Mark Williams defeats Yan, wins Northern Ireland Open

BELFAST - Chinese rising star Yan Bingtao lost to Mark Williams 9-8 on Sunday in the Dafabet Northern Ireland Open final in Belfast.

Yan, 17, was close to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan's record as the youngest ever winner of a snooker ranking event. Although Yan got the Championship point, two-time world champion Williams won the last two frames in a row to lift the title.

It was Williams' 19th ranking title.