How 'Angry Farmer' David Gilbert found peace of mind at China Open with stunning win over world champion Wu Yize - 'Playing proper snooker'

React to this story

David Gilbert is known as the "Angry Farmer" due to an unpredictable temperament at the table earlier on in his undulating 24-year professional career, but the Tamworth potter appears to have found peace of mind amid a rousing run to the quarter-finals of the China Open in Taiyuan City.

'Terrific performance' - Gilbert stuns world champion Wu at China Open

Video credit: TNT Sports

The two-time Crucible semi-finalist has rediscovered some vintage form in easing to wins over Ding Junhui (6-1) and world champion Wu Yize (6-2), rolling in four centuries and seven 50-plus breaks.

A meeting with Zhou Yuelong on Friday morning at 7:00 UK time, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, gives Gilbert the chance to reach the semi-finals of a major ranking event for the first time since losing 17-11 to Kyren Wilson in the last four of the 2024 World Championship.

"I'm definitely the Angry Farmer!" he insisted after being introduced to the crowd as a "handsome English gentleman" before demolishing national snooker icon Ding in the round of 32.

China Open

'I love it' - Why rejuvenated Selby looks set to reclaim world No. 1 spot

33 minutes ago

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as the saying goes, and Gilbert's stylish cue action has been working to perfection in the chase for the £250,000 first prize on Sunday afternoon.

"I'd like to say it's just another game, but I know it isn't," commented Gilbert ahead of facing Zhou, a four-time ranking event runner-up.

"I beat a legend of China in Ding and then a world champion in Wu, which is nice to have on the CV.

"I hope I can build on this. I am just trying to enjoy playing again because it has been a while."

Gilbert has opened a snooker club in Tamworth and saw hours of practice pay off in reaching the Championship League final in Leicester last month, where he lost 3-2 to Jak Jones.

He is aiming to make it third time lucky in China after reaching the final of the International Championship in 2015, where he lost 10-5 to John Higgins, and the World Open in 2018, where he was defeated 10-9 by Mark Williams.

"I have had some big runs in China with two finals, and this time I feel I am playing proper snooker," the 2021 Championship League winner told World Snooker Tour.

"This is the best tournament I have been to in China.

"The hotel is amazing and the city is beautiful. I have managed to sleep properly, which is something I have never done in China. You have to rest up as much as you can.

"I would love to make the weekend and play in the one-table situation. But I won't get ahead of myself."