Hong Kong teen Liu makes snooker history with Shoot Out win, becomes youngest to triumph in televised ranking event
- 13-year-old Shaun Liu wins opening encounter at World Snooker Tour event in Swansea
- Teenager recovers from 36-0 down in 10-minute contest to beat training partner Ishpreet Singh Chadha 57-52
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Hong Kong teenager Shaun Liu Yu-sang has become the youngest winner of a televised ranking event match after triumphing in the first round of the Shoot Out.
The 13-year-old beat Ishpreet Singh Chadha to write his name into the history books, beating the record set by Vladislav Gradinari, who was 14, when he won a match in the same tournament last season.
“I didn’t expect to win, I just wanted to enjoy it,” said Liu, who received a wild card for the four-day World Snooker Tour event in Swansea.
“The feeling is good and the crowd liked me I guess. I practise with Ishpreet, he’s my friend and we meet every day. After the game, he just congratulated me on how I played.”
Liu trailed his 27-year-old opponent 36-0 in the 10-minute contest, which has a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes and just 10 seconds for the last five. But a composed display saw him take charge with a break of 44, before edging past the Indian 57-52 as time ran out.
Separately, Shaun Murphy, made history to become the first player to post a maximum break in the 12-year history of the tournament.
Facing Bulcsu Revesz in the first round, Murphy limited the European Under-18 to just one shot, the break, before potting 15 reds with black and added the colours for the 147.
The Shoot Out had previously only witnessed 27 centuries since its debut in 2011, with the highest a 142 from Mark Allen in 2021.
It’s the eighth maximum break for former world champion Murphy, putting him on level terms with Judd Trump. Only four players – Ronnie O’Sullivan (15), John Higgins (12), Stephen Hendry (11) and Stuart Bingham (nine) – have made more.
The world No 7 is now in line for the US$6,295 tournament high-break prize, unless it is equalled, after making the 194th official maximum in snooker history and fifth of the season.
Nicknamed “The Magician”, Murphy said he spotted a chance to make a 147 right from the start.
“That’s one of the best maximums I have ever made, I’m buzzing,” the 41-year-old said. “Once I had split the pack I knew it was a good chance.
“On 96 I played for the difficult red, and after that, every ball I hit went in the middle of the pocket. This is show business and we have to entertain the people who have paid money to watch us.
“I am going to enjoy this and celebrate tonight because 147s are very rare in any format.”
