Ding Junhui celebrated the 20-year anniversary of his first ranking title success by reaching the semi-finals of the Tour Championship on Thursday.
It’s remarkable to think that two decades have passed since the then-teenager’s victory in Beijing transformed the sport forever.
Prior to 2005, there had already been a number of tournaments in China without any significant indication that a boom was imminent.
But after Ding, who needed a wildcard to even participate in the tournament, stormed to victory in the capital city, the game’s popularity exploded.
Since then, China has become arguably the sport’s most important market, with several events staged there every year and each one boasting enormous prize funds.
Inspired by Ding’s initial rise, there has been a relentless stream of new Chinese competitors emerging onto the World Snooker Tour as well.
And even though there was the setback of a match-fixing scandal that rocked the sport a few years ago, Chinese snooker has never been in a stronger state.
There were four players from the country in this week’s prestigious competition that boasts only the top 12 from the one-year ranking list.
For the first time at a World Championship, meanwhile, there will be four Chinese seeds in the draw when the action gets under way at the Crucible Theatre in a fortnight.
“It’s been so quick,” three-time UK champion Ding Junhui, who turned 38 on Tuesday, told the World Snooker Tour.
“When I won the first one, it didn’t seem that quick and I didn’t think I’d win that many titles in my career until now.”
“I’m lucky and happy to have won a title this season, and I’m happy to see myself doing good in practice and in tournaments.
“It’s coming and it’s getting better I believe this season, and next season will be much better.
“I see Chinese snooker growing up. When I first came to the UK, no one asked or kept an eye on snooker. For myself it was okay, because at that time there was less pressure.
“But when I was getting better and winning my first tournaments, there was more pressure.
“Finally, I was doing okay. But I’m happy to see those young Chinese players doing better than anybody else. They grow up quickly, they are improving. And also, they practice hard.
“Before, I didn’t have many phones or social media, I only needed to focus on the snooker. But now it’s difficult to focus.
“When they still focus on snooker, practice hard, and play well to win some tournaments…it’s difficult for a young man, so they are doing good jobs.”
Ding has reached the semi-finals of the Tour Championship on the back of two strong displays against reigning champion Mark Williams and world champion Kyren Wilson.
He’ll come up against Mark Selby in the last four, the player who denied him the major trophy that has so far eluded him during a glittering career.
Ding lost to Selby when making his one and only appearance in a World Snooker Championship final back in 2016.
“I’ve been playing well in these two matches,” said Ding Junhui, the winner of this season’s International Championship.
“I just keep doing my job, and when I get a chance, I keep doing the scoring well.”
“My opponent had a bit of pressure in the start, so today I was leading a lot of frames when he missed the balls.
“I was always taking the chances to win the frames, so it was good to have a big lead in the first session.
“[Mark Selby and I] have had a lot of tough matches. I think the player who plays better on the day will have more chance to win.
“I’ll try to enjoy playing with him. They just told me I haven’t been playing him for many years. It will be good to play against him again.”
Featured photo credit: WST
In my mind there are clearly 6 players who hold a higher status in the history of snooker as a professional sport; Joe Davis, Steve Davis and Stephen Henry each moved the game forward professionally by giant leaps compared to what had come before; Alex hurricane Higgins, Jimmy whirlwind White and rocket Ronnie O’Sullivan generated sensational interest and popularity: peoples champions.
Ding may well turn out to be as important as any of them to snooker as a sport when we look back in another 20 years.
Ding will definitely go down as a player who had a lasting impact. But it’s always worth mentioning James Wattana when it comes to important influences on Asian snooker.
Ah yes, a very good point. A trailblazer indeed.
It’s why Wattana received an invitational tour card.
Yes James Wattana’s success led to a big increase in popularity in a new region. There are still some Thai players on the professional tour, but the financial situation makes it uncertain there will be any more, except possibly via the Women’s tour.
I’m old enough to remember when the were 3 Canadians in the top-8. These mini-booms don’t last. Without proper structural reforms, it’s still a British game.
In terms of influence, Ding is arguably top five. O’Sullivan and White possess immense popularity but I’m not sure they’ve changed the game in the way Ding’s success ushered in such an explosion of interest in China. Alex Higgins did similar on the back of his 1972 World Championship triumph.
I’d still give the UK market the edge currently, as it houses the historic majors and the most events, but it does feel within 10-20 years China will supercede it as they’re producing a greater influx of new talent compared to any other country or area.
Ding played well yesterday, punishing Wilson’s mistakes pretty efficiently. He did, however, play some overly high tariff shots that defied logic. A similar approach with Selby could see him made to pay more heavily.
Yes I agree. Of course it’s not clear what is meant by ‘influence’. But in terms of boosting the popularity of the game, the top-3 would surely be Joe Davis, Steve Davis and Ding Junhui. Cult heroes like Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and Ronnie O’Sullivan tend to be overestimated in retrospect. The big surge in snooker’s popularity in the 1980’s came long after Alex Higgins’ emergence, and was mainly due to the BBC’s blanket coverage.
But sadly, Ding is now a fading star, and China’s snooker boom may have peaked. Most of the kids in the academies are looking to Heyball, which has overtaken snooker. On the professional tour, it’s very difficult for any non-British player to realise their potential, and there’s no sign that is likely to chance.
Glad to read your article on Ding Junhui . He has contributed much to snooker and hopefully the best is yet to come .
Joe Davis actually crippled the game once he retired as the best player was no longer playing and the World Championship became devalued.
I disagree about Alex Higgins. His 1972 win was instrumental in elevating snooker’s profile and he aided the sport by bringing in a new demographic of supporter.
Jimmy White is arguably the sport’s most popular player but I wouldn’t say he was the catalyst for any explosion of further interest.
O’Sullivan has been crucial to snooker’s health in the UK, particularly in the dark days of the 2000s. He transcends the sport and there’s still a spike in audience when he plays on the biggest occasions.
Hendry’s influence is more concentrated on changing how the game was played.