The 2024 Snooker World Open ended in Yushan, China, with a number of records set and witnessed an important moment in the replacement of the old and the new in Chinese snooker. Although Ding Junhui missed the 15th crown, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame; Zhao Xintong's ban is about to expire and is expected to return to the top; Yan Bingtao was heavily fined, and the future is uncertain.
1. Ding Junhui stopped as the runner-up, won the British Championship three times but was inducted into the Hall of Fame
Ding Junhui has 14 career championships and three British Championships
Ding Junhui is the leading figure of snooker players in China and even Asia today. The most successful Asian player of his career, he has won 14 ranking tournaments, including three British Championships. The British Championships, the World Championships and the Masters are the three top snooker events, and Ding Junhui won the championship three times in 2005, 2009 and 2019, becoming the fourth triple crown winner after O'Sullivan, Hendry and Higgins.
After 2019, it fell into a 4-year championship drought
Despite his impressive achievements, Ding Junhui's career has also fallen into a trough. Since winning the British Championship in 2019, he has not been able to lift the trophy in the ranking tournament and suffered a four-year title drought. During this period, his world ranking once fell out of the top 16, and he even faced the dilemma of missing the Masters for a time.
In the final of the 2024 World Open, he lost to Trump and missed the 15th crown
At the 2024 World Open, Ding Junhui, who is getting better, passed all the way and finally competed with world No. 2 Trump in the final. Unfortunately, after a fierce battle, Ding Junhui finally lost to his opponent 6-10 and missed the 15th ranking championship of his career.
He was inducted into the World Snooker Hall of Fame and his achievements were recognized
Although he missed the championship, during this event, Ding Junhui still received an important honor - was inducted into the World Snooker Hall of Fame. This is not only an affirmation of his outstanding achievements in his career over the years, but also marks that Ding Junhui has officially become an indispensable and important figure in the history of snooker.
Second, Zhao Xintong's ban period is about to expire, can he surpass Ding Junhui after his comeback?
He was once regarded as the new leader of Chinese snooker
Behind Ding Junhui, Zhao Xintong was once regarded as the leader of the new generation of Chinese snooker. Born in 1997, the youngster once reached the peak of the world ranking No. 6 in 2019, won important tournaments such as the British Championship and the Foreign Masters, and is expected to become Ding Junhui's successor.
The ban is less than two years, and he can return in September 2024
Just when Zhao Xintong's career was at its peak, a gambling turmoil took a big turn in his future. In 2022, Zhao Xintong was temporarily banned by the World Professional Billiards Association for allegedly manipulating the results of the game. After an investigation and hearing, he was finally sentenced to a ban of 2 years and 6 months, which was reduced to 1 year and 8 months, and will be released on September 1, 2024.
After his comeback, his strength is still in doubt, and whether he can surpass Ding Junhui's achievements is unknown
During the ban, Zhao has not been able to participate in any professional events, and it will be unknown how he will be after his comeback. Whether he can regain his peak, or even surpass Ding Junhui and become the new first brother of Chinese snooker, this will be a highlight worth looking forward to.
3. Yan Bingtao was heavily fined for 5 years, and the future is uncertain
and Zhao Xintong are known as the new twin stars of Chinese snooker
Fighting side by side with Zhao Xintong is another Yan Bingtao, who is regarded as a rising star of Chinese snooker. The two are both post-00s, and they won the ranking championship in two consecutive seasons in 2019 and 2020, and are considered to be Ding Junhui's most promising successors.
He was banned for five years and will not return until 2028
Yan Bingtao, who was involved in the gambling turmoil with Zhao Xintong, was punished more severely. He was sentenced to a five-year ban and will not be able to return to action until December 11, 2028.
The prospect of a return to action is in doubt
For Yan Bingtao, who is at the peak of his career, this 5-year ban will undoubtedly be a huge blow. At that time, he will be over 30 years old, and it will be unknown whether he will be able to regain his peak form and shine again on the snooker stage.
4. The 2024 World Open has set a number of records
A record number of on-site spectators were set
The holding of the 2024 World Open not only witnessed the replacement of the old and the new in Chinese snooker, but also set a number of records in the event itself. According to incomplete statistics, the number of on-site viewers and the highest number of viewers in a single game of this event have set a new record for the highest number of world snooker professional events this season.
The total box office far exceeded that of the previous year
In addition to the number of spectators, the total box office of this year's World Open also far exceeded the level of the last time it was held in Yushan in 2019. Tickets for the semi-finals and finals were sold out early.
The content of the event has been on the hot search many times
Due to the excitement of the event and the warm atmosphere of the scene, the relevant content of the World Open has topped the hot search list on social media many times, setting off a new round of snooker craze.
Chinese snooker is going through an important alternating period, and the veteran Ding Junhui has encountered a trough but his achievements have been affirmed; Rising star Zhao Xintong's ban is about to expire and is expected to regain his glory; Yan Bingtao's future is uncertain. The success of the event has witnessed the increasing influence of snooker in China.