This week at the York Barbican Centre in England, 25-year-old Chinese mainland cueist Pang Junxu delivered the tournament’s biggest shock, toppling three-time world champion Mark Williams 6-3 in the round of 16 to secure his first-ever quarterfinal berth at the 2025 UK Championship.
Pang wasted no time, compiling heavy-scoring visits and holding firm even when Williams looked poised to fight back. The Welsh veteran responded with a sublime 112 break in frame five, but Pang answered emphatically, unleashing the event’s highest break—a 116—to close out the contest in style.
Next up for Pang is Neil Robertson, a three-time UK Championship winner in 2013, 2014 and 2020. Robertson overcame a rocky start against a Chinese mainland opponent, Wu Yize, who claimed the opening frame with a 62. The Australian then seized control, rattling off five straight frames with breaks of 51, 65, 75, 56 and 68 to finish 6-1.
As Pang gears up for his quarterfinal debut, the snooker world is abuzz with talk of a new contender on the rise. His combination of heavy scoring and composure under pressure has marked him as a player to watch, adding fresh excitement to the 2025 UK Championship.
Reference(s):
Pang surprises Williams to advance to quarterfinals at UK Championship
cgtn.com
