China’s Zhang Anda holds a slender 5-4 lead over Tom Ford ahead of this evening’s concluding session of the International Championship in Tianjin.
Both players are seeking what would be a momentous maiden ranking event victory. Zhang came agonisingly close to silverware earlier this season when he led Judd Trump 7-3 in the English Open final, but lost out 9-7. Ford was runner-up in the German Masters back at the start of the year, when he succumbed to a heavy 10-3 defeat at the hands of Ali Carter in Berlin.
The winner this evening will pick up a top prize of £175,000 and will also earn a spot to face world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan in next week’s Champion of Champions. Ford has already ensured he will move into the world’s top 16 and secure an automatic place at the upcoming MrQ UK Championship, while Zhang needs to win if he is qualify at the expense of compatriot Ding Junhui.
It was Englishman Ford who took the opener this afternoon with a break of 63, but Zhang hit back with 57 in the second to restore parity. The home hero then took the lead with a moment of magic, firing in the second 147 break of his career to lead 2-1. The last frame before the interval saw Ford respond with 93 to get himself back level at 2-2.
When play resumed they traded frames, before Ford claimed a 30-minute seventh by a single point to go 4-3 up. However, it was Zhang who ended strongest, composing breaks of 86 and 101 to take the last two frames of the session and end 5-4 ahead.
They will return at 7:30pm (CST) to play this best of 19 encounter to a conclusion.
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