Nothing much seems to have been said about Li He Wen, who has played very strongly all the way to reach the last 8.
Li is a mainland Chinese...a different breed to the Chinese Tapei players. He has had little competition against top level players except for this past year.
I'm quoting from memory, but I believe he played his first season on the Asian 9-ball tour this year, achieveing a 2nd and semi-finalist placing in his first two events. A remarkable performance considering the depth in these events.
I watched him play a bit in the national championships in Suzhou, China this year, and again watched him in the IPT Qualifier here...where his 8-ball was lacking in strategy.
He looks like the kind of guy who doesn't play much, but he's as smart as they come. He looks like a chubby librarian, but this guy is absolutely world class in CB control, potting and a steady demeanor.
He's one to watch in the future...in fact, he's capable of beating anyone here in the WPC as his record this year has shown. He's got that winning ability. He's more an analytical player than a feel player, so the tighter pockets tend to suit him.
His performance here, to reach the last 8, may spur a boom in the game of 9-ball in mainland China, where there are dozens of juniors making regular 100 breaks in snooker...prompted by Ding Jin Hui's success.
Who knows what this could lead to in Mainland China? But consider there is about 25 times the population here than there is in Chinese Taipei (Taiwan).
Also consider that in the city of Shanghai alone there are over 500 registered pool club venues.
A Mainland Chinese player hitting the big time could quicken the boom here.
The least I can say is that we'll see a greater presence of Mainland China players in the international arena in coming years.
Consider also that Ronnie Alcano and Kevin Becker (Germany) came to Shanghai to play an IPT qualifier and were eliminated early. Both of them then went to the US and went through undefeated in their first attempts after that.
I remember that, cause poor I, had to play Ronnie who was the first eliminated player and he wiped me 8-5 with 4 break and runs.
Colin
Li is a mainland Chinese...a different breed to the Chinese Tapei players. He has had little competition against top level players except for this past year.
I'm quoting from memory, but I believe he played his first season on the Asian 9-ball tour this year, achieveing a 2nd and semi-finalist placing in his first two events. A remarkable performance considering the depth in these events.
I watched him play a bit in the national championships in Suzhou, China this year, and again watched him in the IPT Qualifier here...where his 8-ball was lacking in strategy.
He looks like the kind of guy who doesn't play much, but he's as smart as they come. He looks like a chubby librarian, but this guy is absolutely world class in CB control, potting and a steady demeanor.
He's one to watch in the future...in fact, he's capable of beating anyone here in the WPC as his record this year has shown. He's got that winning ability. He's more an analytical player than a feel player, so the tighter pockets tend to suit him.
His performance here, to reach the last 8, may spur a boom in the game of 9-ball in mainland China, where there are dozens of juniors making regular 100 breaks in snooker...prompted by Ding Jin Hui's success.
Who knows what this could lead to in Mainland China? But consider there is about 25 times the population here than there is in Chinese Taipei (Taiwan).
Also consider that in the city of Shanghai alone there are over 500 registered pool club venues.
A Mainland Chinese player hitting the big time could quicken the boom here.
The least I can say is that we'll see a greater presence of Mainland China players in the international arena in coming years.
Consider also that Ronnie Alcano and Kevin Becker (Germany) came to Shanghai to play an IPT qualifier and were eliminated early. Both of them then went to the US and went through undefeated in their first attempts after that.
I remember that, cause poor I, had to play Ronnie who was the first eliminated player and he wiped me 8-5 with 4 break and runs.
Colin
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