Cheung, who is only the fourth Hongkonger to be selected for the prestigious World Snooker Tour, says he “can’t believe it.”
After winning the WSF Championship, he is eligible to compete professionally for two years. He refers to this as “the biggest achievement in my snooker life.” Cheung Ka-wai, a snooker player from Hong Kong, remarked that after being selected for the first time on the professional World Snooker Tour, he had finally realized his dream.
He accomplished this achievement on Monday by winning the WSF Championship in Albania. In the process, he defeated China’s Gao Yang 5-0 in the championship match to remain unbeaten in his ten matches, losing just four frames overall.
As a reward, Cheung will be the fourth Hongkonger to be selected for the elite tour for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, following Chan Wai-ming, Marco Fu Ka–chun, and Andy Lee Chun-wai. “I still find it hard to believe I am a professional player, but I’m really happy and excited to join the World Snooker Tour,” Cheung remarked. “Every player’s ambition comes true, and this is the greatest accomplishment of my snooker career. “I am really happy to make this happen because I have always wished to be a professional player.”
Even though Cheung has the chance to greatly increase his income, the former IBSF U-18 world champion and gold medallist at the 2022 World Games is worried that cue sports may no longer be eligible for the highest level of Hong Kong government support.
Snooker will be demoted as of right now after March 2025. The financial requirements also state that it must perform well on the table and be included in either the Olympic or Asian Games, neither of which it is currently a part of.
The 24-year-old Cheung stated, “[This triumph] is a significant result for our sport and I hope that the Hong Kong government will consider keeping us,” stressing the need of funding for both professionals and amateurs.
DAILY SCMP Today: International Edition Circular
With our morning briefing on politics, business, and major news from Hong Kong, Asia, and beyond, start your day off well. “Because of our status, we receive a lot of help to travel to all the locations to gain experience, compete, and train with top players,” he stated.
“Hopefully, this will not change in the future, as it will make it easier for me to perform well in the World Snooker Tour.”
The chairman of the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council, Vincent Law Wing-chung, acknowledged that circumstances were “out of their hands.” “I am really happy to make this happen because I have always wished to be a professional player.”
Even though Cheung has the chance to greatly increase his income, the former IBSF U-18 world champion and gold medallist at the 2022 World Games is worried that cue sports may no longer be eligible for the highest level of Hong Kong government support.
Snooker will be demoted as of right now after March 2025. The financial requirements also state that it must perform well on the table and be included in either the Olympic or Asian Games, neither of which it is currently a part of. The 24-year-old Cheung stated, “[This triumph] is a significant result for our sport and I hope that the Hong Kong government will consider keeping us,” stressing the need of funding for both professionals and amateurs.”Because of our status, we receive a lot of help to travel to all the locations to gain experience, compete, and train with top players,” he stated.
“Hopefully, this will not change in the future, as it will make it easier for me to perform well in the World Snooker Tour.”
The chairman of the Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council, Vincent Law Wing-chung, acknowledged that circumstances were “out of their hands.”
“Our points are well over the [benchmark for tournament results], even if our players sit there and don’t play any more competitions,” Law stated. “All we can do is keep pushing the government and let the data speak for itself.
All-star event in Hong Kong will feature snooker players O’Sullivan, Williams, and Trump. Since the government makes the rules, it seems that it can remove any restrictions whenever it pleases. We’ve been in contact with government representatives, but they’ve given us no assurances and have only advised us to keep pursuing our goals.
Separately, on Wednesday, Fu defeated England’s Zak Surety 4-3, overcoming a deficit to advance to the round of 32 at the Welsh Open.
The 86th-ranked former world No. 5 player was scheduled to play Welshman Daniel Wells on Thursday.
