Yan Bingtao is a former professional snooker player from China who emerged as one of the sport’s most promising young talents in the late 2010s, highlighted by a Masters title win at just 20 years of age.
Yan Bingtao – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 16 February 2000 |
| Nationality: | China |
| Turned professional: | 2016 |
| Highest world ranking: | No. 10 |
| Ranking titles: | 1 |
| World Championship titles: | 0 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 1 |
| Masters appearances: | 2 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 0 |
Yan Bingtao’s Snooker Career
Yan Bingtao won the IBSF World Amateur Championship in 2014 at just 14 years of age, marking him out as one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from China. Although eligible to join the professional ranks immediately, Yan delayed turning professional until the 2016/17 season.
During that interim period, he partnered Zhou Yuelong to represent China at the 2015 World Cup. The teenage duo stunned the snooker world by winning the event on home soil in Wuxi, defeating Scotland’s John Higgins and Stephen Maguire in the final.
After beginning his professional career in 2016, Yan quickly established himself as a composed and tactically mature player well beyond his years. In 2017, still aged just 17, he reached the final of the Northern Ireland Open and came within a frame of becoming the youngest ranking event winner in history, eventually losing 9-8 to Mark Williams.
Yan secured his first ranking title in 2019 with victory at the Riga Masters, becoming the first teenager to win a ranking event since Ding Junhui. The breakthrough success helped him rise into the top 16 and earn a Masters debut in 2021.
With the tournament held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Yan produced a series of composed performances to reach the final and defeat John Higgins 10-8 to capture his first Triple Crown title.
Often compared stylistically to Higgins and Mark Selby for his all-round game and match temperament, Yan was widely tipped as a future world champion. However, his career was halted in 2023 when he was found guilty of match-fixing offences and handed a lengthy ban from professional snooker.
Yan Bingtao’s Ranking Titles
Yan Bingtao won 1 ranking title during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 2019 | Riga Masters |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- The Masters (2021)
- World Cup (2015)
Yan Bingtao and the Triple Crown
Yan Bingtao won 1 Triple Crown title during his professional career.
- World Championship: 0 titles
- UK Championship: 0 titles
- Masters: 1 title
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification. Ratings are assigned using career achievements, longevity, and historical impact.
Yan Bingtao: ★★★
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Featured photo credit: WST