Ding Junhui： Chinese billiards is easier to find a balance between professional and amateur.
Xinhua News Agency, London, March 14th (Reporter Zhang Wei) Although it’s not easy for Ding Junhui, a snooker expert, to cross the border and change careers, he is very happy to use his popularity to promote the development of Chinese billiards. In his view, Chinese billiards is easier to find a balance between professional and amateur, and it is easier to make billiards popular in China and even the whole world.
In November 2022, Ding Junhui was in the 2022 British Snooker Championship. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Zhai Zheng)
Ding Junhui, who became famous young, has been working hard in the snooker professional circle for about 20 years, and has won 14 rankings so far, and the world ranking once climbed to the top in the world. Speaking of Chinese billiards, he is no stranger. "I knew Chinese billiards when I was very young. At that time, those so-called’ wild tables’ were actually Chinese billiards. From the street to the billiards room to the club, there are shadows of Chinese billiards. "
It’s just that Chinese billiards were more street games, and there were not many regular games, let alone professionalism. "So I have no chance to embark on the career path of Chinese billiards." Ding Junhui, who will turn 36 next month, said.
On February 16, 2019, Liaoning billiards enthusiast Jiang Lintong (front left) and his father Jiang Tai (front right) practiced in the ball room. Xinhua News Agency reporter Yao Jianfeng photo
Today, this street game, which was unique to China in those days, has traveled across the ocean and has players in more than 60 countries and regions around the world. In July this year, the first All-billiards World Championships will be held in Ankara, Turkey. Chinese billiards, Kailun, American 9-ball and snooker will become official competitions.
In addition, as a benchmark event of Chinese billiards, the International Masters of Chinese billiards also announced the first year of professionalization after 10 years of tempering. This season, the Masters only set up 15 races in China, and the season lasted for 8 months. The Masters Global Finals will be unveiled in Qinhuangdao, China on the 20th, with a prize of RMB 5 million.
The picture shows the scene of the global finals of the 2019 Chinese billiards International Masters. Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Shizhen photo
In Ding Junhui’s view, perhaps snooker is more ornamental, but it is difficult to get started, and easy to get started is a big advantage of Chinese billiards, which can make billiards quickly popular. Of course, "if you want to cross the border successfully and achieve excellent results, you need to go through hard training."
For this reason, Ding Junhui thinks that Chinese billiards is easier to find a balance between professional competitions and amateur interests. As a professional event, I feel "thrilling". "For example, the prize money for the finals of the Masters is 5 million yuan. You can imagine the pressure that the finalists will face. The game must be tense, exciting and wonderful." As a hobby, it is "relaxed and lively". "Chinese billiards is easier to get started than snooker. It is easy to chat while playing, and it is easy to open the topic and promote friendship."
On November 20, 2022, Ding Junhui was in the final of the 2022 British Snooker Championship. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Zhai Zheng)
Although his performance has declined in recent years, Ding Junhui is still the most representative figure in China billiards. Recently, he won the snooker championship again after more than three years. After the game, he felt that "he still hasn’t forgotten his dreams and efforts". The dream of Chinese billiards promoters also touched him deeply. "They said that they would promote this sport from the street to the world, and now they have done it. They have been working hard for the better development of billiards, and I should also cheer for such billiards people with passion and dreams. "
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