Teenage sensation Shaun Liu became the youngest ever winner of a televised ranking event match as he beat Ishpreet Singh Chadha in the first round of the BetVictor Shoot Out in Swansea.
Hong Kong’s Liu, who turned 13 in July this year, beats the record set by Vladislav Gradinari who was 14 when he won a match in the same tournament last season.
Liu was handed a wild card place in the four-day event in Swansea having won the English Under-14 Championship earlier this year, and he took full advantage with a composed display. He trailed 36-0 in the ten-minute contest but when he got a chance he showed his potential in an excellent break of 44, and that proved the key contribution. India’s Singh Chadha had a chance to fight back late in the frame, but ran out of time when he trailed 57-52.
Perhaps destined to be a snooker star from the moment that his parents named him after Shaun Murphy, Liu grew up in Hong Kong but now lives in Sheffield and is developing his skills at the Ding Junhui academy.
“I didn’t expect to win, I just wanted to enjoy it,” said Liu, who goes into the random draw for the last 64 and will be back on the baize on Friday. “The feeling is good and the crowd liked me I guess. I practise with Ishpreet, he’s my friend and we meet every day. After the game he just congratulated me on how I played.
“Many thanks to my parents for driving me here from Sheffield. My mum loves Shaun Murphy and that’s why she named me Shaun!”
The post Shaun Liu, 13, Sets New Record As Youngest Winner appeared first on World Snooker.
