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{{Infobox snooker player
{{Infobox snooker player
| name = Marco Fu
| name = Steve Fu
| image = Marco Fu PHC 2011.png
| image = Marco Fu PHC 2011.png
| caption = Marco Fu at the [[2011 Paul Hunter Classic]]
| caption = Marco Fu at the [[2011 Paul Hunter Classic]]
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{{MedalBottom}}
{{MedalBottom}}


'''Marco Fu Ka-chun'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hkolympic.org/article/sport_star_interviews/972|title=Fu Ka-Chun, Marco|publisher=Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China|accessdate=14 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gz2010.cn/info/ENG/ZB/ZBB101A_BS@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ENG_number=215720.htm|title=Billiard Sports Biography – FU Ka Chun Marco|publisher=The Official Website of the 16th Asian Games|accessdate=14 February 2011}}</ref> ({{zh|c=傅家俊|p=Fù Jiājùn}}; [[Yale Romanization|Yale]]: Fu6 Ka1 Chun3; born 8 January 1978 in [[Hong Kong]]), commonly known as '''Marco Fu''', is a professional [[snooker]] player from [[Hong Kong]]. He currently resides in [[Happy Valley, Hong Kong|Happy Valley]].<ref name="World Snooker Profile">{{World Snooker|id=7755|name=Marco Fu|accessdate=11 September 2008}}</ref> He is best known .com/squat/article.php?articleId=316 Squat Issue 2.5 Marco Fu Q&A]</ref> Before turning professional, Fu won the World Amateur and World Under-21 Championships, both in 1997.<ref name="squatqa" />
'''Marco Fu Ka-chun'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hkolympic.org/article/sport_star_interviews/972|title=Fu Ka-Chun, Marco|publisher=Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China|accessdate=14 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gz2010.cn/info/ENG/ZB/ZBB101A_BS@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ENG_number=215720.htm|title=Billiard Sports Biography – FU Ka Chun Marco|publisher=The Official Website of the 16th Asian Games|accessdate=14 February 2011}}</ref> ({{zh|c=傅家俊|p=Fù Jiājùn}}; [[Yale Romanization|Yale]]: Fu6 Ka1 Chun3; born 8 January 1978 in [[Hong Kong]]), commonly known as '''Marco Fu''', is a professional [[snoooker]] player from [[Hong Kong]]. He currently resides in [[Happy Valley, Hong Kong|Happy Valley]].<ref name="World Snooker Profile">{{World Snooker|id=7755|name=Marco Fu|accessdate=11 September 2008}}</ref> He is best known for winning the [[2007 Grand Prix (snooker)|2007 Grand Prix]], beating [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] in the final, and for being runner-up in the [[2008 UK Championship (snooker)|2008 UK Championship]]. He also reached the semi-finals of the [[2006 World Snooker Championship|2006 World Championship]].

==Life and career==
===Early career===
Fu started playing snooker at the age of nine, but did not start playing regularly until he was 15.<ref name="squatqa" /> Fu was born in Hong Kong and emigrated to [[Vancouver]], [[Canada]] with his parents at the age of 12. After his high school graduation at age 18, Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council Co. Ltd President [[Joseph Lo]] invited him to return to [[Hong Kong]] to begin his career as a professional snooker player.<ref name="squatqa">[http://batgwa.com/squat/article.php?articleId=316 Squat Issue 2.5 – Marco Fu Q&A]</ref> Before turning professional, Fu won the World Amateur and World Under-21 Championships, both in 1997.<ref name="squatqa" />


