World Champion Wu Yize avoids early Shenzhen shocks in dramatic opening win

The opening sessions of the new £850,000 world ranking event in the Far East have thrown up several surprise results with star names departing, and Wu was close to joining that list on Tuesday.

Since becoming the second youngest-ever winner of snooker's blue riband tournament at the Crucible Theatre back in the spring, results haven't gone according to plan for 22-year-old Chinese cueman Wu.

In this his sixth competition outing of the 2026/27 top-flight term, Wu has yet to win more than back-to-back matches at an event. At the last Chinese stop - last month's Wuhan Open - Wu was stunned by Latvian youngster Artemijs Zizins in his opening match.

Wu started his latest assignment against qualifier Clarke very well, though, compiling breaks of 67, 143, and 88 to establish a commanding 3-0 lead.

However, two-time Crucible qualifier Clarke - who is back in the big time this season having topped the last Q Tour rankings - produced a four-frame burst of his own to turn the tables. The 31-year-old Welshman got on the scoreboard just before the mid-session interval with the aid of a 65 break, then registered further runs of 80, 59 and 85 in moving 4-3 up.

With his back against the wall, Wu fashioned his second ton of the tie with a 123 to force proceedings all the way. In a tense decider, it looked like Wu had got the job done as he left his opponent needing a snooker with four reds left. But Clarke battled back, successfully obtaining the penalty points he required, but Wu later breathed a huge sigh of relief by confirming the result his way.

Next up for Wu is a meeting with compatriot Xu Si in the last 32 on Wednesday. Although the last couple of months have not been great for him on the snooker circuit whilst wearing the world crown for the first time, Wu can take inspiration from the 2025 World Champion Zhao Xintong who endured a frustrating start to his global reign before going on to claim four titles that campaign, including an unprecedented clean sweep of Players Series accolades.

Higgins and Ding defeated as more top 16 stars suffer early on in Shenzhen

Wu managed to avoid an early exit, but the same can’t be said of world number one Zhao, and all three members of the ‘Class of 92’.

Zhao, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and number one seed Mark Williams were all eliminated on Monday, and John Higgins’ title hopes were extinguished on Tuesday as he was defeated 5-4 by world number 75 David Grace.

Four-time World Champion Higgins - who made breaks of 116 and 101 - led 2-0, and then battled back from 4-2 down - but it was former UK Championship semi-finalist Grace who claimed the decider to score his first win over 'The Wizard' at his sixth attempt. Grace constructed efforts of 60, 64, 93, 68 and 60 in the match.

Two more top 16 stars were sent packing later in the day as the round of 64 drew to a close, and they were both from the host nation.

Ricky Walden - who made breaks of 115 and 133 in consecutive frames - pipped Ding Junhui, 5-4, and Michael Holt denied Xiao Guodong by the same narrow scoreline.

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