In the green battlefield of snooker, every shot is a test of precision and calmness, and every game contains a contest of psychology and technology. The second matchday of the 2024 Snooker Wales Open Qualifying Tournament witnessed a high-profile contest, but it also exposed the psychological fragility of a player.
First, let's focus on that high-profile match, European Masters champion Fan Zhengyi against experienced Joe Perry. Fan Zhengyi relied on his stable performance and exquisite skills to win with a score of 4-2, showing his side as a fierce man in the field. This victory is not only a testament to his technical prowess, but also an affirmation of his psychological qualities. Fan Zhengyi's calmness in the face of strong opponents and his decisiveness at critical moments are undoubtedly the key to his ability to gain a foothold in the world of snooker.
However, the game on the other side was a different story. Zhou Yuelong, a strong Chinese player, suffered a 4-0 defeat against Adam Duffy and showed his emotional meltdown. This is not the first time that Zhou Yuelong's psychological endurance has been questioned in a competition. Looking back at the final of the 2020 European Masters, Zhou Yuelong also performed unsatisfactorily under the pressure of Neil Robertson.
In the Welsh Open qualifying match, Zhou Yuelong's sluggish form can be seen. After the first game, he fell behind by a large score, and in the second game, he chose to admit defeat in advance under obvious disadvantage. Most notably, he angrily hammered the table after a mistake, and this emotional out-of-control not only affected his own game form, but could also have a long-term impact on his psychology. Such a mentality is undoubtedly a huge disadvantage in snooker, a sport that highly relies on psychological quality.
Snooker, as a sport that highly integrates skills and psychological quality, has extremely high requirements for the mentality of athletes. Zhou Yuelong's skills are undoubted, but his fragility in mental quality has affected his game many times. If you can't make a breakthrough on the psychological level, then no matter how skilled you are, it will be difficult to go further in the world of snooker.
Here, I would like to put forward a question to all friends who love snooker: what do you think of Zhou Yuelong's mentality in the game? How do you think he should improve his psychological quality? Welcome to leave your opinions and suggestions in the comment area. Every shot in the snooker arena is not only a challenge to technique, but also a psychological test. Let's witness the growth and transformation of each player in this contest of psychology and skills, and look forward to creating more excitement on the green field.