===First year as a professional===
===First year as a professional===
In 1998, the year he turned professional, Fu reached the final of the [[1998 Grand Prix (snooker)|Grand Prix]], beating [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] (5–2) and then [[Peter Ebdon]]
In 1998, the year he turned professional, Fu reached the final of the [[1998 Grand Prix (snooker)|Grand Prix]], beating [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] (5–2) and then [[Peter Ebdon]]
(5–3) in the process.<ref name="sl2" /> An in-form [[Stephen Lee]] proved too strong for Fu in the final, defeating him 9–2, but Fu nevertheless rose dramatically through the rankings, reaching number 15 in the world for the 2000/01 season.<ref name="gsc">{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Players/Global_Asia/Hong_Kong/p_profile038.htm|title=Player Profile: Marco Fu|accessdate=21 April 2007|publisher=The Global Snooker Centre|year=2005|author=Janie Watkins}}</ref> When he first turned professional, he was ranked 377th in the world.<ref name="sl2" /> During the rest of the [[Snooker season 1998/1999|1998/99 season]], Fu qualifed Fort Lauderdale four more ranking tournaments,<ref name="r9899" /> including the [[1999 World Snooker Championship|World Championship]], winning four qualifying matches before losing to [[James Wattana]] 8–10 in the first round of the main draw.<ref name="r9899">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/cgi-bin/player.cgi?season=9899&player=Marco+Fu|title=WWW Snooker: Marco Fu (Hong Kong) – Stats from the 1998/99 ranking tournaments|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
(5–3) in the process.<ref name="sl2" /> An in-form [[Stephen Lee]] proved too strong for Fu in the final, defeating him 9–2, but Fu nevertheless rose dramatically through the rankings, reaching number 15 in the world for the 2000/01 season.<ref name="gsc">{{Cite web|url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Players/Global_Asia/Hong_Kong/p_profile038.htm|title=Player Profile: Marco Fu|accessdate=21 April 2007|publisher=The Global Snooker Centre|year=2005|author=Janie Watkins}}</ref> When he first turned professional, he was ranked 377th in the world.<ref name="sl2" /> During the rest of the [[Snooker season 1998/1999|1998/99 season]], Fu qualifed fort michigan four more ranking tournaments,<ref name="r9899" /> including the [[1999 World Snooker Championship|World Championship]], winning four qualifying matches before losing to [[James Wattana]] 8–10 in the first round of the main draw.<ref name="r9899">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/cgi-bin/player.cgi?season=9899&player=Marco+Fu|title=WWW Snooker: Marco Fu (Hong Kong) – Stats from the 1998/99 ranking tournaments|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


He was voted WPBSA Newcomer of the Year<ref name="World Snooker Profile" /> and WSA Young Player of the Year in 1999.<ref name="sl2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/season01-02/profiles/mfu/|title=Snooker Player Profiles: Marco Fu|accessdate=21 April 2007|publisher=Sporting Life}}</ref> Tipped by many pundits as a potential champion of the game,<ref name="gsc" /> Fu's subsequent performance was disappointing, and he slid back down the rankings.
He was voted WPBSA Newcomer of the Year<ref name="World Snooker Profile" /> and WSA Young Player of the Year in 1999.<ref name="sl2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/season01-02/profiles/mfu/|title=Snooker Player Profiles: Marco Fu|accessdate=21 April 2007|publisher=Sporting Life}}</ref> Tipped by many pundits as a potential champion of the game,<ref name="gsc" /> Fu's subsequent performance was disappointing, and he slid back down the rankings.
Line 56: Line 60:
As a result of his run to the quarter finals of the World Championship the previous season, he climbed up to number 19 for the [[2003/2004 snooker season|2003/2004 season]].<ref name="r0304">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0304/ranking.asp|title=Embassy World Rankings 2003/2004|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> This meant he only had to play one qualifying match to progress to the main draw of the tournaments. He qualified for all the ranking tournaments except the World Championship, his best results including a third round loss to [[Michael Holt (snooker player)|Michael Holt]] in the [[2003 LG Cup (snooker)|LG Cup]]<ref name="lgcup2003">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/lgcup2003_res.shtml|title=LG Cup 2003|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> and reaching the semi-finals of the [[2004 Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]], beating [[Liu Song (snooker player)|Liu Song]], [[Matthew Stevens]], [[Ken Doherty]] and [[Stephen Hendry]] before succumbing to [[Steve Davis]].<ref name="welsh2004">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/wo2004_res.shtml|title=Welsh Open 2004|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> After a consistent 2003/2004 season, he regained a top 16 position for [[2004/2005 snooker world rankings|2004/2005]] season, ranked 16.<ref name="r0405">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0405/ranking.asp|title=Embassy World Rankings 2004/2005|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref>
As a result of his run to the quarter finals of the World Championship the previous season, he climbed up to number 19 for the [[2003/2004 snooker season|2003/2004 season]].<ref name="r0304">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0304/ranking.asp|title=Embassy World Rankings 2003/2004|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> This meant he only had to play one qualifying match to progress to the main draw of the tournaments. He qualified for all the ranking tournaments except the World Championship, his best results including a third round loss to [[Michael Holt (snooker player)|Michael Holt]] in the [[2003 LG Cup (snooker)|LG Cup]]<ref name="lgcup2003">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/lgcup2003_res.shtml|title=LG Cup 2003|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> and reaching the semi-finals of the [[2004 Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]], beating [[Liu Song (snooker player)|Liu Song]], [[Matthew Stevens]], [[Ken Doherty]] and [[Stephen Hendry]] before succumbing to [[Steve Davis]].<ref name="welsh2004">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/wo2004_res.shtml|title=Welsh Open 2004|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> After a consistent 2003/2004 season, he regained a top 16 position for [[2004/2005 snooker world rankings|2004/2005]] season, ranked 16.<ref name="r0405">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0405/ranking.asp|title=Embassy World Rankings 2004/2005|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref>


