Champion of Champions 2022 snooker LIVE – Fan Zhengyi edges out Ryan Day in epic battle to reach semi-finals

Updated 01/11/2022 at 22:17 GMT

Welcome to Eurosport's live coverage of the Champion of Champions 2022 from Bolton with Fan Zhengyi overcoming Ryan Day 6-5 in an epic evening clash for a place in the semi-finals after both won their games. As is the format for this tournament, the winners of both matches met in the evening session to produce a player to progress from the group into the latter stages.

Allen closes out win over Robertson in Northern Ireland Open on re-spotted black

Thanks for joining us

We will be back at 12:45pm on Wednesday with Judd Trump facing Luca Brecel before Mark Allen meets Joe Perry in Group One. Should be another epic day in Bolton.

Champion of Champions

O'Sullivan waits to discover opening opponent in Champion of Champions title defence

09/11/2023 at 18:30

Day 5-6 Fan

Fan made breaks of 135, 130, 52, 68, 57 and 57 with Day rolling in 87, 72, 72 and 93. A spectacular match in which both men attacked throughout the contest.

Day 5-5 Fan (15-70)

And that is that. Day tried to play on for two snookers, but a black stays up and this match is over. Fan through to the semi-finals on Saturday. A terrific match.

Day 5-5 Fan (6-48)

Day so close to setting up the counter attack, but a difficult red fails to drop from distance and that might be the closing shot of the match for the British Open winner. Fan with table at his mercy.

Day 5-5 Fan (0-36)

Looks like he is playing an exhibition out there at times. Drops another delicate red into a centre pocket. And on he goes. Is Day's night over? Not quite as Fan fails to open up pack of reds.

Day 5-5 Fan (0-13)

Another scintillating long red from Fan early in this 11th frame. How do you like that? Day forced to digest the latest Fan surge. What will be the damage as another crisp long red beds itself down.

Day 4-5 Fan (93-35)

Fan couldn't see it out and Day races through the balls with a total clearance of 93. Superb from the Welshman. And we will have that decider.

Day 4-5 Fan (38-35)

Day drinking in last chance saloon, but he wallops him a lovely long red and has every chance of launching the counter attack. Average frame time under 13 minutes. Has been a fine old match to watch. Arguably deserves a decider.

Day 4-5 Fan (0-35)

And yet more poor tactical play by Day as he fails to get white back to baulk. Is that his last shot on this match? Looks perilously close to it. But fine cut on red doesn't go and on we go.

Day 4-5 Fan (0-11)

Another poor safety by Day and that could be so costly, but Fan can't land on black from potting red with the rest. Just a rare safety shot.

Day 4-4 Fan (0-96)

A 57 break that time from Fan. Are we heading for a third final-frame decider of the day? We'll soon find out.

Day 4-4 Fan (0-82)

This has been impressive from Fan. Great red to return to table from distance and he is doing what he does best. Potting balls for fun for a 5-4 advantage. One up with a possible two to play. Day needs them both. Slugging his water bottle with some room for thought.

Day 4-4 Fan (0-25)

Day tries to drop in a long red, but not quite there. And chance is left for Fan. Second bite at the cherry for Fan to lead 5-4 in race to six.

Day 4-4 Fan (0-11)

A thumping long ranger from Fan on a red never touched the sides. Looking to make amends for the shock of losing the eighth frame. Doesn't look too perturbed as he returns to scoring mode.

Day 3-4 Fan (72-57)

Fan could pay a heavy price for missing that blue. Day onto the colours and is suddenly favourite to restore parity at 4-4. Rattles the yellow in jaws with rest, but it dropped. Needs blue and pink to level up. And in they go. A recovery counter of 72 and that is 4-4. Magnificent from Dynamite.

Day 3-4 Fan (0-57)

Fluke by Fan on the black trying to run safe, but the Chinese player remains on the reds with a thrilling shot from distance. But he misses a blue to centre pocket on cusp of a 5-3 advantage. That could be a huge turning point.

Day 3-4 Fan (0-9)

Day has scored only 19 points since the interval with Fan compiling 130, 52 and 68 in a ferocious scoring spree. And he slots first red in this frame after a slack Day safety. Dangerous moments for Dynamite.

Day 3-3 Fan (0-75)

In goes a long red and that will be that. Day felt compelled to play on, but stays in his seat this time. A 4-3 lead for Fan.

Day 3-3 Fan (0-68)

Day in a daze at the moment. Fan needing red and black to post third straight frame on the scoreboard. Does what is needed and is moving towards a 4-3 lead.

Day 3-3 Fan (0-46)

Ryan with another untimely error trying to drop in a red to right centre. Underhits it and leaves easy opener for Fan. What is he going to do here? Chance to crack on again.

