Zhang Anda made a mockery of criticism of the desk situations on the UK Championship in York by rifling his third profession 147 break within the fourth body of his first spherical match towards Lei Peifan.
The world quantity 11 had beforehand made maximums within the ultimate of final 12 months’s Worldwide Championship, and in qualifying for the European Masters in 2022.
And it ensures the Chinese language participant not less than a share of the match’s £15,000 highest break prize, eclipsing the 146 achieved by compatriot Zhao Xintong within the qualifying rounds.
Zhang’s show got here a matter of hours after Judd Trump and Neil Robertson slammed taking part in situations on the Barbican Centre following Trump’s 6-3 win of their high-profile first spherical conflict.
Trump struggled desperately by means of the opening phases earlier than belatedly discovering his vary to reel off 5 straight frames and maintain alive his hopes of successful his first UK title since 2011.
Requested in his post-match interview in the event that they have been the worst situations by which he had performed, Trump stated: “I’ve performed in some unhealthy situations, however that was shut.
“It’s disappointing because it appears to be the larger occasions. It was very heavy on a regular basis. I’ve all the time struggled right here as a result of the tables are so heavy.
“Hopefully they’ll change them. All of the gamers have been struggling – hopefully they’ll do one thing about it.”
Robertson, who made himself a heavy favorite to progress into the final 16 earlier than a missed crimson on the cusp of extending his result in 4-1 modified the course of the match, was equally scathing of the atmosphere.
“That was as robust as I’d ever performed on,” stated the Australian, a former three-time winner. “It was as unplayable because it will get in skilled situations. Being such a tricky sport anyway it may well make both participant look silly.”
Robertson had come by means of two qualifying matches in Leicester to return to the ultimate phases of a match he final received in 2020 when he beat Trump on the pink in a last-frame decider.
The 42-year-old, world champion in 2010, took the opening body earlier than the referee signalled for the gamers to go off after somebody within the crowd on the Barbican wanted help.
Shortly afterwards, followers have been advised to make their means out, because the particular person acquired remedy. Following a delay of round quarter-hour, the motion resumed, with Robertson extending his lead, then sealing the final body earlier than the interval with a high quality 107 clearance.
On the opposite desk, veteran John Higgins rolled again the years as he accomplished a 6-0 whitewash of China’s He Guoqiang, who was making his Barbican debut.
Scotsman Higgins, a four-time world champion, signalled his intent with early breaks of 110 and 92 earlier than additional extending his benefit into the interval. Two extra half-century runs noticed the 49-year-old comfortably into the final 16.
“I’m very happy. The primary two frames I knew it might be a tricky sport for him,” Higgins advised BBC Sport.
“It’s a nice environment, I used to be nervous as properly, however I obtained off to a good begin and I simply put the strain on him.
“Once I play like that, I really feel like I’m a match for anybody.”
