Masters snooker 2021: China’s Yan Bingtao to meet John Higgins in debut final after beating Stuart Bingham
- China star comes from behind to beat champion in semi-final and face off with two-time winner John Higgins in showpiece
- Ronnie O’Sullivan describes win as ‘significant result for Chinese snooker’ as world No 11 leads new wave of talent
Chinese snooker star in the making Yan Bingtao is into the Masters snooker final on his first appearance in the prestigious, invite-only tournament after beating top seed Stuart Bingham in Saturday’s semi-final.
The 20-year-old did it the hard way once again, coming from behind to seal the deciding frame for a 6-5 victory over the reigning champion in Milton Keynes, sealing victory with a steely 74 break in that final frame.
Yan has now beaten fourth seed world No 2 Neil Robertson, ninth seed Stephen Maguire and Bingham on his run to the final, where he can become the youngest winner since Ronnie O’Sullivan in 1995, aged 19.
O’Sullivan, speaking to Masters broadcaster Eurosport, believes that Yan’s over Bingham is already a “significant result for Chinese snooker”.
“This is a very big match for Yan Bingtao, but I also think it is very big for the Chinese youngsters,” O‘Sullivan, who was knocked out in the Masters quarter-finals after beating China’s top player Ding Junhui in the first round, said in his role as a pundit for Eurosport.
“The players that are coming through and watching this, it could really propel them on to see that he has done it.
When will Chinese snooker players be in the frame for biggest prizes?
“Ding has been the only one really and we‘ve been waiting for another Chinese youngster, but there are five or six around this age.
“They will see Bingtao and think, ‘If he can do it, I can do it’ and it could really speed up that process for them.
Yan was congratulated by the Sheffield-based Vic Snooker Academy, where the world No 11 leads a crop of talented young Chinese snooker players.
“Wow! What can I say? First time playing the Master and now into final?,” they wrote on Twitter. “Not only the best player at our academy, Yan bingtao also the most hardworking player, day in and day out practise with full concentration like playing match, most important all he got iron of heart!
Fellow snooker player Joe Perry also congratulated Yan on Twitter: “He’s been incredible so far, great play and an even better temperament,” he said in a message to the Vic Snooker Academy.
Yan faces veteran John Higgins, who is chasing a third Masters crown 15 since his last after beating David Gilbert 6-4 in the other semi-final.
That is what Yan wanted, when asked if he would prefer Higgins or Gilbert. “John Higgins, I like him.”
“I have the confidence now,” Yan said after his win and that he was looking to enjoy Sunday’s final.
Higgins, 45, had already been a professional for eight years before Yan was even born and the Scot had high praise for his opponent, who has won their last two meetings.
“He’s got a great all-round game, him and Zhou Yuelong have got the best all-round games, I think, coming through for China.
“I think Yan believes he could win the event,” Higgins said, pointing to Yan’s first tournament win at the Riga Masters last year and a final at the Players Championship.
“He’s served his apprenticeship and he’s thinking he can win. I think I can win as well so it should be a good match.”