Day 3-2 Fan (19-66)

Another terrific cameo from Fan to punish Day's decline in this frame. Looks like we are heading for 3-3 in this pulsating contest. The mid-session has been good for Fan to redouble his efforts. A 52 break and Day has seen enough. It is 3-3.

Day 3-2 Fan (19-38)

Ryan throws his cue at longish red, but nowhere near the potting angle and there are a few reds in open for Fan to go to work on.

Day 3-2 Fan (18-14)

Day slips out of position early in his break in the sixth frame. Another rousing red to middle to gain access to the table. Safety is an afterthought out there at moment.

Day 3-1 Fan (0-130)

This is some thrilling play from Fan. Who says Chinese snooker is all about Zhao, Ding and Yan. Here comes Fan. A break of 130 this time and he is back to 3-2 behind in Bolton. What a level of play we are seeing here.

Day 3-1 Fan (0-44)

Fan first to the punch after the restart. Superb shot to slot blue and open up the pack of reds. They are all there for him now. Wow. What a response this is from the European Master.

Day 2-1 Fan (72-0)

A break of 72 and he is halfway to victory in this quarter-final. Work to be done by Fan when they emerge after a tea break.

Day 2-1 Fan (58-0)

Looks calm, composed and calculated. And this is an obvious chance for another big contribution. This is a very, very attractive match to watch.

Day 2-1 Fan (52-0)

A rapid run to 40 that also includes a three-minute break for a think. Anyway, it was time well spent as break reaches 46. Chance to move 3-1 clear right here, right now.

Day 2-1 Fan (20-0)

Day has always had the ability, but seems to have the confidence to back it up this weather. Playing some exquisite little shots in this fourth frame.

Day 1-1 Fan (79-1)

A concluding contribution of 46 from Day in the third frame and he puts it safely to bed for a 2-1 lead. Fan has seen enough. One more frame before the mid-session interval.

Day 1-1 Fan (49-1)

Another convincing mid-range red from the British Open champion hits the mark and he is back in business again.

Day 1-1 Fan (33-1)

Day looks like is out of position on 33. Attempts a red down table to yellow bag, but just eludes him. No damage done as he retreats to his massive leather chair.

Day 1-1 Fan (9-1)

Fair to say Ryan has his eye in out there. Considers the options before rolling a red down the table and into the green pocket. Brilliant stuff. And he is off and running again here.

Day 1-1 Fan (0-1)

Fluke from Fan at the outset of the third frame. Chance of black to yellow pocket, but he prefers the roll up to keep matters tight.

Day 1-1 Fan (0-0)

A 135 from Fan before an 87 from Day. Fair to say they are up to speed with the conditions.

Day 0-1 Fan (110-0)

No century this time as pink stays up, but a knock of 87 does the job every time. 1-1 in Bolton.

Day 0-1 Fan (110-0)

Chance here for Day to make his 419th career century in the second frame. Blistering level of play.

Day 0-1 Fan (82-0)

Some delightful free-flowing snooker from both men so far. Very impressive. Day on cusp of bringing this match level at 1-1.

Day 0-1 Fan (31-0)

Some glorious long reds from Day so far in this frame. And a terrific recovery pot on another red to green pocket. Chance to pile on the points at this visit.

Day 0-1 Fan (4-0)

Day needs to join the party out there otherwise he will be punished. Bangs in a long red early in the second frame. What can Dynamite offer in response?

Day 0-0 Fan (1-135)

In goes the century from Fan. This is proper break-building from the young Chinese man. Only his 14th career century. Showing genuine class and speed among balls. A 135 total clearance and he leads 1-0 in race to six. Magical shot-making.

Day 0-0 Fan (1-53)

Tremendous shot to career into the pack of reds via baulk and here is a real chance to win frame at this visit for Fan. The man with the plan at moment in this opening frame.

Day 0-0 Fan (1-32)

At 42, Day is double the age of his 21-year-old opponent. Will fatigue come into play? Who knows, but Fan is on the move here after Dynamite missed a blue off spot to green bag.

Day 0-0 Fan (1-0)

Day back in the arena less than an hour after despatching Kyren Wilson 4-3 in the deciding frame. These blokes meeting for the first time on tour.

Welcome back to Bolton

Okay. Almost ready to go with the second quarter-final or Group Three final. Depending on what you prefer. The British Open champion Day against the former European Masters holder Fan for a place in the semi-finals. Time to roll with it.

Ryan Day beats Kyren Wilson 4-3!

No ton, but Ryan won't mind that. His 86 was more than enough, and he'll take on Fan Zhengyi in 46 minutes from now; we'll be back with you in 31 minutes.

Wilson 3-3 Day (0-72)

In next to no time, Ryan has a red to middle that's match-ball, and he wallops it hame in short order. All that remains to be seen now is whether he can seal it with a ton.

