Oliver Lines Stuns Zhao Xintong in English Open Upset

Oliver Lines produced the shock of the English Open so far, dumping world number one Zhao Xintong out in the first round with a fearless 4-2 victory in Brentwood.

Zhao, the 2025 world champion and heavy favourite, looked to have the match under control early on. He uncorked two century breaks and twice dragged himself level, the pair locked at 2-2 after four high-quality frames that felt every bit like a later-round contest.

Lines refused to be overawed. The 31-year-old from England dug in, tightened his safety, and when the chances came, he attacked. The pressure finally told on Zhao, and Lines pounced with breaks of 77 and 84 in the final two frames to close out a statement win and book his place in the last 32.

"You know you have to raise your game," Lines said afterwards. "You try not to think about it, but you know if you don't play somewhere near your best then you are going home."

He will now face Yuan Sijun for a spot in the last 16, suddenly carrying the momentum of a man who has just taken down the sport’s top-ranked player.

It was not the only upset of the day. World number four Neil Robertson also crashed out, edged 4-3 by China’s Luo Zetao in another early jolt to the draw.

Elsewhere, the established names steadied the field. Former world champion Kyren Wilson swept past Poland’s Mateusz Baranowski 4-1, while China’s three-time UK Championship winner Ding Junhui was pushed all the way before sealing a 4-3 victory over Michael Holt.

Big seeds have already fallen. The question now is who will seize the gap they’ve left behind.