PETALING JAYA: Thor Chuan Leong powered through to the Gdynia Open snooker championship fourth round in Poland after crushing China’s world No. 12 Ding Junhui 4-1.
The 27-year-old Malaysian was in his element against the former world No. 1 on Saturday, winning 65-14, 74-44, 14-63, 71-56 and 71-0 in the best-of-seven-frame clash.
It was Chuan Leong’s first-ever win over Junhui, a winner of 19 professional titles, as well as his biggest success over a top-ranked cueist since joining the pro circuit in 2014. The last time the two met at the 2013 Asian Indoor Games in South Korea, Chuan Leong lost 4-2 in the last 16.
Chuan Leong has now equalled his career best fourth-round appearance at the Paul Hunter Classic in Germany in August.
The world No. 102 opened his campaign in Poland with a 4-2 win over Phil O’Kane of England before edging Norway’s Kurt Maflin 4-3 in the second round.
The 2014 Asian champion will next meet Shanghai Masters champion Kyren Wilson of England for a place in the quarter-finals.
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