17-year-old Yan falls just short against former champ Murphy
SHEFFIELD: Chinese teenager Yan Bingtao’s superb comeback against former world champion Shaun Murphy fell just short on Monday as he lost 10-8 in the first round of this year’s World Championship.
The 17-year-old, whose display illustrated the strength in depth in the country’s playing resources inspired largely by last year’s finalist Ding Junhui, threatened at one point to become the youngest player to win a match at the tournament at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The record is held by seven-time champion Stephen Hendry, who was 18 when he beat Willie Thorne in the first round in 1987.
Yan trailed 7-3 and then was one frame away from defeat at the hands of the 34-year-old English cueman at 9-5 down, but the world No.63 rattled off three successive frames.
Despite this ominous run Murphy, the 2005 champion, benefited from the luck he needed with a red to get him over the line in the 19th frame and set up a second-round meeting with compatriot and five-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan.
“I played well but at 9-5 up he opened his shoulders and I was bang up against it at the end,” said Murphy, who had lost twice to Yan in their three previous matches.
“This place does funny things to you and I had a bit of Lady Luck. But I can’t praise him enough. He has a bit of swagger about him.”
Hong Kong veteran and two-time semi-finalist Marco Fu pulled off a stunning comeback in his first-round match by coming from 7-2 down against Belgian Luca Brecel to win 10-9.
In a battle of two English former world champions, 2004 winner Peter Ebdon was beaten 10-5 by 2015 champion Stuart Bingham.
HEARN HITS BACK AT ROCKET
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn denied claims of “bullying” and “intimidation” from Ronnie O’Sullivan, saying the five-time world champion had made “unfounded” and “inaccurate” allegations.
O’Sullivan slammed Hearn and snooker’s hierarchy shortly after beating Gary Wilson 10-7 in the first round at the Crucible Theatre.
The 41-year-old felt he had been harshly treated in receiving a letter from
disciplinary chiefs after he criticised referee Terry Camilleri and swore at a press photographer during January’s Masters — a tournament he won.
O’Sullivan insisted he was done with being “bullied” and “intimidated” by officials.
Hearn responded by issuing a statement saying: “I personally take any accusation of ‘bullying and intimidation’ by me or World Snooker very seriously.
“Unfounded accusations such as these are damaging to World Snooker’s global reputation, as well as my own, and we will take whatever action is required to protect this reputation from such inaccurate comments.
“I hope all parties can move on from this position and concentrate on the brilliant entertainment provided by players at the Betfred World Championship.”