O'Sullivan, Zhao and Williams All Crash Out on Day One of Shenzhen Open — Who to Back Now?

Shenzhen Carnage: Three Giants Fall on Opening Day

If you backed any of the pre-tournament favourites to go deep in the Shenzhen Open, Monday was a painful watch. Ronnie O'Sullivan, Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams — between them boasting multiple world titles and enough ranking points to fill a trophy cabinet — were all sent packing on the very first day of the event. The draw has been blown wide open, and there are some genuinely interesting value plays now available across the outright and match markets.

O'Sullivan Beaten by World Number 64

Let's start with the headline result. Ronnie O'Sullivan lost 5-2 to Jiang Jun, a man ranked 64th in the world, and it wasn't particularly close in the end. Jiang took the opening two frames before O'Sullivan clawed back to 2-2 with breaks of 92 and 52 — enough to suggest the match might yet swing the seven-time world champion's way. It didn't. Jiang reeled off three straight frames, finishing with a superb 108 break to seal one of the upsets of the season so far.

Context matters here. O'Sullivan has not won a ranking title since January 2024 — a drought that is becoming increasingly hard to ignore for a player of his stature. Whether this is a prolonged blip or something more concerning remains the big question in the sport. For betting purposes, his odds in any remaining 2026 ranking events should now be viewed with genuine scepticism rather than the reflex respect his name commands.

Zhao Stunned in Final-Frame Decider

The 2025 world champion Zhao Xintong, currently the world number one, suffered an equally shocking defeat. Scott Donaldson — ranked 65 places below Zhao — came from 3-2 down to win a final-frame decider, compiling breaks of 77, 105, 50 and 62 along the way. It was a composed, clinical performance from the Scotsman that will have done wonders for both his confidence and his tournament odds.

Donaldson now faces China's Pang Junxu in round three — a winnable match that could carry him into the latter stages of the draw. At the prices currently available on the outright market, he's worth a small each-way interest if you can still find him at 25/1 or better with the likes of Bet365 or William Hill.

Williams Exits on the Final Pink

Defending champion Mark Williams went out in perhaps the cruellest fashion of all. The Welshman lost 5-4 to China's Fan Zhengyi after fouling on the final pink with the match on the line. It's the sort of exit that will haunt him — and it hands Fan Zhengyi a significant psychological boost heading into the next round.

Trump Sails Through — Still the One to Beat

Judd Trump was the standout performer among the big names, cruising to a 5-0 whitewash over China's Huang Jiahao. He now moves into the last 16 after his scheduled third-round opponent, Anthony McGill, withdrew due to medical grounds. Trump hasn't had to work particularly hard yet, but he's hitting the ball cleanly and looks ominous. He remains the Pick of the Tournament for outright purposes.

At the time of writing, Trump is available at around 9/4 (3.25) with most major bookmakers. Given the carnage in the top half of the draw, that price looks increasingly fair value rather than short.

Other Results at a Glance

Neil Robertson quietly dispatched Liu Hongyu 5-2 and deserves respect as an each-way option. The Australian has a habit of going deep in events when the spotlight is elsewhere, and with O'Sullivan and Zhao already out, he'll sense an opportunity. Check Paddy Power and Betfair for his current outright price — anything north of 6/1 represents solid value.

The Verdict

The Shenzhen Open has delivered exactly the kind of chaotic first day that makes snooker such compelling viewing — and betting. Three of the biggest names in the game are already on a plane home, the draw is wide open, and there's genuine value to be found if you're willing to look beyond the obvious. Trump for the title, Donaldson for a run, and keep a close eye on Robertson if you want a safer each-way position.