"I just think I'm the lucky one": Zhao continues amazing winning streak at Welsh Open

It’s hard to argue against reigning World Champion Zhao being the best player in the world at the moment following back-to-back title victories at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong and the Players Championship in Telford earlier this month.

Should he lift The Ray Reardon Trophy later this week at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Zhao would join an elite club of players who have won three ranking titles in-a-row. That membership currently consists of Ray Reardon, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ding Junhui, and Judd Trump.

The 28-year-old was involved in a brilliant match with world number 62 Fan on Tuesday afternoon during which there were three century breaks, and at least a run of 53 in the other four frames.

Efforts of 65, 132 and 111 - those centuries coming in consecutive frames - helped put Crucible king Zhao 3-1 up, however, former European Masters winner Fan restored parity, forcing a deciding frame after breaks of 53 and 115.

Fan got in first in the final frame but it was Zhao who took it with a decisive contribution of 71.

That is now ten consecutive match victories on the World Snooker Tour for world number five Zhao - five of those have been via a deciding frame finish.

Speaking to BBC Sport Wales after the match, Zhao was happy with the way he closed out the match, but feels he has been fortunate during his recent run, although believes he has more confidence now.

"I'm very happy I can win because my opponent Fan he played very good, long potting today. Last frame I have big pressure, but I play well in the last frame.

"I just think I'm the lucky one because I play not really, really well but I got the trophy!

"I think I've gone up, because like before if I play like Mark, John, Ronnie, (Williams, Higgins, O’Sullivan) when I have 1-3 down, 2-4 down, I think 'game over'. But now, I just think, 'yes I can come back and maybe I can do much better' - so I have confidence now”.

After such a quick turnaround from the Players Championship that he won less than 48 hours before, Zhao could have been forgiven for withdrawing from this week’s Welsh Open, but Asia’s first world professional snooker champion is relishing being on the baize, saying: "I like to enjoy the snooker table. I just want to enjoy every tournament. I just want to keep going and be myself and just try to enjoy every frame on the table”.

Young cueists advance in Llandudno

Zhao will meet English teenager Stan Moody in the last 32 after the youngster whitewashed former European Masters champion Jimmy Robertson.

The 19-year-old made breaks of 52 and 67 before wrapping up victory with a 107.

Moody is up to 48th in the world rankings and appeared in his first two ranking event quarter-finals earlier this season at the Wuhan and British Opens.

Another English youngster having a good run is 20-year-old Liam Pullen - a player Moody grew up with in the junior ranks.

Pullen made breaks of 100 and 107 en route to ousting world number 13 Chris Wakelin, 4-3. Pullen - who meets Zhang Anda next up - also broke new personal ground a few months ago in reaching the last eight of the Xi'an Grand Prix.

Defeat for Wakelin - winner of the Scottish Open just before Christmas - means he can no longer scoop the £150,000 bonus on offer for the Home Nations Series order of merit race.

Two players still in with a shout of that jackpot prize are Jack Lisowski and Zhou Yuelong after they won their opening assignments.

Hungarian teenager Bulcsu Revesz recorded one of his best wins on tour as he pipped four-time ranking event winner Ryan Day, 4-3. The 19-year-old will face John Higgins in the next round.

It was a day of power scoring for some in North Wales; following Chang Bingyu's sensational performance against Shaun Murphy in the morning session, winner of the title here two years ago Gary Wilson got in on the act with runs of 93, 135, 118 and 119 during his 4-0 success over Amir Sarkhosh.

World number two Kyren Wilson racked up efforts of 65, 65, 100 and 75 in eliminating Liu Hongyu, 4-1, and Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong squeezed past Long Zehuang, 4-3, in an all-Chinese affair.

Jackson Page - who believes this tournament should be held in the south of the country - made it four Welsh players through to the last 32 of their home professional after dismissing former world champion Luca Brecel, 4-0, gaining some revenge for losing to him in the quarter-finals here last year.

David Gilbert, Sam Craigie, and Stuart Bingham were the other winners from Tuesday's action.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Welsh Open, visit here.