The [[2004/2005 snooker season|following season]] was less consistent, although he qualified for all tournaments except the [[2005 Malta Cup|Malta Cup]], and his best result was a quarter-final loss to [[Ding Junhui]] at the [[2005 Crust Open (snooker)|China Open]].<ref name="chn2005">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0405/co2005_res.shtml|title=China Open 2005|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> He finished the season ranked 25, falling seven places.<ref name="r0506">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0506/ranking.asp|title=Embassy World Rankings 2005/2006|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> The [[2005/2006 snooker season|2005/2006 season]] did not look better either, a series of first round defeats saw him provisionally drop out of the top 32. However, he had a good run at the [[2006 World Snooker Championship|2006 World Championship]], beating three seeded players – [[Alan McManus]] 10–3, [[Stephen Maguire]] 13–4, and [[Ken Doherty]] 13–10 – to reach the semi-finals, where he lost to world no.7 and 2002 World Champion [[Peter Ebdon]] 16–17. In that match, Fu was 9–15 down with only one session left to play, but won seven out of the next eight frames to send the match into the deciding frame, which Ebdon eventually won.<ref name="sl1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/worldchampionships2007/profiles/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=snooker/07/04/09/manual_152142.html|
The [[2004/2005 snooker season|following season]] was less consistent, although he qualified for all tournaments except the [[2005 Malta Cup|Malta Cup]], and his best result was a quarter-final loss to [[Ding Junhui]] at the [[2005 China Open (snooker)|China Open]].<ref name="chn2005">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0405/co2005_res.shtml|title=China Open 2005|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> He finished the season ranked 25, falling seven places.<ref name="r0506">{{Cite web|url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0506/ranking.asp|title=Embassy World Rankings 2005/2006|accessdate=8 September 2008|publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> The [[2005/2006 snooker season|2005/2006 season]] did not look better either, a series of first round defeats saw him provisionally drop out of the top 32. However, he had a good run at the [[2006 World Snooker Championship|2006 World Championship]], beating three seeded players – [[Alan McManus]] 10–3, [[Stephen Maguire]] 13–4, and [[Ken Doherty]] 13–10 – to reach the semi-finals, where he lost to world no.7 and 2002 World Champion [[Peter Ebdon]] 16–17. In that match, Fu was 9–15 down with only one session left to play, but won seven out of the next eight frames to send the match into the deciding frame, which Ebdon eventually won.<ref name="sl1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/worldchampionships2007/profiles/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=snooker/07/04/09/manual_152142.html|
title=World Snooker – Marco Fu|accessdate=21 April 2007|publisher=Sporting Life}}</ref> Fu's success in this tournament can be largely attributed to working with coach [[Terry Griffiths]]. Fu had used Griffiths for a short while some years ago – but did not commit to the necessary changes in technique.<ref name="gsc" /> This run enable him to stay in the world top 32 for next season, ranked 22.<ref>{{cite web|title=2005-6 Main Tour Two Year Rankings|url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/rankings/05-6twoyrrks.htm|work=globalsnookercentre.co.uk|publisher=Global Snooker Centre|archiveurl=http://replay.web.archive.org/20090108170237/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/rankings/05-6twoyrrks.htm|archivedate=8 January 2009}}</ref>
title=World Snooker – Marco Fu|accessdate=21 April 2007|publisher=Sporting Life}}</ref> Fu's success in this tournament can be largely attributed to working with coach [[Terry Griffiths]]. Fu had used Griffiths for a short while some years ago – but did not commit to the necessary changes in technique.<ref name="gsc" /> This run enable him to stay in the world top 32 for next season, ranked 22.<ref>{{cite web|title=2005-6 Main Tour Two Year Rankings|url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/rankings/05-6twoyrrks.htm|work=globalsnookercentre.co.uk|publisher=Global Snooker Centre|archiveurl=http://replay.web.archive.org/20090108170237/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/rankings/05-6twoyrrks.htm|archivedate=8 January 2009}}</ref>



