During an exciting quarter-final match at the 2024 Northern Ireland Open held on October 25, local time, Chinese player Pang Junxu showcased remarkable skill and resilience, defeating Australian star Neil Robertson in a thrilling comeback, where he scored a stunning 129 in the deciding frame to secure his spot in the semi-finals.
At just 24 years old, Pang Junxu is a rising talent in Chinese snooker. Currently ranked 27th in the world, he had a strong showing in this tournament. He made his way to the quarter-finals by first defeating compatriot Yuan Sijun in the opening round, where he scored a century and narrowly missed another. In the round of 32, he faced Belgian star Luca Brecel, who is ranked 6th globally. Pang played impressively, recording breaks of 63, 71, and 118, leading him to a convincing 4-1 victory. In the round of 16, despite only achieving one break over 50, he dominated world number 53 Martin O’Donnell with a clean 4-0 win, making him the only Chinese player to reach the top eight among the 17 participants from China in this tournament.
In the quarter-finals, facing a top-performing Neil Robertson, Pang quickly took an early lead. Robertson, however, struck back with a century in the second frame. The match remained closely contested, with Pang struggling with some uncharacteristic errors but managing to level the score at one point with an impressive break of 87. Tensions rose as the match reached a nail-biting climax with Pang trailing 3-4. However, he maintained his composure and delivered stellar performances, scoring 85 and then a phenomenal 129 in the final two frames, completing the comeback with a 5-4 victory.
Looking ahead, Pang Junxu will face world number 2, Kyren Wilson, in the semi-finals. Wilson advanced after eliminating world number 7, Mark Williams, in the quarter-finals. In the other semi-final, world number 1, Judd Trump, will take on world number 35, Elliot Slessor.
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