China’s wait goes on after Yan’s narrow loss

Snooker star edged 13-11 by Williams in tense quarter-final at World Championship

China’s wait for its first winner of snooker’s World Championship continues after Yan Bingtao was edged out by Mark Williams in a tense quarter-final in Sheffield.

It was the closest a Chinese player had come to landing the sport’s greatest prize since Ding Junhui reached the semi-finals in 2017, and Yan’s performance in losing 13-11 hinted he may one day go a step or two further.

Adrift at 6-2 down after the first session, the 22-year-old responded by dominating the second by the same margin. He then led 10-8 and 11-10 to be in sight of the coveted one-table stage, when the Crucible arena transforms, doubling the audience and ratcheting up the drama.

Instead it was Williams, 47, who got there – the oldest player to do so since 52-year-old Ray Reardon lost to Steve Davis in 1985.

“I was nervous, because I was so close to my first Crucible one-table match,” Yan told the World Snooker Tour website. “At 11-10 I had a chance to make it 12-10, but I was thinking too much and lost the cue ball.

“[In the first session] I lost my concentration and went 6-2 behind, then brought it back to 8-8 in the evening session. I believe in myself, I can do anything.”

Williams, joined in the last four by his “Class of ’92” comrades John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan, said: “This is where the tournament becomes the best venue in the world, for me.

I was nervous, because I was so close to my first Crucible one-table match

YAN BINGTAO

“I have always said that the one-table set-up is something everyone must try to play once in their career. I am just so happy to get to the semi-finals. I am here 30 years on after turning pro and still trying my best.”

Higgins, too, had to come from behind to clinch an epic encounter 13-12, in his case ending the interest of a new, improved Jack Lisowski.

Seeking a warrior-like quality to balance his artistry, the mercurial Lisowski had requested the telephone number of the famously intense Peter Ebdon and enlisted the former world champion as a mentor.

It showed, as he refused to be shaken off by the front-running Scot and overtook him at 12-11 – the first time he had led since frame one. But Higgins replied with nerveless brilliance, breaks of 105 and 72 sending him through.

There was no such toiling as O’Sullivan progressed to play Higgins, coasting home 13-5 against Stephen Maguire.

Completing a heavyweight semi-final line-up was Judd Trump, who after an underwhelming start to the championship began to suggest he could peak when it counts. He beat Stuart Bingham 13-8.