China's Wu reaches 3rd round at Snooker World Championship qualifiers

LONDON - Chinese teenager Wu Yize reached the third round at the Snooker World Championship qualifiers by beating Robbie Williams 6-4 on Thursday.

The duo leveled at 4-4 before the 16-year-old Wu took two frames in a row to wrap the match 6-4.

Wu will meet 49-year-old Alan McManus in the third round, who currently is the 53rd in the world ranking.

Later on Thursday, Wu's compatriot Chen Feilong was defeated by Alexander Ursenbacher 6-1.

The qualifying event unveiled behind closed doors on Tuesday at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield with 128 players battling for 16 spots in four rounds.

The World Snooker Championship will be staged at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre from July 31 to August 16. Reduced crowds will be permitted to attend every session, as the tournament is one of the pilot events ahead of the full, socially-distanced return of sporting events in England from October 1.

China's Ding Junhui and Yan Bingtao have already earned their places in the final thanks to their top 16 rankings, along with defending champion Judd Trump, veteran John Higgins and five-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.