in Shanxi, with most of the world's top players participating. Two top-5 players being eliminated in the first round shows the increasing competitiveness of the world billiards scene, especially the rise of Chinese players.