Ding Junhui is the leader of China's best gram and one of the top players in the world. He showed amazing talent from an early age, starting to compete professionally at the age of 14 and winning his first ranking tournament at the age of 16, becoming the youngest ranking champion at the time. In his career, he has won 14 ranking tournaments, including the British Championship and the Masters Championship, and is only one World Championship away from achieving a Grand Slam. His highest world ranking is No. 1 and he is the only Chinese player to reach the world No. 1 so far.
Ding Junhui's road to the World Championships can be said to be a journey full of twists and turns and challenges. He made his first appearance at the World Championships in 2004 as an amateur player, winning four straight matches in the qualifying rounds to make it to the main draw, becoming the youngest player to compete at the World Championships at the time. He faced then-world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round of the main event, and although he suffered a heavy 2-10 defeat, his performance still earned praise from opponents and spectators alike.
In 2005, Ding Junhui participated in the World Championships again as ranked 62nd in the world, and he won three consecutive matches in the qualifying round to enter the main draw again. He faced then-world No. 6 Paul Hunter in the first round of the main draw, and he knocked out his opponent with a shock score of 10-6 to become the youngest player in the round of 16 of the World Championships at the time.
He met then-world No. 3 Peter Alberton in the round of 16 and easily advanced to the quarter-finals with a score of 13-7, becoming the youngest World Championship top-eight player at the time. He faced then-world No. 2 Stephen Hendry in the round of eight, and he won 13-10 to become the youngest World Championship semi-finalist at the time. He met the then world No. 4 Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals, and he lost 16-17 and missed the final, but his performance still made history and won him the respect and applause of the global world.
In 2006, Ding Junhui entered the World Championships as the world No. 8, and he faced the then world No. 9 Mark Selby in the first round of the main event, and he easily advanced to the round of 16 with a score of 10-4. He met then-world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan in the round of 16, and he eliminated his opponent with a score of 13-11 to become the youngest World Championship semi-finalist at the time. He faced then-world No. 4 Graeme Dott in the quarter-finals, and he advanced to the semi-finals again with a score of 13-10, becoming the youngest World Championship semi-finalist at the time. He faced then-world No. 3 John Higgins in the semi-finals, and he lost again 15-17 to miss out on the final, but his performance proved his quality and potential.
Until now, although Ding Junhui still has not won the World Championships, it does not affect his historical status.
Ding Junhui