Ding Junhui, 2005 China Open champion, hits the ball during his training for the 2006 World Snooker China Open Championships in Beijing, March 20, 2006. The tournament begins Monday at Beijing University Students Gymnasium and the final will be staged on Sunday.

Yang Qingtian of China set up an early clash with defending champion Ding Junhui in the World Snooker China Open after defeating Dave Harold of England 5-2 in the wild card round here on Monday.

Yang, No.4 in China Snooker Association standings, will next face compatriot Ding Junhui on Tuesday.

After losing the opening frame, the 24-year-old Yang showed his calibre with runs of 64, 57 and 50.

Harold, who won the title at the 1993 Asian Open in Bangkok, took back the fifth frame, but could not stop Yang's winning trend and finally lost the game with 5-2.

"I never won over Ding before," said Yang, "But I won't give up. This is a game and I will try my best to beat him."

Andrew Norman of England, competing overseas for the first time, also suffered a 5-1 reverse to Chinese Yu Delu on Monday.

Yu, only 19 years old, took the first frame from Norman with a 27 clearance and then surged into a 4-0 lead. Norman won the fifth on the pink but Yu sealed his victory in the sixth.

"I'm gutted because it's my first tournament overseas and I wanted to at least get through my opening match," said Norman after the match.

Yu will face Graeme Dott on Tuesday.

Yang and Yu were the only two Chinese wild cards to enter Tuesday's competitions as none of the six other Chinese players survived the wild card round.

Editor: Donald