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Lines stuns Zhao in English Open first round
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Published
Oliver Lines stunned Zhao Xintong with a 4-2 win over the world number one in the first round of the English Open.
China’s Zhao, the 2025 world champion, made two century breaks as the tie was level at 2-2 following the first four frames.
But England’s Lines, 31, compiled breaks of 77 and 84 to win the next two frames and set up a last-32 meeting with Yuan Sijun in Brentwood.
“You know you have to raise your game,” said Lines.
“You try not to think about it, but you know if you don’t play somewhere near your best then you are going home.”
Elsewhere, world number four Neil Robertson was beaten 4-3 by China’s Luo Zetao.
But former world champion Kyren Wilson beat Poland’s Mateusz Baranowski 4-1 and China’s three-time UK Championship winner Ding Junhui sealed a 4-3 win over Michael Holt.
