Zhao, Ding tied 4–4 after first session

A Chinese derby headlined the last-16 round of the 2026 Snooker World Championship, with Zhao Xintong and Ding Junhui locked at 4–4 after the opening session.

Ding took the first frame before Zhao replied with a 64 break to square the match. Ding then compiled an 81 in the third to move back in front, but a costly error in frame four—conceding a free ball—allowed Zhao to respond with a 116 and tie the contest at 2–2 going into the mid-session interval.

After the break, Ding punished a Zhao mistake with an 80 break to lead 3–2. In frame six, Ding recovered from behind with a long-pot entry but missed a match-ball blue, and Zhao capitalised to level again. Zhao then turned frame seven around with another long pot, sealing it on the black for the lead. In frame eight, Zhao made 61, but Ding stepped in to clear and edged it by a single point to make it 4–4 at the end of the first session.

The second session is scheduled to begin at 21:30 Beijing time on April 25.