Name: Lyu Haotian
DOB: 29th November 1997
Nationality: Chinese
Turned Pro: 2013
Highest Ranking: #93 (2014)
Highest Break: 135 (2013 Wuxi Classic)
Career Highlights: 2012 International Championship quarter-finalist, 2013 Wuxi Classic last 32, 2013 AT3 finalist, 2013 World Games quarter-finalist, 2012 IBSF World U-21 Champion
2012/13
The latest talent to come out of China, then 14-year-old Lyu Haotian first made a name for himself at the 2012 IBSF World U-21 Championship, where he defeated countryman Zhu Yinghui 9-6 to become the youngest ever winner of one of snooker’s most prestigious amateur events.
During the following season, Lyu would regularly be involved at main tour events as a wildcard player, notably defeating Marco Fu 5-4 at the Shanghai Masters, before then toppling Welsh duo Michael White and Dominic Dale to reach the quarter-finals of the International Championship, before losing 6-2 to Australia’s Neil Robertson.
2013/14
Still only 15 years old, Lyu’s strongest result of the 2013/14 season came at the Wuxi Classic, where he defeated Rod Lawler and Craig Steadman to reach the last 32 stage, before losing out to Ali Carter in China.
He would also enjoy success at the AT3 event, the Zhengzhou Open, where he defeated the likes of Graeme Dott and Xiao Guodong on his way to the final, losing out to more experienced countryman Liang Wenbo.
Otherwise, the season was understandably to prove something of a learning experience for Lyu, though he was able to show further signs of promise at the ET3 event in Doncaster, pushing reigning world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan to a deciding frame in the opening round.
2014/15
Lyu’s second season on tour was to prove less successful than his first as he won just eight matches, reaching the last 64 of both the Indian Open and UK Championship events.
As a result the youngster would finish the term ranked 81st and was relegated from the circuit after defeat to Andrew Pagett at the World Championship qualifiers.