And then there were three. Ding Junhui began his World Championship campaign on Wednesday with two fellow Chinese players already through to the second round, and he was in the hunt to join them after the first session of his clash with Kyren Wilson. Hours earlier, Yan Bingtao had followed compatriot Zhao Xintong into the last 16 , but China lost one of its four representatives at the Crucible as Lyu Haotian fell by the wayside. A losing finalist in 2016, Ding had to come through the qualifying tournament this year after a couple of lean seasons. However, the 35-year-old showed flashes of the Ding of old to lead Wilson and finish the session 5-4 up. Wilson was hardly at the table as Ding blitzed the first three frames, before the world No 5 stopped the rot in the fourth. Ding pulled 5-3 ahead, then a cagey final frame of the session went the way of Wilson. World No 16 Yan earlier completed a 10-6 victory over Chris Wakelin, registering two century breaks. Eliminated in the second round last year, Yan must overcome reigning champion Mark Selby if he is to go further this time. Their match begins on Friday night. “I felt very confident, I played very well,” Yan told the World Snooker Tour website after wrapping up the win over Wakelin. “This year the championship feels different, compared to the last two years. I’m just trying to relax ahead of my matches so I feel more confident. “It will be a great match against Mark Selby. Many people say we are similar players. I cannot wait to play him in a best-of-25 match. I will just try to enjoy it. Mark has very good control over the table. I always try to be as good as he is in safety.” Lyu, however, fell at the first hurdle on Tuesday night against Stuart Bingham. The Beijinger won the opening frame before levelling at 2-2 with a break of 104, but the 2015 world champion stretched away thereafter, prevailing 10-5 and posting the tournament’s highest break of 140. China’s 4 contenders at 2022 World Snooker Championship and how to watch them Thepchaiya Un-Nooh of Thailand put up a fight against four-time world champion John Higgins, who did not lead until a century put him 7-6 ahead on Wednesday. The Scot went on to win 10-7. Ding’s match against 2020 finalist Wilson was set to resume in the early hours of Thursday (Hong Kong time), with Bingham the next opponent for the victor.