International Championship snooker 2023 final as it happened - Zhang Anda takes title after stunning win over Tom Ford
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ByEurosport
Updated 12/11/2023 at 15:05 GMT
Welcome to Eurosport's live text coverage of the International Championship final from Tianjin as Tom Ford and Zhang Anda face off in the second session. Ford beat Jordan Brown in the first semi-final while home favourite Zhang overcame seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. Both men are eyeing a first ranking event title. Zhang fired a magnificent 147 in the first session.
'Take a bow!' - Zhang knocks in superlative 147 in International Championship final v Ford
That's all for today
Thank you for joining us as the curtain gets brought down on a thoroughly entertaining week of snooker in Tianjin, where Zhang Anda has delighted the home crowd by landing the International Championship title.
We will have more action for you very soon and a reminder that you can stream live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.
Our champion
The crowd go wild as Zhang is officially crowned the winner of the 2023 International Championship.
Just to recap, the maximum man takes home a cheque for £175,000 and secures a place in next week's Champion of Champions.
Our runner-up
Although he will be disappointed with the way it ended, it has been a week of many positives for Ford.
Not only does he pick up a cheque for £75,000, but he has also climbed into the world's top 16 for the first time and guaranteed seeding for the UK Championship later this month.
Presentation time
We are getting set up for the presentation in Tianjin, with both players set to receive their cheques and, more importantly for Zhang, the trophy.
The joy of six
Zhang becomes the sixth Chinese player to win a ranking event. As well as the top prize of £175,000, he books his place in next week's Champion of Champions. There, he will play a certain Ronnie O'Sullivan on Wednesday.
CHAMPION
He's done it! Zhang Anda raises the roof in Tianjin as he clears to the pink to seal a 10-6 victory over Tom Ford.
The crowd go wild as the home favourite lands the first ranking title of his career.
Ford 6-9 Zhang (51-46)
Zhang is on 46 and counting as he gets down to the final red. Victory is in his sight, but he must hold himself together.
Ford 6-9 Zhang (51-9)
The Leicester cueman cannot fully capitalise as he misses a black to the left corner. He shuts his eyes in disbelief as he returns to his seat. The balls are positioned nicely for Zhang to counter here.
Ford 6-9 Zhang (36-0)
Ford appears to be building momentum. He picks out a brilliant opening red to the left centre and is looking calm in the balls here.
Ford 6-9 Zhang
Zhang is unlucky to go in-off while potting a thin black during a potential counter. A relieved Ford sees out the frame to keep his hopes alive.
Ford 5-9 Zhang (55-0)
A good response from Ford, who takes control with a run of 55 before missing a long red to the top right corner. Can Zhang counter, though?
Ford 5-9 Zhang
The Chinese swiftly clears to the blue and needs just one more frame for victory.
Ford 5-8 Zhang (36-42)
The Leicester cueman misses a long pink to the top left corner. The frame now appears to be at Zhang's mercy.
Ford 5-8 Zhang (27-33)
Ford is in with a chance to cut the deficit. He knows he cannot afford to let any opportunities slip from here on in.
Ford 5-8 Zhang (12-32)
Zhang has an opportunity to press home his advantage, but misses a thin red along the top rail.
Ford 5-8 Zhang (12-10)
It has understandably been a cagey start to this frame. It is a big one for both players. Zhang could move to the brink of victory, while Ford could boost his hopes of a fightback.
The boys are back
The players return for the final time to play through to an exciting finish. Remember, the winner pockets a cheque for £175,000.
Mid-session
The break has probably come at a good time for Ford, who must hit the ground running when this contest resumes to stand any chance of turning this deficit around.
As for Zhang, the finish line is almost in sight. But he will be well aware that he led 7-3 against Judd Trump in last month's English Open final, before eventually losing 9-7.
Ford 5-8 Zhang
The home favourite takes full advantage again. A wonderful 108 clearance gives him his third century of the final. More importantly, it moves him just two frames away from that maiden ranking title.
Ford 5-7 Zhang (6-18)
Ford's attempted split from the blue does not go to plan and he misses a red to the left centre. Zhang is back at the table with a chance to take a huge stride towards victory.
Ford 5-7 Zhang (1-17)
Zhang is in first again in frame 13 after neatly cutting a red into the right corner, but a loose safety sees Ford knock in a mid-range red. Can he make the most of this chance?
Ford 5-7 Zhang
Another opportunity for Zhang and, this time, he makes no mistake. A further run of 65 sees him move two frames clear for the first time in this final. Will he press on or can Ford respond?
Ford 5-6 Zhang (0-34)
Zhang takes early command of the 12th frame with a run of 34 before running out of position. He subsequently plays safe and will wait for another opportunity to present itself.
Ford 5-6 Zhang
The home favourite neatly clears with 71 to edge his nose back in front in this final. There is very little to separate these players.
Ford 5-5 Zhang (36-49)
Ford catches the jaws of the right centre with his attempted safety. That opens the door for Zhang, who has a good opportunity to close this frame out.
Ford 5-5 Zhang (36-29)
After brilliantly cutting a red into the right centre, Zhang cuts the deficit to seven points before he is forced to play safe. There are six reds remaining.
Ford 5-5 Zhang (36-8)
No, he cannot. The Leicester cueist misses a red to the right corner with the rest. There is still plenty of mileage in this frame.
Ford 5-5 Zhang (28-8)
Ford has a decent chance in frame 11. Can he capitalise and edge his nose in front?
Ford 5-5 Zhang
The two-time ranking finalist makes no mistake with a brilliant 91 clearance squaring things up in the final.
Ford 4-5 Zhang (49-5)
Ford is back in after Zhang misses a long red to the right corner. He subsequently sinks a red to the left centre and this is a great chance to level.
Ford 4-5 Zhang (33-5)
The Leicester cueman builds an early lead, but things have gone a bit scrappy and cagey once again.
Ford 4-5 Zhang (21-4)
Following a scrappy start to the frame, Ford has the first decent opportunity of the 10th frame. What can he make of this?
Back under way
The players return to the arena and Ford breaks off for the final session of this year's tournament.
Who will prevail today?
Added incentive
As well as the top prize of £175,000, victory will see one of these players claim the first ranking title of their careers.
Whoever prevails will also snap up the last remaining spot in next week's Champion of Champions.
Welcome back
Hello again everyone and thank you for re-joining us ahead of the climax to this year's International Championship.
Maximum man Zhang Anda is 5-4 to the good against Tom Ford. The first to 10 frames will be crowned the champion.
‘Take a bow!’ - Zhang fires magnificent 147 in first session
Zhang Anda leads Tom Ford 5-4 after a close first session of the International Championship final and enjoyed a special moment in front of his home crowd when he knocked in a sensational 147 break.
After conceding the opening frame, Zhang fought back to level the tie before meticulously clearing the table with a maximum break to take the lead.
Zhang headed for the interval in control after a ninth-frame century gave him the lead to take into Sunday’s second session, but it was a sensational third frame that stole the show.
“Take a bow, Zhang Anda!” Eurosport commentator Alan McManus said when the 31-year-old concluded his stunning clearance. “A magnificent 147 maximum break!"
Read more here
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'Take a bow!' - Zhang knocks in superlative 147 in International Championship final v Ford
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