Shenzhen Open Last 32 Draw Set After Major Seeds Fall
Five major names are out, Chris Wakelin fired three straight centuries, and Judd Trump has a walkover into the last 16.
The Shenzhen Open last 32 was confirmed after Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Ding Junhui all failed to survive the held-over round-of-64 matches. Judd Trump moved in the opposite direction, winning 5-0 and receiving a walkover into the last 16 after Anthony McGill withdrew.
Which leading players missed the Shenzhen Open last 32?
Five of the sport's most recognizable names were removed before the main draw settled into its final 32-player shape. Four of those defeats went all the way to a deciding frame, which gave the opening phase a much tighter feel than the list of eliminated stars might suggest.
Zhao Xintong lost 5-4 to Scott Donaldson in front of his home crowd. The result continued a difficult spell for the world number one, who had also suffered an early defeat to Oliver Lines at the English Open. Donaldson now faces Pang Junxu.
Mark Williams also fell 5-4, losing to Fan Zhengyi. The Shenzhen Open is technically a new tournament, but Williams entered with defending-champion status because it directly replaced the Xi'an Grand Prix, which he won in 2025. Fan's next opponent is Yuan Sijun.
John Higgins was edged 5-4 by David Grace, while Ding Junhui lost by the same score to Ricky Walden. Ding's exit carries an added ranking concern because his provisional position in the race to the UK Championship is outside the top 16.
Ronnie O'Sullivan was the only member of that group to lose without reaching a decider. Jiang Jun beat the seven-time world champion 5-2 and advanced to a last-32 meeting with Zak Surety.
| Eliminated player | Opponent | Score | Opponent's next match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhao Xintong | Scott Donaldson | 4-5 | vs Pang Junxu |
| Mark Williams | Fan Zhengyi | 4-5 | vs Yuan Sijun |
| John Higgins | David Grace | 4-5 | vs Stephen Maguire |
| Ding Junhui | Ricky Walden | 4-5 | vs Ali Carter |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | Jiang Jun | 2-5 | vs Zak Surety |
Who produced the best performance before the last 32?
Chris Wakelin supplied the heaviest sustained scoring of the opening exchanges. He compiled three consecutive century breaks during a 5-3 victory over rising Welsh player Liam Davies.
Three centuries in succession can change the tone of a short match in minutes. Wakelin's scoring removed the possibility of Davies building momentum through tactical frames and earned him a meeting with former world champion Stuart Bingham.
Judd Trump's 5-0 win over Huang Jiahao was even more decisive on the scoreboard. Shaun Murphy also progressed comfortably, beating Marco Fu 5-1.
World champion Wu Yize had a much harder passage. He survived a nine-frame contest against Jamie Clarke and took the decider for a 5-4 victory. Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, Barry Hawkins, Si Jiahui and Michael Holt were among the other established names to advance.
Why is Judd Trump already through to the last 16?
Trump defeated Huang Jiahao 5-0, then learned that Anthony McGill had withdrawn for medical reasons. The withdrawal gives Trump a walkover in the round of 32 and sends him directly into the last 16.
That creates a useful gap in Trump's schedule while the rest of the field contests another best-of-nine match. It also makes him the clear reference point in the draw after Zhao, Williams, O'Sullivan and Higgins were eliminated.
Trump entered the tournament among the leading contenders for the £177,000 winner's prize. A clean opening performance and one fewer match to play have strengthened that position, although the tournament remains packed with former world champions and dangerous lower-ranked opponents.
What is the complete Shenzhen Open last 32 draw?
The round of 32 uses a best-of-nine format, so the first player to win five frames advances. The confirmed matchups are:
| Last-32 match | Last-32 match |
|---|---|
| Fan Zhengyi vs Yuan Sijun | Jiang Jun vs Zak Surety |
| Thepchaiya Un-Nooh vs Michael Holt | David Gilbert vs Kyren Wilson |
| Scott Donaldson vs Pang Junxu | Ben Mertens vs Jimmy Robertson |
| Stuart Bingham vs Chris Wakelin | Lei Peifan vs Neil Robertson |
| Judd Trump w/o Anthony McGill | Si Jiahui vs Gary Wilson |
| Jackson Page vs Mark Selby | Stephen Maguire vs David Grace |
| Shaun Murphy vs Hossein Vafaei | Barry Hawkins vs Elliot Slessor |
| Ali Carter vs Ricky Walden | Xu Si vs Wu Yize |
Several pairings offer a clear contrast in style. Bingham against Wakelin matches a proven champion with the player who produced the best scoring burst of the opening round. Murphy versus Hossein Vafaei carries attacking potential on both sides. Xu Si against Wu Yize guarantees another Chinese player in the last 16.
The bottom quarter also deserves attention. Ali Carter meets the player who eliminated Ding, while Barry Hawkins faces Elliot Slessor. Neither match offers much room for a slow start in a race to five.
What did the early exits change in the title race?
The draw has lost experience, local star power and the world number one at the same time. That doesn't make the remaining path easy, but it does redistribute pressure across players who may not have expected such an open bracket.
Donaldson, Fan, Grace, Walden and Jiang arrive in the last 32 after defeating decorated opponents. Each now has evidence that he can handle a close match or a high-profile occasion in Shenzhen.
For the surviving seeds, the message is equally plain. Reputation offered little protection during the held-over matches. Wu needed all nine frames, while Trump and Murphy advanced with room to spare. The next round will show which route provided the better preparation.
Who is the favorite after the Shenzhen Open last 32 was confirmed?
Judd Trump became the leading favorite after Zhao Xintong's exit, a 5-0 opening win and a walkover into the last 16.
Who beat Zhao Xintong at the 2026 Shenzhen Open?
Scott Donaldson defeated Zhao Xintong 5-4 and advanced to face Pang Junxu.
Why did Judd Trump receive a walkover?
Anthony McGill withdrew for medical reasons, so Trump advanced from the round of 32 without playing another match.
What format is used in the Shenzhen Open last 32?
The last-32 matches are best of nine frames, with the first player to five frames progressing.