Six-times World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan spoke out in regards to the state of grassroots snooker within the UK over the weekend.
The 46-year-old mentioned that one thing wanted to be finished quick in any other case the UK would get left behind due to the sudden surge in Chinese language gamers now breaking by and scooping occasions.
Take a bow “FANTASTIC” Fan Zhengyi who on the age of 21,wins his 1st ever rating title in his very 1st Closing beating Ronnie O’sullivan 10-9 the World No 80 now thirty first has overwhelmed amongst others Kyren Wilson, Yan Bingtao, David Gilbert, Graeme Dott alongside the,method #snooker pic.twitter.com/NhcBhNi7zU
— Phil Mudd (@MuddPhil) February 28, 2022
His feedback got here as he narrowly misplaced an exhilarating last 10 – 9 n the Betvictor European Masters to world no 80 Chinese language participant Fan Zhengyi, 21, who shocked the entire week in Milton Keynes disposing of prime gamers equivalent to Kyren Wilson, David Gilbert, and Graeme Dott on his strategy to assembly the Rocket within the last.
Speaking to Eurosport after with MC Phil Seymour, O’Sullivan mentioned in regards to the breaking by of the Chinese language gamers: “It’s a disgrace the UK can’t copy the format.”
He added: He was a pleasure to play. It was a pleasure to play a future World Champion.”
O’Sullivan has been very vocal earlier than in regards to the state of UK snooker saying that the Chinese language will finally dominate the game in say 5 – 10 years from now.
Zhengyi turns into the fifth participant in snooker historical past from China to win a rating occasion – becoming a member of Ding Junhui, Liang Wenbo, Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao – each who broke by successful majors within the final couple of years.
Tiger champion Yan bingtao, the cyclone Zhao Xintong, and the Incredible Fan zhengyi! Our academy is the champion making manufacturing facility! pic.twitter.com/pUCQ6I687L
— Vic Snooker Academy (@Vics_Snooker) February 27, 2022
He’s considered one of many Chinese language gamers who practices on the luxurious snooker academies in Sheffield, significantly on the Victoria Snooker Academy, managed by Victoria Shi, who was with Zhengyi translating for his interview after.
She mentioned that it was a dream for the Chinese language gamers to play Ronnie O’Sullivan in a last and a dream to beat him in a last.
The Chinese language gamers follow and spend time collectively in a close-knit circle on the academy.
She added: “They’re like a household.”
On Fb, she wrote: “Properly finished Fan Zhengyi, European Masters champion 2022.

After fellow Victoria Snooker Academy success with ‘The Tiger’ Yan Bingtao, ‘The Cyclone’ Zhao Xintong it’s now ‘Incredible Fan Zhengyi’….Victoria Snooker Academy, Sheffield is a champion making manufacturing facility
Huge celebration after Welsh Open/Turkish Masters.
It was additionally a double Chinese language glory over the weekend as a Chinese language colleague and good friend of Zhengyi’s, Si Jiahui, who each reside collectively in a flat in Sheffield, claimed the World Snooker Federation Championship selling him again to the skilled tour, which was performed on the Ding Junhui Academy in Sheffield.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2022 Chris Gaynor
