English Open Quarterfinal Preview: Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong in Same Half, Could Meet in All-Chinese Semifinal

At 20:00 Beijing time on September 11, the 2026 Snooker English Open quarterfinals will begin. The two upper-half matches will start at the same time, with Ding Junhui facing Kyren Wilson and Zhou Yuelong taking on Ali Carter.

Only these two Chinese players remain in the tournament, and the draw has created a key storyline: if Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong both win their quarterfinal matches, they will meet in the semifinals, meaning the upper-half final spot will definitely belong to a Chinese player.

According to the draw, Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong are both in the upper half, and the semifinal will be contested by the winners of these two quarterfinal matches.

If both Chinese players advance, the semifinal will feature an all-Chinese matchup, and whoever wins will reach the final of this English Open.

For Chinese snooker, this is a rare opportunity. However, both players must first overcome their strong opponents.

Ding Junhui's opponent is Kyren Wilson. Wilson defeated Selby in a deciding frame in the previous round after a long battle and is in strong form.

Wilson is skilled at prolonged safety battles, and the more closely contested the frame, the better he is at capitalizing on opponents' mistakes to complete comebacks.

Ding Junhui defeated Joe O'Connor 4-1 in the previous round, ending a two-match losing streak against him and showing improved form. To win, Ding must make a steady start, reduce simple errors, and avoid being dragged into a lengthy defensive battle.

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In the other match, Zhou Yuelong will face veteran Ali Carter. Carter has extensive major-event experience, is balanced in attack and defense, and is known for playing steadily while waiting for opponents to make mistakes.

Zhou Yuelong came back from 1-2 down in the last-16 Chinese derby match and produced the tournament's highest break of 141, showing powerful attacking ability. The two players have had mixed results in previous meetings. Zhou holds the psychological advantage of two consecutive wins, but he cannot underestimate the veteran's defensive skills.

For Zhou Yuelong to win, he needs to maintain his long-potting accuracy, avoid becoming impatient, and seize opportunities to finish frames with decisive breaks.

These two quarterfinal matches are crucial and will determine whether Chinese snooker can hold the upper half of the draw.

The two opponents have different styles, testing Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong's in-match adjustments and ability to handle pressure.

As long as both players win, the semifinals will feature an all-Chinese matchup and secure a final place in advance. However, both opponents are highly capable, and every frame will require full focus to reach the semifinals.

The two matches tonight have drawn significant attention from Chinese fans.

Fans hope Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong can each defeat their strong opponents, reach the semifinals, and continue their push toward the final.

Such an opportunity is extremely rare, especially in overseas competitions.

With many younger players eliminated, Ding Junhui stepped forward and provided stability for the Chinese team, delivering an impressive performance.