The 2022 Snooker Masters is on the verge of launch, and according to the schedule, the 8-day heavyweight event from January 9 to January 16 will officially start. The contestants are the best performers among the active players, two of whom are the most eye-catching in China, Yan Bingtao, 21, and Zhao Xintong, 24.
It is not difficult to find that in recent years, snooker has become more and more distant from young players, especially the post-90s and post-00s, who are difficult to win the championship in the competition. Led by O'Sullivan, the 75th Three Masters are still unstoppable despite being in their 40s, and the Rockets, together with Mark Williams and John Higgins, are still at the top of the world rankings and remain high.
Coupled with Trump, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson as the leading post-80s players, the post-90s and post-00s players are more difficult to come forward. In this year's Masters, 6 of the 16 contestants are over 40 years old, and 8 are over 30 years old, only Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong are the youngest players.
In the past, the contestants were basically occupied by the post-70s and post-80s. However, since the beginning of this season's British Championship, this situation has quietly changed. Three of the top 4 of the British Championship are post-90s, after fierce competition, Zhao Xintong defeated Barry Hawkins, Brechel eliminated Karen Wilson, and the two non-TOP16 players met in the final of the three major competitions.
In the end, Zhao Xintong stood out and won the championship. Immediately after the Scottish race, two post-90s players, Brechel and Anthony McGill, reached the top 4, and finally Brechel continued his good competitive state and won the championship in one fell swoop. From this moment on, both fans and professional players seem to realize that the young players in snooker are about to rise.
Similarly, Yan Bingtao was a pioneer of young players, and in last season's Masters, Yan Bingtao won the Masters with Kennear Robertson, Maguire, Bingham and Higgins. According to the schedule, this Year's Masters, as the defending champion Yan Bingtao will take the lead in the opening match, the first round opponent is 46-year-old Mark Williams.
So this year's Masters, whether the two Chinese rising stars can continue the strong momentum of winning the championship, once again proves the rise of young players. Former world champion Sean Murphy said in an interview: "It's difficult because now Roño Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams haven't put down their clubs, but despite this, Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong, as well as Brecher, they are rare and promising future stars, and they are looking forward to their game." ”