Yan in catch-up mode as ‘Class of 92’ star

Experience has ruled the baize in recent years, leaving relative rookie Yan Bingtao of China cast in the role of outlier as the World Championship moved towards its business end yesterday.

Yan was a lone 20-something in the company of quarter-finalists with 15 world titles between them, of which three were held by his last-eight opponent Mark Williams. The Welshman duly schooled him 6-2 in their opening session.

Old enough at 47 to be 22-yearold Yan’s father, Williams joined the professional ranks in 1992 at the same time as Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins, both 46 and still in the hunt in Sheffield along with Stuart Bingham, 45, and Stephen Maguire, 41.

Even the supposedly young Judd Trump and Jack Lisowski, who respectively face Bingham and Higgins, are now 32 and 30.

O’Sullivan has often signalled his dismay about the lack of a next generation to usurp him. During this championship, Luca Brecel of Belgium, although only 27 himself, has weighed in, claiming emerging British players were too lazy to make it to the top.

China’s remaining hope to lift the trophy, Yan is giving it a fair crack despite the “Class of 92” trio making it to the last eight for the first time since 2011.

Yan rallied to level after Williams went two frames up, but it was one-way scoring thereafter. On the other table, O’Sullivan led Maguire, also by 6-2.

Higgins – who collected his first world crown before Yan was born – said on Monday of himself and his fellow old-stagers: “I don’t see any reason why we might not still be playing at 60.”