On October 23, the second round of the 2024 Northern Ireland Snooker Open concluded, marking a significant milestone as all 16 competitors were determined. Among them, four Chinese players—Tian Pengfei, Pang Junxu, Lei Peifan, and Ma Hailong—secured their spots in the next round.
Tian Pengfei, a seasoned veteran, led the charge by advancing from the previous day’s matches. On the fourth day of the tournament, five Chinese players were in action. Ma Hailong delivered an impressive performance, upsetting world number 11 Ali Carter in the first round. Despite a shaky start with a 0-1 deficit, he rallied back with breaks of 137, 51, and 72, winning four consecutive frames to defeat world number 22 Chris Wakelin with a score of 4-1.
Similarly, Lei Peifan found himself down a frame but executed a remarkable comeback. He showcased a series of strong breaks to overcome world number 17 Tom Ford, claiming his match 4-1.
Pang Junxu also shone on this day; facing off against world number 6, Belgian player Luca Brecel, he produced breaks of 63, 71, and 118 to secure a convincing 4-1 victory and move on to the next stage.
Unfortunately, rising star Wang Yuchen from Hong Kong, who had previously stunned higher-ranked opponents, was unable to maintain his momentum. He fell to world number 16 Neil Robertson in the second round, losing 4-0. Another Chinese contender, Long Zehuang, lost his match 2-4 to world number 35 Elliott Slessor, eliminating him from the competition.
With all 16 players now established, the Chinese contingent includes Tian Pengfei, Pang Junxu, Lei Peifan, and Ma Hailong. Looking ahead, Pang Junxu will face Martin O’Donnell, currently ranked 53rd, while Ma Hailong takes on seventh-ranked Mark Williams. Lei Peifan is set to compete against Elliott Slessor, who eliminated Long Zehuang. Additionally, Tian Pengfei, ranked 56th, will go up against world number 71, Louis Heathcote.
