He was writing his own snooker story

Source: People's Daily - People's Daily

Repefan in the game. Profile picture

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At the age of 17, he broke into the professional snooker arena and defeated the world's third-ranked player, and China's young player Lei Peifan has been growing in the grind for more than a year.

To stay in the competitive professional snooker arena, Lei Peifan needs to work harder. But the young man is not afraid of failure, and with the club in his hand, the teenager wants to leave his story and spell out a brilliant future in the professional arena.

Facing the world's third-ranked master, 17-year-old snooker youngster Lei Peifan remained calm and calm, maintaining a steady performance until he finally won the game. On March 3, in the first round of the 2021 Snooker Gibraltar Open, Lei Peifan defeated Australian Robertson 4:2, proving his ability to stand on the professional snooker field.

In June 2019, repefan, who had just turned 16, qualified for the next two seasons through QSchool (Snooker Pro Tour Qualifier). After more than a year of professional grinding, he has encountered many setbacks, but he has also gained rare growth. "To stay on the pro stage, I need to work harder." The young Repefan is not afraid of failure and looks forward to leaving his story in the highly competitive professional snooker arena.

"Since you have chosen the path of professional footballers, you must go firmly"

Born in Ankang, Shaanxi Province, Lei Peifan accompanied his father to play in the billiard hall at the age of 9 and was exposed to billiards for the first time. Picking up the club and trying a few shots, Lei Peifan played with a look: "I liked it very much the first time I played, my father always took me to play, and the coach in the billiard hall would also guide me." At that time, Lei Peifan was still a member of the elementary school football team, and it was not until graduation that he made a decision between football and billiards, which was his favorite sport.

Lei Peifan's talent was soon revealed. At the age of 12, he left his hometown to promote himself at the World Snooker Academy in Beijing. He entered the academy in September of that year and won the championship in the junior group of the Junior League in December. "Training at the academy with the strongest young players in the country is constantly inspiring me." Snooker Academy has three different levels of beginner, intermediate and advanced classes, and Lei Peifan quickly rose to the intermediate class after winning the junior group championship.

"The children in the college often compete against each other, and students such as Yan Bingtao, Xu Si, Zhao Xintong, yuan Sijun and other students in the senior class have obtained professional qualifications, constantly motivating the children who stay behind." Coach Zhang Dongtao said.

There is motivation and there is pressure. Seeing that the outstanding students in the academy continue to achieve results, and then thinking about themselves, Lei Peifan has also wavered: "Do I really have the ability to play professionally?" Through the coach's psychological counseling, Lei Peifan still strengthened his confidence: "Since you have chosen the path of professional players, you must firmly go on." "He set his mind right in time and found the motivation to play on the training ground. In 2017, he finished runners-up in the under-18 category of the World Youth Championships.

"I want to stay in the professional arena too much, and only by playing against the masters can I really grow"

Every year, there are students around to embark on the career path, and Lei Peifan's dream is ignited. In 2019, he plucked up the courage to decide to launch a career qualification. Lei Peifan's idea at that time was also very simple, that is, he wanted to go to the long sight: "In fact, he did not reach the level of professional players, but he hoped to feel the atmosphere of the game on the professional field and promote his own progress." ”

In the 3 races of the Snooker Professional Tour Qualifiers, although Lei Peifan failed to break into the final four, he finally got a professional ticket with his points. "The extraordinary play during the game put me on the pro track. But I have a full understanding of my own level, and my ability in all aspects needs to be improved. ”

While there is no lack of luck, it must be admitted that only hard enough effort can seize the opportunity. Lei Peifan came to the British town of Darlington to train, "thinking of a quiet place, sinking down and practicing well", which is more than two hours' drive from the famous snooker city of Sheffield.

Every morning at 8:50 a.m. run for half an hour, at 10 o'clock to the ball room to practice, continue to practice until 5:30 p.m., and then go to the supermarket with a few friends to buy groceries, go home to cook... Lei Peifan's life in the UK is simple and regular, home - ball room - supermarket, three points and one line of life seems boring, but Lei Peifan enjoys it: "At noon in the ball room, you usually have to bring your own food. I take time out every day to learn English again, and my life is also very fulfilling. "Snooker is a quiet sport that requires players to stay calm enough on the field and only with composure can they make the most correct batting choices. Lei Peifan "just happens" not to be afraid of loneliness, and his heart can always remain calm.

"Facing the pros, I feel the gap in every way. In the game, the opponent's opportunity to stay, I often can't grasp it. "Repefan's first professional season was a setback. But the more difficult it is, the more determined he is: "I want to stay in the professional arena too much, and only by dueling with the masters can I really grow." All I can do is work hard, try harder, try harder. ”

"What needs to be improved now is the ability to defend and score consecutively."

This season, Lei Peifan will be under the pressure of relegation: "Every game I have played is still fresh in my memory, whether I win or lose, it is a refinement for me. ”

On March 3 this year, in the first round of the Gibraltar Open, Repefan met Robertson, who was ranked third in the world. Facing a formidable opponent, Lei Peifan was undaunted and scored a single 54 points in the first set, first in the next city. Although Robertson quickly tied the score, Repefan scored another 80 and 51 consecutive singles to win the match point 3:1. Despite Robertson's tenacious efforts to save a match point, Repefan scored a single 56 in the sixth inning to win the game.

"This victory proves my progress and I have the ability to compete with professional masters." Repefan's confidence is back. He then hit the pink ball in the decider in the second round to beat his opponent and reach the Open Round of 32 for the first time this season.

After more than a year of playing in the professional arena, Lei Peifan has improved himself in countless defeats. "Compared to last year, I feel that I have improved in all aspects. The most important thing is that the mentality is more mature, and slowly adapts to the fierce professional arena. ”

Lei Peifan's current style of play is biased towards offense, and defense is his weakness. "What needs to be improved now is the ability to defend and score consecutively, and of course learn to adjust the mentality better." Repefan said. Zhang Dongtao also suggested that Lei Peifan improve his playing style of attacking strong and defending weak, "but I hope that he can always maintain an optimistic attitude, learn more, experience more, and constantly improve his stability." ”

To successfully relegate on the pro field, Repefan also needs to win at least two rounds of this year's Snooker World Championship qualifiers, which is a difficult task. But Lei Peifan was very calm: "Even if you drop the level, it doesn't matter, I came to the present through QSchool, and it's a big deal to start all over again." I've been through it and have confidence in myself. ”

All the past is the prologue, and the future can be expected. Not afraid of the test, not afraid of starting again, the young Lei Peifan is full of courage, with the club in his hand, to leave his own story in the professional arena, but also spell out a brilliant future.

People's Daily ( 2021-03-27 07 edition)