Yang Bintao wins the Masters title on Sunday night (Photo: Eurosport).
Ronnie O’Sullivan believes Ian Bintao’s Masters title is reminiscent of the days when snooker legends like Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Mark Williams won the Major trophy because they knew there was more to come.
In Sunday’s final at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, 20-year-old Higgins put in an excellent performance to beat the former two-time 45-year-old champion 10-8.
Ian made his master’s debut this year and delivered an incredible performance. He beat Neil Robertson, Stephen Maguire and Stuart Bingham before beating Higgins in the final.
Rocket were pleasantly impressed with the young Chinese star and have no doubt that Yan will be adding many more trophies and big cheques to his collection after winning £250,000 this weekend.
Bintao’s victory in this tournament, as it unfolded, is fantastic, O’Sullivan told Eurosport.
Not only to see a new winner, but also to see who else you think will win.
It’s like when Hendry came along, these players, John Higgins, Mark Williams, we thought it could take a while.
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It was a fantastic tournament and he did it the hardest way, he had the hardest draw you can get.
There was immediate discussion about the possibility of Yan becoming the first Chinese player to win a world title, which flagbearer Ding Junhui has not done so far in his illustrious career.
There is still plenty of time for Ding on 33, but O’Sullivan now gives his compatriot Ian a better chance and expects him to win at least once in Sheffield.
I think he has a better chance because he has a lot more time on his side, Ronnie said of Ian passing Ding. I think it’s a good time to come to snooker.
It’s hard to say, because in a year or two, three or four more trees may come out that we can say the same thing about.
But he’s the most mature at the moment, we’ve seen him do it under a lot of pressure, and you have to be able to play under pressure to win Le Creuset.
I think he is getting stronger and stronger and that will lead to more players.
I would be very surprised if he didn’t win at least one or two world titles.
Acknowledging in defeat, Higgins also predicted that Ian would win the first prize in the sport, in fact he said it was guaranteed.
An undisputed world champion, without a doubt, the Scot said. China is very lucky to have Yan as a player.
MORE: John Higgins suffered an embarrassing loss to Yang Bingtao in the Masters final.
MORE: Yang Bingtao knocks out John Higgins to win the Masters in his debut.
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