Former Masters and UK Championship winner Matthew Stevens faced a 16-year-old on Wednesday who he expects to have a very bright future in snooker.
Few will have heard of Chinese teenager Lan Yuhao before, with the youngster only a matter of days into his first season as a professional.
Lan was competing at the Championship League in Leicester on Wednesday and thoroughly impressed the Welsh veteran.
The tour rookie picked up a 2-2 draw against Stevens, knocking in a break of 69 in the first frame, but it was in a subsequent match that he really sparkled.
In a clash with fellow rookie Xu Yichen, Lan picked up his first professional win, beating his compatriot 3-1.
It was not so much the victory that impressed, but the stunning break of 142 he knocked in along the way.
Stevens certainly liked what he saw from the youngster and expects to see a lot more from him in the years to come.
After topping the group and progressing to the next stage of the Championship League, the Welshman said: ‘I tell you who I was impressed with, the 16-year-old in the group, he’s got some future, he hits the ball really well.
‘He’s definitely going to be a pain in the future for a lot of players.’
Another Welsh veteran, Dominic Dale, was on commentary as Lan made the epic 142 break against Xu and likened him to a Chinese star who is a few years ahead of him.
‘He’s got a touch of Si Jiahui about him, this young fellow, with the tempo,’ said Dale. ‘He’s a confident player, what a break this has been.’
Commentator Phil Yates wondered aloud: ‘Have we just seen the first glimpse of future stardom?’
It is very early to be getting too excited, with Lan winning just one of his first five games on tour, but there is clearly a lot of talent and potential in the new arrival in the professional game.
As a 15-year-old he very nearly qualified for the pro tour, reaching the final round of 2024 Asia & Oceania Q School, having won eight matches over two events.
Youngest current professionals
Michal Szubarczyk (Poland) – 14
Lan Yuhao (China) – 16
Bulcsu Revesz (Hungary) – 18
Gong Chenzhi (China) – 18
Stan Moody (England) – 18
Lan can be pleased with his performances on Wednesday, but Yuan Sijun can be delighted with his, winning the other Championship League group in action without dropping a frame.
The 25-year-old beat Stuart Carrington, Alexander Ursenbacher and Sanderson Lam 3-0, with the final victory an exhibition of break-building.
Given Yuan had already secured top spot in the group he could have taken his foot off the pedal against Lam, but quite the opposite happened as he knocked in breaks of 104, 123 and 106.
Yuan was tipped for the top some years ago and he has not quite made the progress some expected, but with five victories from five matches so far this season, maybe now is his time to step up.
Stephen Hendry on Yuan Sijun in 2019
‘Yuan Sijun, he’s one of the best youngsters I’ve seen since the likes of Ding [Junhui], Ronnie [O’Sullivan], Mark Williams or John Higgins turned pro, he’s the best I’ve seen,’ Hendry told Metro.
‘But it’s not an automatic, it’s how he’s looked after. Does he do the right things with his career? But he has the best potential I’ve seen so far.’
As for 47-year-old Stevens, he will return for the second stage later this month and continue looking for his first ranking title since 2003, which he still believes he can land.
‘I say the same every year, it’ll be nice to get to a final and hopefully win a tournament,’ he said. ‘We saw Joe Perry win a tournament and Rob Milkins do well, there’s no reason why I can’t.
‘I don’t practice enough, I know that and that’s up to me. But it’ll be nice to get deep into a tournament, win three or four matches and that is my practice really. Let’s see what happens, I’ve definitely got the talent to win another event.’
