Snooker's 2026 Welsh Open delivered its first major shocker as 20-year-old Chinese sensation Jiang Jun toppled four-time world champion Mark Selby in a nail-biting 4-3 thriller! 🎉 The match had more twists than a K-drama finale, with Selby initially dominating before Jiang staged an epic comeback.
🔥 Selby fired up the crowd early with a 123-point break, but Jiang – who only turned pro in 2023 – showed ice-cold composure to level at 1-1. When the English star surged ahead 3-1 with a 137-point century break, it looked game over… until Jiang unleashed back-to-back breaks of 52 and 65 to force a decider!
🇨🇳 The victory sets up an all-Chinese second-round clash against Yuan Sijun, who survived his own seven-frame marathon against Belgium's Julien Leclercq. Meanwhile, compatriots Wu Yize and Pang Junxuan also advanced, keeping China's flag flying high at this year's tournament.
📈 This win marks Jiang's biggest career achievement to date, proving Gen-Z players are ready to challenge snooker's old guard. Next up? A showdown with 2024 World Championship runner-up Barry Hawkins awaits Pang Junxuan, while Wu Yize faces England's Joe O'Connor.
