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Mike Chan

Hong Kong teenager Shaun Liu Yu-sang has vowed to continue targeting a place on snooker’s elite circuit in the UK even if his sport has its funding cut in his hometown.
Liu, 14, has been on a fast track to the top for some time and this month again showed his precocious talent when he was narrowly beaten in the final of the English Under-18 Snooker Championship.
After his nail-biting 5-4 loss to Vladislav Gradinari of Moldova in the decider in Northampton, Liu set himself the goal of turning professional next year.
“I am practising hard for it and my target is to become a pro player when I am 16,” Liu said during a trip back to Hong Kong. “I still have more than a year – the earliest possible would be the start of the 2026-27 season.

“I started to think about this after I moved to England in early 2023. I have better chances there, with a lot more competitions, so I am getting closer with every improvement I have made.”
With the current season approaching its end, the next campaign’s Q Tour, Q School and WSF Championship all offer pathways for Liu to reach the top tier.
“To become a professional, the biggest issue for me to overcome first is on the psychological front,” said Liu, who won the English Under-14 Championship when he was aged only 12.
“My current mindset is to enjoy as I play. I won’t feel I have much chance against the better players. But if I am to turn pro, my first goal must be to be able to beat them. I can’t just enjoy playing snooker any more, but have to beat those better players.”
Shaun’s father Cody Liu Ngai-shing added that he was determined his son would hold on to his dream if funding from the Hong Kong Sports Institute were to be slashed or lost entirely.
Billiard sports are poised to lose Tier A status at the institute, having not met the criterion of inclusion in enough editions of Olympic or Asian Games. Lacking Olympic status, they were last part of the Asiad in Guangzhou in 2010, though will return in Doha in 2030.
“There might be more difficulties for us financially, but it won’t change anything,” Cody Liu said. “I decided to move to England because of my son’s potential career as a professional snooker player.
“Shaun is now under the Junior A category and is receiving around HK$7,000 a month. His expenses to train at the Ding Junhui Snooker Academy in Sheffield have also been covered by the institute.
“There will be impacts if we lose all the funding and subsidies, but it will not affect our decision. I will figure out how for my son.”

Liu Jnr has made waves in England, rarely more so than 15 months ago in the Snooker Shoot Out, when he became the youngest winner of a televised ranking event match.
He said he hoped to inspire local players even younger than himself, just as he has learned from rubbing shoulders with China’s Xu Si at the academy set up by the legendary Ding.
“Xu is hardworking and has become really good this season,” he said. “I need to learn from his work ethic and mentality.
“I need to have a better temperament. Xu is very calm and handles stressful situations very well. I need to stay calm when I’m not playing well.”


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World Snooker

Hong Kong’s teen sensation snooker player Liu eyes pro status even if funding cut

Shaun Liu has his sights set on the professional ranks. Photo: Elson Li

Shaun Liu said he would soon need to adjust from playing for fun to prioritising results. Photo: Elson Li

Shaun Liu and his father Cody at the practice table during their visit to Hong Kong. Photo: Elson Li

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Stuart Bingham plays Neil Robertson in Sunday’s final at Kai Tak Arena. Photo: Dickson Lee

Stuart Bingham (right) with Neil Robertson during the trophy presentation. Photo: Dickson Lee

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Neil Robertson poses with the trophy after winning the World Grand Prix final at Kai Tak Arena. Photo: Dickson Lee

Neil Robertson enjoys the adulation of Hong Kong fans after winning Sunday’s final. Photo: Dickson Lee

Sport

Hong Kong

Other Sport

Shaun Liu moved to England in 2023 to pursue a snooker career, and the 14-year-old is not going to abandon his dream


Shaun Liu moved to England in 2023 to pursue a snooker career, and the 14-year-old is not going to abandon his dream.


Hong Kong Sports Institute