Ding Junhui

Ding Junhui (Chinese: 丁俊晖; pinyin: Dīng Jùnhuī; born 1 April 1987) is a Chinese professional snooker player who is currently World No. 7, and Asian No. 1. He began playing snooker at age 9, and rose to international prominence in 2002 after winning the Asian Under-21 Championship, the Asian Championship, and becoming the youngest winner of the IBSF World Under-21 Championship at age 15. He is regarded as the best Asian player in the history of the sport.

Ding turned professional in 2003, at the age of 16. He achieved his first major professional successes in 2005 when he won the China Open and the UK Championship. He has won eight ranking events, most recently, the Thailand Open in 2012, and reached the World Championship final in 2013, losing to Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Ding made a strong and consistent start to the 2013/14 season, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2013 Australian Open, being runner-up of the 2013 World Cup of Snooker alongside Liang Wenbo, the semi-finals of the 2013 Shanghai Masters, the quarter-finals of the 2013 Thailand Open and the runner up of the 2013 British Open.