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Jonathan White

It was a disappointing night for Chinese snooker on Saturday when UK Championships semi-finalists Lu Ning and Zhou Yuelong both lost, missing out on a first career triple crown final.
World No 1 Judd Trump made light work of Lu, winning 6-2 to book his place in the final in Milton Keynes.
Trump told the BBC he was made to work hard for the win against Lu.
“It is nice to get the win but it was hard fought. I did not play brilliantly but scored heavily at times. Hopefully I have saved my best for Sunday,” he said.

Out of nowhere, a 1️⃣4️⃣1️⃣ for @yuelong_zhou

5-2

Four centuries in six frames #baizeofglory @betway pic.twitter.com/ljaI6VeRZr
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) December 5, 2020

Lu was seen hitting himself in the forehead and shaking his head of the final frames of his loss to Trump, though in the bigger picture he has little to be frustrated with.
The semi-final was a career best and he has a provisional world ranking of 32, a career best for the 26-year-old.
When will Chinese snooker players be in the frame for biggest prizes?
Sunday’s final sees Trump play against world No 3 Neil Robertson. The Australian had progressed in the earlier session, also winning 6-2 in his match against Zhou Yuelong.
Zhou hit a 141 break, the biggest of their match, but that came with Robertson closing on in a decisive frame and the pressure off.
Before that his confidence was shot, especially after potting the cue ball, and no match for the 18-time ranking event winner.

Neil Robertson has beaten a "highly-rated player" and "nice guy" in Zhou Yuelong to reach his third UK Championship final!

Standing between him and a third title: Judd Trump or Lu Ning, who meet at 7pm.

BBC / Eurosport / https://t.co/0mCRoqdsmX #baizeofglory @betway pic.twitter.com/SVBfbTBC0r
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) December 5, 2020

Robertson was full of praise for Zhou, who he called a “nice guy” and a “highly rated player” after securing the win.
Earlier in the week, John Higgins, who Zhou beat in the quarters, talked up the 22-year-old’s career chances.
“I really rate him as a player, he‘s a great young player,” the Scottish potter told Eurosport after losing to the world No 23.

Judd Trump 1️⃣-1️⃣ Lu Ning

Trump bettered a 51 from Lu with a 66 break in the opener.

Lu responds with two visits in the next #baizeofglory pic.twitter.com/ALeRjkisfq
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) December 5, 2020

“He wants to improve every time you see him, he‘s always practising and I think he’ll be the next player after Ding [Junhui] to really break through and win a really big tournament.
Ding Junhui is the only Asian player to reach the top of the rankings – he was most recently world No 1 in 2015 – and the only one to win any of the sport’s so-called triple crown of the UK Championship, Masters and World Championship.
He won his third UK Championship last year to add to a Masters win in 2011 that leaves him a World Championship win from a career triple crown.
O’Sullivan prefers China to UK as promoters ‘do not abuse you’
Ding went out to David Grace in the second round this year and hopes of another Chinese winner to follow in his footsteps ended with Saturday’s semi-finals.
Higgins said that Zhou might yet have his time, though.
“He‘s got a great temperament and all-round game, and he’ll be here for years to come.”


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World Snooker

UK Championships: Lu Ning and Zhou Yuelong miss out on first triple crown final

Neil Robertson of Australia competes during the 2019 World Snooker China Open tournament in Beijing. Photo: Xinhua

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China’s Ding Junhui holds the trophy after winning the 2019 UK Championship with victory over Stephen Maguire in the final. Photo: Xinhua

(190120) -- LONDON, Jan. 20, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Ding Junhui of China competes during his semifinal match against Ronnie O'Sullivan of England at Snooker Masters 2019 in London, Britain on Jan. 19, 2019. O'Sullivan won 6 to 3. (Xinhua/Tim Ireland)

Chinese snooker player Xiao Guodong lines up a shot during his match at the Snooker World Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield England on Wednesday April 19, 2017. (Nigel French/ via AP)

World Snooker Championship: Ding Junhui still shoulders China burden despite years of investment in the future

Ding Junhui of China leaves after losing to Judd Trump in the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible. Photo: Xinhua

