China not at best but still cruise into second round
CHINA eased into the second round with an emphatic 8-1 victory against South Africa.
But the Chinese were not at their best as they gained a big slice of luck on three occasions and profited from some errors from the outclassed South Africans.
China won the lag but gave the South Africans a chance when Li He-wen, a semi-finalist at the 2006 World Pool Championships, missed a shot at the brown-7.
But Juan de Beer failed with an attempt at the 9-ball into the right side pocket before Fu Jian-bo held his nerve with a stunning long pot to put his country ahead.
It was a similar story in the second as another Li error went unpunished as Clinton Roussouw this time failed to down the 9-ball before Li made up for his mistake.
Many people had dismissed the South Africans as having little chance of winning but Li, for the third time in this match, failed with a crucial shot as South Africa recorded their first rack of the game.
China were not performing at their best but three successive flukes showed it was going to be their day.
Li He-wen enjoyed good fortune on a number of occasions as the ball did not go in to the intentional pocket, but then bounced off into another one.
Despite Li He-wen struggling with his game, he was repeatedly helped out by his team-mate, although the South African's were struggling to spend any length of time at the table.
China eventually won 8-1 and will now play either France or Italy in the second round on Friday, September 28.
