Bai Yulu is one win away from the UK Championship (Image: Getty)
A history-making female player is one victory away from qualifying for one of the sport’s biggest tournaments. Chinese prodigy Bai Yulu has been the chief headline-maker at this week’s qualifiers for the UK Championship, which begins at York Barbican on Saturday.
The 21-year-old is no stranger to the big stage, having played eventual winner Mark Williams at last week’s Champion of Champions tournament in Bolton, losing 4-1. However, victory over world No.21 Jack Lisowski tonight (Wednesday) would secure her a place among the 32-player field in York, which includes defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, world championship Kyren Wilson and world No.1 Judd Trump.
Qualifying has been taking place in Leicester, where Bai has already broken new ground. In beating Farakh Ajaib and Jamie Jones, a former World Championship quarter-finalist, earlier in the week, Bai had already become the first woman to win back-to-back matches in a ranking event since 1999.
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She made it three in a row with a superb victory over world No.44 Scott Donaldson, rallying from 5-3 down to win 6-5 to set up a Judgement Day (the title given the final qualifying round matches) clash with Lisowski.
“I was very nervous and I didn’t think I would win, but I did well,” said Bai, who is competing on the pro tour for the first time this season.
“I don’t want to think too much about the next match, I have already done well to win three matches. I have learned a lot.”
Bai Yulu faces Jack Lisowski for a place at the UK Championship (Image: Getty)
Bai won the Women’s World Championship in March to earn herself a two-year card on the World Snooker Tour. She was the first player from mainland China to win the women’s world title, having been runner-up in 2023.
Her potential was clear from an early age and she won the women’s IBSF (International Billiards & Snooker Federation) under-21 world title in 2019, celebrating her 16th birthday during the tournament. In the same year, she reached the quarter-finals of senior version, having to be accompanied by a parent due to her age.
After a slow start to her professional career, Bai has hit form in spectacular fashion this week. Victory over Lisowski, long touted as a potential major winner, would be a huge upset and a seismic result for the women’s game.