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Defending Masters champion Yan Bingtao crashes out to Mark Williams in opening round

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Defending Masters champion Yan Bingtao crashes out to Mark Williams in opening round

Via Getty Images

21-year-old Yan Bingtao wasn’t even born when Mark Williams scooped his first Masters crown in 1998.

The “Welsh Potting Machine” will now be looking to add to that title and a second in 2003 by winning this event inside the Alexandra Palace after a blistering start.

Hardest tip on the planet ????? pic.twitter.com/jhNAqSOmK8

— MARK WILLIAMS M.B.E (@markwil147) January 9, 2022

Williams will now face either John Higgins or Zhao Xintong in the quarter-finals and is currently priced at 16/1 with bet365 to go all the way and collect the Paul Hunter Trophy on Sunday.

Part of the “Class of ‘92”, Williams is considered one of the real veterans on the World Snooker Tour, but continues to pick up tournament wins on a fairly regular basis.

Neil Robertson couldn't help but bring up the Ashes to the Masters crowd ???#CazooMasters | @WeAreWST | @nr147 pic.twitter.com/ja6Jy4m0ou

— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 9, 2022

The 46-year-old won the British Masters and WST Pro Series last year and won an incredible four titles – including the World Championship – across a blistering 2017-18 season.

Judd Trump is the current favourite to win the Masters at 10/3 with bet365.

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