Relaxed Zhou Yuelong eyes big breakthrough after China Open win over snooker legend

When snooker fans talk about the best players currently on the professional circuit who have yet to win a ranking event title, China’s Zhou Yuleong is near the top of most lists.

A former world amateur champion at the age of just 15, Zhou announced himself to the wider snooker-watching public at the 2015 World Cup when representing his country on home soil alongside Yan Bingtao.

The teenage duo wrote a fairy-tale story, going all the way to the final where they defeated Scottish pairing of John Higgins and Stephen Maguire to sensationally claim the title.

A professional player ever since his debut season in 2014/15, Zhou has yet to lift a top-flight trophy as an individual - although he has come very close, being a runner-up on four occasions.

Zhou - who is now 28-years-old - reached his maiden ranking final at the 2020 European Masters in Austria. However, it's probably an occasion he'd like to forget, as he was whitewashed 9-0 by Neil Robertson.

Just a month later, Zhou lost to Michael Holt in the one-frame Snooker Shoot Out.

In his last two title match outings, Zhou has been denied gold by Mark Allen. At the 2022 Northern Ireland Open, Zhou led 4-1 before watching home hero Allen string together eight consecutive frames to retain the trophy.

Last season at the English Open, Zhou suffered his sorest green baize heartbreak as he was pipped by Allen in a 9-8 deciding frame climax.

Zhou loving Taiyuan return, ‘believes’ he can win China Open crown

Having dipped in the world rankings in recent years as he hovered around the top 32 cut-off, Zhou has got himself back up to 22nd in the standings over the past 12 months.

And he’s got another chunk of prize money to be added to his total from the ongoing 2026 China Open after dispatching three-time World Champion Mark Williams, 6-3, on the opening day of the record-breaking £1.2 million+ ranking event in Taiyuan.

In a very high-quality round one affair, Zhou - who had already navigated two rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw - compiled a hat-trick of century breaks (133, 115, 134) and further efforts of 81 and 79 in a very impressive victory.

Talking with the World Snooker Tour after reaching the last 16, Zhou said he ‘felt great’. Whilst Taiyuan is a new city for top-flight snooker, he explained that he’d been there earlier this year to play in a national team event.

A relaxed Zhou enjoyed fantastic support in the arena, saying: “A couple of months before, I played in the CBSA (Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association) China Club Championship, so it's like my half town. The fans give me a lot of emotion.

“I have a lot of friends here so I'm quite enjoying, so after tournament I can meet friends so I'm like no pressure.”

With his plethora of sizeable breaks in such a big tournament, Zhou acknowledged it was one of the best matches he’d ever played in (Williams also made three breaks over 70, and a 53), and that this could be his breakthrough term: “Yes, I’m looking for, I want to keep this feeling to every single match, so, yeah, hopefully I can win one.”

Asked whether his maiden trophy could come at the China Open in the coming days, Zhou added: “Yes, I always want to believe in myself, so, yeah.”

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 China Open, visit our tournament information centre here.