Chinese snooker player Bai Yulu is poised to make history as she stands just one victory away from qualifying for the prestigious UK Championship, set to commence at the York Barbican this Saturday.
At only 21 years old, Bai has already established herself as a formidable competitor, having recently faced off against Mark Williams in the Champion of Champions tournament, where she narrowly lost 4-1. She now aims to secure her spot in the 32-player field in York, which features snooker luminaries such as defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, Kyren Wilson, and world No.1 Judd Trump.
The qualifying rounds have been held in Leicester, where Bai has made significant strides. Earlier this week, she achieved a milestone by defeating both Farakh Ajaib and Jamie Jones, a former World Championship quarter-finalist. This accomplishment marks her as the first woman to win back-to-back matches in a ranking event since 1999, highlighting her impact on the sport.