‘National hero’ – China’s pursuit of an elusive world title

Eight players have already won the title of world champion in snooker, but China is still awaiting its first success.

Could 2025 represent a transitional year?

Six Chinese players from this year’s World Championship last 16 are represented by England, with five, followed by Ding Junhui, Lei Peifan, Pang Junxu, Si Jiahui, Xiao Guodong, and Zhao Xintong.

According to Jason Ferguson, president of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), “this has to be the biggest year for China in terms of chances of having a world champion.”

Lei Peifan and other players have won ranking competitions, and that might happen here. These boys are absolutely terrified of it.

There is no denying that a Chinese player would become a world champion if they won.

In the 2016 final, Trailblazer Ding defeated Mark Selby 18-14 to claim the title of best player in snooker.

Four of the six remaining Chinese players have won ranking competitions, two of which have taken place this year: Lei at the Scottish Open in December and Xiao at the Wuhan Open in October.

Ding remarked, “There has been a significant improvement in Chinese players.” They have greatly improved over the past two or three seasons.

They are demonstrating to the public how talented they are and how successful they are at winning tournaments, which demonstrates that they have the talent, abilities, and temperament to play any role.

Apart from the 2010 triumph of Australian Neil Robertson and Belgium’s Luca Brecel, who won the 2023 title, there has never been a British winner at the Crucible.

However, snooker bosses’ long-term goal has always been to expand the game globally.

We could see a real burning desire to grow in these nations, Ferguson said, “Many people thought this was very English and would continue to be this way.”

Snooker’s inclusion in the World Games in Akita, Japan in August 2001 marked a turning point in its development.

Ferguson was added when Ferguson said, “That really changed the face of snooker.” In front of 60, 000 spectators in a stadium that read “Billiards Sports,” I can recall entering the arena with my friends from Asia.

Jason, remember this day, this day is when snooker becomes a sport, my friend said to me.

We had transformed this well-known and well-liked game into a sport, they said.

A shy Ding defeated seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry to win the 2005 China Open, which was watched by a rumored 110 million viewers on television, which increased Snooker’s popularity in China.

We’ve built Chinese snooker from the ground up, Ferguson said, not just about major events in China.

China embraced and cared deeply for this sport. Snooker facilities are one of the things that China does well in mainstream education and schools. We must have that right now.

There are three academies in Sheffield, and players are playing against one another every day, and the snooker standard is absolutely amazing.

In June 2023, 10 Chinese snooker players were banned for their part in match-fixing, which was a major setback for the game in general.

Liang Wenbo and Li Hang both received lifetime bans, while former Masters champion Yan Bingtao was one of them.

Zhao, a former champion of the UK, was the only player to return after refusing to play directly and accepting accusations of being a part of another player’s plot to fix two matches and placing himself in gambling on matches. He served an 18-month ban.

Ferguson expressed regret for some players breaking the rules; it was a very sad time and difficult to handle.

Robertson is aware of what it’s like to overthrow British snooker, and he believes the spirit of cohesion the Chinese players displayed this year was a big help.

The Australian continued, “Xiao Guodong said it’s like “Team China,” and they’re really happy for one another, which is how I like that mentality. He claimed that they are attempting to support Ding and that they are working together.

The first rounds of all tournaments will be more difficult because we’re only going to get more Chinese players qualifying, and the game is getting stronger and stronger in China.

It’s exciting for snooker because they don’t seem to be fazed by the Crucible and all appear to play well, even on debuts. We’re seeing a lot of foreign flags, which is great for the game.

What happens if a Chinese player wins the prestigious snooker title on May 5th?

Ferguson said, “The authorities we’ve been working with in China have dreamed of having the world champion one day.”