2024 Xi'an Grand Prix Snooker: Judd Trump books China berth


The recently crowned Shanghai Masters champion - who has won seven career ranking titles in China - is scheduled to feature in the final rounds of the £850,000 tournament which take place at the main venue in the Far East between August 19-25.
Trump went 2-0 up on his Polish opponent, but 20-year-old Q School graduate Kowalski levelled up at 2-2 with the help of breaks of 50 and 52.
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However, Trump strung together three successive frames following the mid-session interval (breaks of 58 and 60 in frames five and seven respectively) to move into the last 64 where he is due to face Ma Hailong.
Elsewhere during Saturday's action, Shaun Murphy - runner-up to Trump last Sunday in Shanghai - registered runs of 75, 65, 72 and 57 during a 5-1 victory over Mitchell Mann.
There was a huge comeback triumph for Belgium’s Julien Leclercq as he recovered from 4-0 down to stun Ben Woollaston, 5-4.
Current Scottish and Welsh Open champion Gary Wilson ousted Long Zehuang 5-4 on the final black in the deciding frame having come back from 4-2 down. Wilson began his rally with a break of 108 in frame seven.
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Two-time ranking event winner Robert Milkins will play no further part in the competition, though, as he was defeated by world number 89 Dean Young, 5-3.
Jimmy White - starting his 45th consecutive season on the professional snooker circuit - was narrowly denied a trip to Xi'an as he was pipped by Si Jiahui in a deciding frame.
62-year-old White compiled a trio of 60 plus breaks and recovered from 3-1 and 4-3 down, but German Masters finalist Si went through with the ninth frame.
There were also victories for Anthony McGill, Noppon Saengkham, Mark Davis, Jimmy Robertson, Zhou Yuelong, Lyu Haotian, Stephen Maguire and Aaron Hill.
For the 2024 Xi’an Grand Prix draw and results, visit here.
The 2024 Wuhan Open begins on Sunday in Leicester. Once again, players in action need to win a match in order to qualify for the main venue stages in October.
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