This photo taken on May 2, 2017 shows 19-year-old Xu Si playing a shot during practice at the World Snooker College in Beijing. At the World Snooker College in China's capital, there are no textbooks or exams, just rows upon rows of billiard tables and an ever-growing trophy case. Clad in T-shirts and baggy sweatpants, the lanky teenage students at the Beijing boarding school -- the first of its kind in China -- practise snooker eight hours a day in the hopes of following in the footsteps of their idol Ding Junhui. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker / TO GO WITH Snooker-CHN-Ding, FOCUS by Yanan WANG

This photo taken on May 3, 2017 shows coach Hu Bing (L) watching over 13-year-old Ma Hailong during practice at the World Snooker College in Beijing. At the World Snooker College in China's capital, there are no textbooks or exams, just rows upon rows of billiard tables and an ever-growing trophy case. Clad in T-shirts and baggy sweatpants, the lanky teenage students at the Beijing boarding school -- the first of its kind in China -- practise snooker eight hours a day in the hopes of following in the footsteps of their idol Ding Junhui. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker / TO GO WITH Snooker-CHN-Ding, FOCUS by Yanan WANG

Seven-time World Championship winner Stephen Hendry of Britain talks with three-year-old Wang Wuka (R) as they play snooker in Beijing, September 22, 2013. Wuka's father Wang Yin, a snooker fan, has been teaching his son the sport for more than two years. The boy, who vows to be a top snooker player, undergoes five hours of training daily to shoot the balls with precision. Picture taken September 22, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA - Tags: SPORT SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) CHINA OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN CHINA

This photo taken on May 2, 2017 shows 13-year-old student Ma Hailong stretching to play a shot at the World Snooker College in Beijing. At the World Snooker College in China's capital, there are no textbooks or exams, just rows upon rows of billiard tables and an ever-growing trophy case. Clad in T-shirts and baggy sweatpants, the lanky teenage students at the Beijing boarding school -- the first of its kind in China -- practise snooker eight hours a day in the hopes of following in the footsteps of their idol Ding Junhui. / AFP PHOTO / Greg Baker / TO GO WITH Snooker-CHN-Ding, FOCUS by Yanan WANG

(190430) -- SHEFFIELD, April 30, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Ding Junhui of China competes during the third session of the second round match between Ding Junhui of China and Judd Trump of England at World Snooker Championship 2019 in Sheffield, Britain on April 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Jon Super)

(190430) -- SHEFFIELD, April 30, 2019 (Xinhua) -- China's Zhou Yuelong (R) competes during the third session of the second round match between China's Zhou Yuelong and England's Ali Carter at World Snooker Championship 2019 in Sheffield, Britain on April 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Jon Super)

(060320) -- BEIJING, March 20, 2006 (Xinhua) -- Ding Junhui, 2005 China Open champion, hits the ball during his training for the 2006 World Snooker China Open Championships in Beijing, March 20, 2006. The tournament begins Monday at Beijing University Students Gymnasium and the final will be staged on Sunday. (Xinhua Photo/Meng Yongmin)(wll/why)

Odds against China’s World Snooker Championship debutants as record six mainland players make the first round

Ding Junhui of China (L) is kissed by Ronnie O'Sullivan of England after their Snooker Masters 2019 meeting in January. Photo: Xinhua

World Snooker Championship: Yan Bingtao takes early lead against world No 1 Judd Trump

Yan Bingtao of China holds a 5-3 lead going into the second day of his round two match against world number one Judd Trump in the World Snooker Championship. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

World Snooker Championship: Yan Bingtao survives scare to progress, faces world’s best Trump in round 2

Yan Bingtao had to fend off a stunning comeback from Elliot Slesson in the first round of the World Snooker Championship on Monday evening. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

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World No 1 Judd Trump will meet third-ranked Neil Robertson in Milton Keynes showpiece
Young star Zhou has been tipped to follow Ding Junhui to the top by John Higgins, who he beat in the quarter-finals



World No 1 snooker star Judd Trump will meet third-ranked Neil Robertson in Milton Keynes showpiece after disappointment for both Chinese semi-finalists.
