Xintong whitewashes Bingtao to take German Masters title

China's Zhao Xintong won his second ranking title of the season as he whitewashed Yan Bingtao 9-0 in the final of the German Masters.

The players grew up practising together at Victoria’s Snooker Academy in Sheffield but Zhao showed his compatriot no mercy as he followed his UK Championship triumph with a ruthless performance in Berlin.

The 24-year-old made breaks of 74, 118, 82, 89 and 68 to race into a 6-0 lead before Yan looked set to get on the board in the seventh frame before running out of position on a break of 60, his highest of the match, and missing a tricky red.

Zhao pounced with a clearance of 70 to win the frame on the black and also claimed the last of the session to move within one of victory.

Former Masters champion Yan had chances in the first frame of the evening session to avoid a whitewash but was unable to convert and Zhao sealed victory on the colours to secure the first prize of £80,000 (€96,000).