Shooting stars — why GBA is China's snooker hub

Long way to the top

Wu's path to the pinnacle of the sport was a circuitous one that started at his hometown of Lanzhou, a city best known for its beef noodles, in Gansu province.

He began playing snooker at a young age, initially under the guidance of his father, who later sold his business to support his son's career.

The young prodigy was later mentored in several cities in Guangdong. One of his childhood coaches, UK-born Roger Leighton, remembers him as a "funny and cheeky"11-year-old kid.

"He was always laughing and giggling and he's still a bit like that now," Leighton said in an interview with Metro UK.

"But he's more serious because obviously now he's at the top, at the business end. He's not the complete player yet, but he's getting there."

Wu's childhood memories are of the sheer joy snooker brought him. "I loved it straight away," he said in an interview with China Daily.

"My dad was into it (at that time), and the first time I tried it, I just enjoyed playing. When I first picked up a cue, I could set up properly and hit a ball. I think my dad, back then, thought that I had a bit of a feel for it."

His parents made multiple sacrifices to help his career.

There were "so many things — my dad buying me my first cue, for example; my parents believing in me, supporting me, letting me give up school to go down this path. It wasn't one big thing — it was every single day, building up over time", he explained.

He moved to Sheffield at age 16 with his father. At first it was hard, he conceded.

"Suddenly, being in a new country, a new life, and (with) new challenges, it was tough," Wu said.

"The place we stayed in had no separate bedroom. The living room and kitchen were all one space — the bed was right next to the kitchen. It was tiny, no windows, no ventilation. I shared a bed with my dad."

When asked if the austere living conditions dulled his passion for the sport, Wu replied: "No, not at all. If anything, it helped me. It made me more resilient when things got difficult."

One of the toughest decisions he made was becoming a full-time player when he was a teenager. Wu earned a two-year professional tour card for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, turning pro at the age of 17 and being named Rookie of the Year in 2022.

Wu told China Daily he discussed the proposition with his parents. "But to be honest, I didn't really have a deep understanding back then (about what going full-time would mean). I was young, I just knew I wanted to play, and I was excited. I didn't think too far ahead about the future. But I did talk to them about it."

"They told me I could only choose one path. And if I chose this, I had to do it properly. They said I needed to think it through and take responsibility for my own life."