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.