Chinese player Yan Bingtao defeats qualifier Chris Wakelin to set up a last 16 clash with defending champion Mark Selby at the World Snooker Championship.(Photo by Zhai Zheng/Xinhua)
China's Yan Bingtao sets up a round of 16 meeting with defending world champion Mark Selby.
LONDON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- World number 16 Yan Bingtao of China edged qualifier Chris Wakelin 10-6 on Tuesday to set up a last 16 clash with defending champion Mark Selby at the World Snooker Championship.
Yan, 22, is making his fourth appearance at the year-ending tournament this year and led world number 62 Wakelin 5-4 after the first session on Tuesday morning.
Wakelin managed to pull one frame back when the second session started this evening, but the Chinese hopeful took four frames in a row to make a 9-5 lead.
Wakelin edged Yan in the 15th frame with a result of 62-51, but couldn't hold off Yan from taking victory in the following frame.
"I felt very confident. I played very well this morning," Yan was quoted as saying by the World Snooker Tour website.
Yan was crowned at last year's Masters as a debutant and reached the last 16 at the 2021 World Championships.
"It will be a great match against Mark Selby," said Yan. "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."
Earlier, Yan's compatriot Lyu Haotian lost to former world champion Stuart Bingham 10-5. ■
