Masters snooker 2021: Yan Bingtao beats John Higgins to win debut triple crown
- The 20-year-old becomes second Chinese winner, 10 years on from Ding Junhui, and youngest champion since Ronnie O’Sullivan
- ‘He could be a world champion,’ says John Higgins, ‘China is lucky to have him’
Chinese snooker star Yan Bingtao came from behind once more to win his first Masters snooker title by beating John Higgins in Milton Keynes on Sunday, becoming only the second Chinese champion after Ding Junhui.
The 20-year-old, who took home £250,000 (US$340,000) for winning, also became the youngest Masters champion since a 19-year-old Ronnie O’Sullivan lifted the trophy in 1995.
Sheffield-based Yan, who finished the 10-8 winner in the best-of-19 match, was 7-5 down to the veteran Scot, who was gunning for a third Masters crown in his first final in 15 years.
“I am very excited,” Yan, who began the Masters as a 50-1 outsider, told the BBC. “I have imagined how I would celebrate but I am very calm, even though in the last few frames I was not playing very well. But I did not give up.”
The world No 11 had been behind in every match in his first appearance at the invite-only top 16 tournament, beating Neil Robertson, Stephen Maguire and last year’s champion Stuart Bingham on the way to the final.
Yan showed his ability under pressure earlier in the final. Down 5-3, Yan needed all 67 points on the table and duly cleared them before potting the respotted black. He then won the next frame to level the scores before Higgins took the next two and seemingly control of the final.
When will Chinese snooker players be in the frame for biggest prizes?
But the younger man kept his nerve and delivered under pressure, taking advantage of mistakes from the 45-year-old to put together winning breaks.
Higgins was full of praise for the youngster.
“He was fantastic – he’s got such an incredible all-round game,” the Scot told the BBC.
“I had my chances and I’m sick because I should have gone 6-3 in front and I was in control to go 8-5 in front. I’m gutted, but every credit to him – it is a brilliant achievement winning it at such a young age.
“I have played him the last few years. He has not much to learn in the tactical department and he is scoring as well now,” Higgins said. He has now lost his last three meetings with Yan.
“He is about the same age as my boy. He could be a world champion without a shadow of a doubt, so China is very lucky to have Yan.”
Yan Bingtao into debut Masters snooker final after beating Bingham
Yan becomes only the second Chinese player to win the Masters following Ding Junhui, who won in 2011. Ding is a world championship win away from a career triple crown, having also won the UK Championship.
Yan adds the Paul Hunter Trophy to his Riga Masters win last year, his first ranking tournament win.
