Fan Zhengyi, born in Harbin on January 21, 2001, competed with his idol O'Sullivan for the final crown at the Just-concluded European Masters in February. In the face of the idol, Fan Zhengyi saluted with a score of 2 shots to break the hundred and 5 strokes 50+, killed the idol O'Sullivan, and won the first ranking competition of his career.
Fan Zhengyi has shown an amazing talent in billiards since he was a child, and he has the title of "billiard prodigy" at the age of five or six. In fact, at the beginning, Fan Zhengyi's first contact with the sport was table tennis, determined to become a powerful table tennis player like Kong Linghui. And he's also very talented in table tennis. When he turned to snooker, his table tennis coach came to the door several times, hoping that he could continue to practice table tennis.
Fan Zhengyi's fate with billiards also began when he was four and a half years old and went to a local billiard hall with his uncle. At that time, Fan Zhengyi was attracted by colorful balls at a glance, although he was small and needed to step on the bench to be able to get to the table, but his board and glance were very similar. With the support of her family, Fan Zheng initially turned to snooker, and in order to let him practice better, her mother also opened a billiard hall. In 2006, Fan Zhengyi, who had been practicing billiards for only a few months, participated in the National Youth American Billiards Championship, and faced big brothers who were much taller than himself, Fan Zhengyi won the fifth place in his first competition. The title of "billiard prodigy" also followed.
In 2010, Fan Zhengyi's talent attracted the attention of Ding Junhui's teacher, Wu Wenzhong. Fan Zhengyi followed his family to Guangzhou, formally visited Wu Wenzhong, and became Ding Junhui's disciple. He has traveled to many places to learn snooker techniques. In June 2016, Fan Zhengyi came to CBSA World Snooker Academy to start systematic study and prepare to impact vocational qualifications. In 2017, 16-year-old Fan Zhengyi won the U21 World Snooker Championship after a year of systematic training, and obtained a 2-year professional qualification.
A day in college is very boring for a teenage child. But Fan Zhengyi was very clear about what he wanted, and he practiced very seriously and hard. His brother-in-law, The British Championship winner Zhao Xintong, once said, "Among us, Fan Zhengyi left the deepest impression on me. He was always practicing alone. Seeing him like this, I couldn't help but want to practice more. ”
On June 1, 2018, Children's Day, 17-year-old Fan Zhengyi left CBSA World Snooker Academy to embark on a career journey. In the first few years after leaving home, Fan Zhengyi often missed home. After the freshness and excitement brought to him by the strangeness and excesses faded, it was the endless trepidation of a person in a foreign country. Fan Zhengyi repeatedly cried to his coach at CBSA World Snooker Academy that he was confused and wanted to go home. Under the comfort and encouragement of the coach, Fan Zheng challenged his limits again and again.
In 2022, Fan Zhengyi finally ushered in his own breakthrough. In the final of the European Masters, Fan Zhengyi reached the final for the first time in his career against his childhood idol O'Sullivan, which was both a test and an inspiration for him. After winning the title with the slaying of O'Sullivan, he also became the fourth player of the season to win the ranking title for the first time. In the face of this honor, Fan Zhengyi behaved very calmly throughout the whole process. In the post-match interview, Fan Zhengyi said, "Before the final began, I didn't think too much, just thought that winning one more round was one game. Against O'Sullivan, winning or losing is no longer important, and it's good for me to be able to learn in the game and gain some experience. ”
"I'm actually quite excited, but I haven't come back yet." I'll probably be happy when I wake up tomorrow. "It's been hard along the way, I've been relegated before, and a lot of people say I'm not a good fit to play snooker." But I always feel that Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong, who practice with me, can do it, why can't I. With this belief, Fan Zhengyi actively summed up his shortcomings, learned from experience, and also restrained his playfulness.
On the night of his game, in the central hall of the CBSA World Snooker Academy, the coaching staff and the academy students gathered to watch his game with bated breath. At the final moment of winning the championship, the students all shouted excitedly, which was more lively than the New Year. The coaching staff and the dean of the college, Chen Zheng, also wiped away tears. This is an exciting time and a glorious history that the College will always remember.
After the game, the "three sons of the academy" went out to play a circle together and took a group photo. Three teenagers of similar age, from learning ball at CBSA World Snooker Academy together, to rushing to the profession one after another, to competing for breakthroughs and winning the professional ranking competition... The three people inspire each other, grow together, shoulder the new strength of the young generation of snooker, and make a benchmark for leading new snooker talents!