By World Snooker Tour

Teenage sensation Shaun Liu became the youngest ever winner of a televised ranking event match as he beat Ishpreet Singh Chadha in the first round of the BetVictor Shoot Out in Swansea.

Hong Kong’s Liu, who turned 13 in July this year, beats the record set by Vladislav Gradinari who was 14 when he won a match in the same tournament last season.

Liu was handed a wild card place in the four-day event in Swansea having won the English Under-14 Championship earlier this year, and he took full advantage with a composed display. He trailed 36-0 in the ten-minute contest but when he got a chance he showed his potential in an excellent break of 44, and that proved the key contribution. India’s Singh Chadha had a chance to fight back late in the frame, but ran out of time when he trailed 52-57.

Perhaps destined to be a snooker star from the moment that his parents named him after Shaun Murphy, Liu grew up in Hong Kong but now lives in Sheffield and is developing his skills at the Ding Junhui academy.

“I didn’t expect to win, I just wanted to enjoy it,” said Liu, who goes into the random draw for the last 64 and will be back on the baize on Friday. “The feeling is good and the crowd liked me I guess. I practise with Ishpreet, he’s my friend and we meet every day. After the game he just congratulated me on how I played.

“Many thanks to my parents for driving me here from Sheffield. My mum loves Shaun Murphy and that’s why she named me Shaun!”

Defending champion Chris Wakelin narrowly avoided a first round exit, beating Pang Junxu in a dramatic finish. Pan led 62-37 when he ran out of position on the last red and played safe. Wakelin was left with a tough do-or-die pot on the red, and he slotted it into a top corner and went on to clear the table.

“It was amazing, every bit as exciting as I remember it from last year,” said Wakelin. “There was pressure as defending champion although I couldn’t wait to get out there and play. Why can’t I win it again? You can’t plan anything in this event, you’ve just got to play with a smile on your face and be ready if you get a chance. It is fun but the ranking points and money are serious. You have to embrace it because we don’t often get to play in this kind of atmosphere. The arena here is stunning and I think we’ll hear some roars at the weekend. I genuinely think this venue could host the Masters or UK Championship, it’s gorgeous in there.”

Aside from Liu, four other amateurs scored victories during the opening session at Swansea Arena. England’s leading junior player Oliver Sykes, age 17, came from 31-0 down to beat Rod Lawler with an excellent break of 32.

Liam Davies, 17, made a vital break of 20 in the closing seconds to beat Lyu Haotian 53-52. Welsh 23-year-old Alfie Davies – son of former pro Anthony Davies – got the better of Joe Perry while Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko knocked out Ricky Walden.

Sean O’Sullivan trailed Graeme Dott 46-48 with a few seconds remaining when he missed the green to a baulk corner, allowing Dott to clinch victory.  Ryan Thomerson also missed a crucial green towards the end of his match with Elliot Slessor, as he trailed 6-1 with less than a minute to go. Slessor eventually won 13-1 in one of the lowest scoring matches in Shoot Out history.

Germany’s top player Lukas Kleckers beat former World Champion Stuart Bingham, and in the last match of the session, Matthew Stevens got the better of Ken Doherty.

The clock starts ticking again at 7pm on Wednesday night.