Yan Bingtao beaten by emotional Ben Woollaston in the UK Championship

Yan Bingtao became the latest big-named casualty at this year’s UK Championship after going down 6-3 against an emotional Ben Woollaston on Saturday.

The reigning Masters champion arrived at the York Barbican Centre this week having already reached the semi-finals at the Northern Ireland Open and Champion of Champions, as well as the English Open quarter-finals.

However, the world number 12 joined the likes of reigning champion Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy in making early exits from the tournament.

Playing just a few hours after the death of his mother-in-law, former Welsh Open finalist Woollaston demonstrated wonderful determination and character with a top break of 136 helping him advance to round three.

Joining him is Ronnie O’Sullivan; the seven-time champion winning five straight frames from 2-1 down against Robbie Williams with breaks of 91, 74 and 66 along the way.

The Rocket will play fellow Essex cueist Mark King, who beat Gerard Greene 6-2.

Three-time winner John Higgins hit breaks of 131, 87 and 86 in a 6-3 victory over Sunny Akani, while Kyren Wilson recorded the 300th century of his career in a 6-0 whitewash of Jak Jones.

Two-time finalist Mark Allen overcame Joe O’Connor 6-4 to set up a third-round meeting with Championship League winner David Gilbert, who made breaks of 115, 68 and 62 as he beat Alexander Ursenbacher 6-3.

Former Crucible runner-up Barry Hawkins enjoyed a commanding 6-1 win over Gao Yang, while Jack Lisowski had four half-centuries in his 6-4 success against Martin O’Donnell.

However, there was no joy for Ali Carter; the two-time World finalist losing 6-3 to Noppon Saengkham, who made breaks of 128 and 119 along the way.

Two-time UK semi-finalist Joe Perry also went down 6-2 against Matthew Selt, while British Open runner-up Gary Wilson was defeated 6-4 by Liam Highfield.

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UK Championship Snooker 2021 Day Four Results

Saturday November 27

Second Round

Kyren Wilson 6-0 Jak Jones
Wu Yize 6-4 Hammad Miah
Yan Bingtao 3-6 Ben Woollaston
Robbie Williams 2-6 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Joe Perry 2-6 Matthew Selt
Michael Holt 5-6 Andy Hicks
Dominic Dale 6-4 Si Jiahui
Martin O’Donnell 4-6 Jack Lisowski

John J Astley 4-6 Mark Joyce
Gary Wilson 4-6 Liam Highfield
Noppon Saengkham 6-3 Ali Carter
Mark King 6-2 Gerard Greene
Barry Hawkins 6-1 Gao Yang
Alexander Ursenbacher 3-6 David Gilbert
Joe O’Connor 4-6 Mark Allen
John Higgins 6-3 Sunny Akani