Wilson 3-3 Day (0-52)

Kyren takes on a pot to the yellow pocket, misses, and leaves it. Ryan sees it away, smashes home the broon, and a red along the top rail brings him onto the black. But it's the second black that'll be key for off it into the pack he will go ... and he does it well! The winner here will be starting their quarter-final in 53 minutes - ouch - but these boys won't be thinking of that now. Ryan takes a moment to think, rattles into the pack again though he's got loose reds - he's on one, just, to left-middle, which he sinks. A black follows, the balls are scattered and, after all the work Kyren did to earn this frame, it looks for all the world like he wasted his time.

Wilson 3-3 Day

A slash, a handshake, and off we go.

Wilson 3-3 Day

A decider it is! I fancy Kyren's bottle here,. but Ryan is such a good potter that if he gets in, there's every chance he closes out.

Wilson 2-3 Day (68-41)

Kyren lays a snooker, white behind black, and when Ryan misses it's decided there's no free ball. He then escapes, Kyren sinks the final red, and puts him tighter to the black; he misses the yellow twice then leaves it, and we're about to enjoy our second decider of the afternoon.

Wilson 2-3 Day (48-41)

Kyren rams the yellow into its own pocket, but doesn't get the angle he's after so will have to double the final black ... he misses, but flukes the snooker, only for Ryan to escape and do likewise. Kyren then gets out of that, and the chase is on.

Wilson 2-3 Day (29-41)

Ryan's looking confident, but the loose reds are almost gone. He'll be able to pick at a few more, at which point he'll be a favourable split away from the last eight. But no! He misses a nasty one to right-middle, then Kyen takes on a fiendish cut-back from the side. He drains it, just - that is a shot - splits what remains of the cluster off the black, ad looks good for his decider!

Wilson 2-3 Day (12-9)

Ryan takes on a red to left corner, missses, and it doesn't come away from the pocket in the way he thought it was. So Kyren drains it, adds the broon and digs into the pack, and when it goes well, you can see him racking up a decent lead and earning a decider. Except when he pots the black, the white seems to gather pace off both top and side cushion, leaving him a taxing red to right corner; he botches it, and this is Ryan's chance!

Wilson 2-3 Day

Ryan gets in, misses a red, and concedes.

Wilson 1-3 Day (65-0)

Kyren leaves himself awkward on the black so has to send a red long to the green pocket; he misses it by a way, but 58 points is a decent lead, especially given how few reds are available. Ryan tries to develop one, then Kyren floats from centre to right corner - that's a fine pot and eight points off the table, likewise when he comes back, and this time he adds a blue. This frae is more or less done.

Wilson 1-3 Day (33-0)

Yes Kyren! He slams a red to left-middle - he's got serious bottle, rooted in serious self-belief - and quickly begins accumulating. He's not someone you expect to meekly subside when a frame away from defeat, but he's not got many loose reds left to pick at.

Wilson 1-3 Day

Kyren keeps missing crucial balls and Ryan is clearing them when he really needs to. He's one away!

Wilson 1-2 Day (41-52)

Kyren takes on a red to middle, hard, misses it, and develops the other one which Ryan drains. He doesn't get great position, but monsters home the pink, then cleans up the final red along the baulk cushion, and this is surely going to be 3-1!

Wilson 1-2 Day (41-42)

Kyren canons one of the two reds, but can't force it into pottable position. He's back in the frame, though, and plays a nice safety too. The next few minutes could go a long way towards deciding the match.

Wilson 1-2 Day (26-42)

Kyren leaves a clip to right corner and Ryan misses it by a fortnight, so Kyren comes to the table looking to filch back that which was taken from him. There are three reds near black cush that'll need working with, but again, he looks pretty decent at the table - and will until he misses.

Wilson 1-2 Day (7-42)

Bonus for Ryan as the pink has to be respotted above the black, but then a heavy contact on a red means a red doesn't go to left corner, and Kyren is back in a frame he must've feared lost.

Wilson 1-2 Day (3-7)

Again, Kyren gets in nicely, a red sent to right corner, but then following a yellow he misses another to the same location and Ryan will fancy himself to administer further punishment.

Today's schedule

13:00

Neil Robertson 3-4 Fan Zhengyi

14:00

Kyren Wilson 3-4 Ryan Day

19:00

Fan Zhengyi v Ryan Day

Yesterday's results

Mark Selby 4-0 Lee Walker

14:00

John Higgins 4-2 Hossein Vafaei

19:00

Mark Selby 6-4 John Higgins

Recap

Mark Selby defeated John Higgins 6-4 in their group final at the Champion of Champions on Monday night in Bolton.

Higgins reached the match with a 4-2 win over Hossein Vafaei, having creaked into gear with a century break in the winning frame, a hint that he had rediscovered some decent form.

Selby, who ahead of the match talked movingly about the passing of his father 23 years ago, is well off his best so far this season, but as a former world No. 1 he could not be counted out.

He had made his way to the group final with a 4-0 whitewash victory over Lee Walker.