Chinese debutant Cao stuns Allen at world snooker

Sheffield, April 23 (IANS) Crucible Theater debutant China's Cao Yupeng stunned World Number 11 Mark Allen 10-6 in the first round of the World Snooker Championship.

Qualifier Cao, who turned professional last year, was playing his first season on the main tour and had to win four matches to reach the 32-player main draw of the elite championship.

The 21-year-old, who showed no signs of nerves in his debut match, will face either his compatriot Ding Junhui or Ryan Day from Wales in the last 16, reports Xinhua.

'It was a big challenge and a big win for my career,' said Cao.

'The atmosphere here is fabulous. I have never felt this kind of excitement before,' said Cao of the famous Crucible Theater where the championship has been staged since 1977 and the current contract runs until 2015.

Allen, the Haikou World Open titlist, said he hadn't expected strong challenge from the World No.81 and was not well prepared.

'I may have underestimated him a little early on and he put me 3-0 behind (first session). That turned out to be a turning point, because to give someone who's obviously a good player a three-frame start is hard to recover.'

Cao had battled to a 5-4 lead Saturday in the first session under the best of 19 frame format.

The Chinese potter settled straight into the final session, winning the opening two frames, including his first Championship century, as he fired with a break of 108 to go 7-4 ahead.

The 26-year-old Northern Irishman won the next but the rookie took two more frames, including another three-figure score of 113 and was just a step away from the biggest win of his career.

Allen showed his stamina to compile a break of 101 to stay in touch at 9-6. He aimed to reduce the deficit further but as he potted the final black he turned to see the white roll into a baulk corner, which handed the match to Cao.

Meanwhile, 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy took a temporary 5-4 lead over Welshman Jamie Jones.