Revision as of 11:55, 8 December 2011

Steve Fu
Marco Fu at the 2011 Paul Hunter Classic
Born (1978-01-08) 8 January 1978 (age 46)
Hong Kong
Sport country Hong Kong
Professional1998–
Highest ranking8
Tournament wins
Ranking1
Marco Fu
Medal record
Representing  Hong Kong
Men's Snooker
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1998 Bangkok Team
Silver medal – second place 2002 Busan Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Team
Silver medal – second place 2006 Doha Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2006 Doha Team
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Singles
East Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2009 Hong Kong Team

Marco Fu Ka-chun[3][4] (Chinese: 傅家俊; pinyin: Fù Jiājùn; Yale: Fu6 Ka1 Chun3; born 8 January 1978 in Hong Kong), commonly known as Marco Fu, is a professional snoooker player from Hong Kong. He currently resides in Happy Valley.[2] He is best known for winning the 2007 Grand Prix, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final, and for being runner-up in the 2008 UK Championship. He also reached the semi-finals of the 2006 World Championship.

Life and career

Early career

Fu started playing snooker at the age of nine, but did not start playing regularly until he was 15.[5] Fu was born in Hong Kong and emigrated to Vancouver, Canada with his parents at the age of 12. After his high school graduation at age 18, Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council Co. Ltd President Joseph Lo invited him to return to Hong Kong to begin his career as a professional snooker player.[5] Before turning professional, Fu won the World Amateur and World Under-21 Championships, both in 1997.[5]

First year as a professional

In 1998, the year he turned professional, Fu reached the final of the Grand Prix, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan (5–2) and then Peter Ebdon (5–3) in the process.[6] An in-form Stephen Lee proved too strong for Fu in the final, defeating him 9–2, but Fu nevertheless rose dramatically through the rankings, reaching number 15 in the world for the 2000/01 season.[7] When he first turned professional, he was ranked 377th in the world.[6] During the rest of the 1998/99 season, Fu qualifed fort michigan four more ranking tournaments,[8] including the World Championship, winning four qualifying matches before losing to James Wattana 8–10 in the first round of the main draw.[8]

He was voted WPBSA Newcomer of the Year[2] and WSA Young Player of the Year in 1999.[6] Tipped by many pundits as a potential champion of the game,[7] Fu's subsequent performance was disappointing, and he slid back down the rankings.

Rise through the rankings

In the 1999/2000 season, with Fu now ranked 35 in the world, he received automatic entry into the main draw of most of the ranking tournaments. Although he failed to repeat the success of reaching the final of the Grand Prix, he made a credible run to the quarter finals before losing to Allister Carter. Other achievements of note include reaching semi finals of the Malta Grand Prix and the Scottish Open.[9]

In the 2000/2001 season Fu was ranked 15th in the world,[10] his first appearance in the top 16. However, a succession of defeats in the last 16, and a first round defeat in the World Championship to Chris Small, saw him fall out of the top 16 for next season.[11] In the 2001/02 season Fu's his best result was a last 16 appearance at the LG Cup.[12] He failed to qualify for three ranking events, including the World Championship, and, as a result, his ranking fell to 27 for the following season, his lowest in two seasons.[13]

The 2002/2003 season brought better luck for Fu, although prior to the Welsh Open his best result was reaching the third round of the UK Championship in December 2002, where he was defeated 9–7 by Ronnie O'Sullivan. However, at the Welsh Open in February 2003, he produced a run to the semi finals. Fu whitewashed Stephen Lee 5–0 in the second round and beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 5–3 in the quarter-finals, before losing his semi-final 6–4 to Stephen Hendry, who went on to win the title.[14]

Going into the 2003 World Championship three months later, after first round losses at the European[15] and Scottish Open[16] suggested he would not go far in the tournament, particularly as his first round opponent was world No. 1 and runaway favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan. Fu reached the first of his two World Championship quarter-finals to date. In what Snooker Scene magazine described as "one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game", the unseeded 25-year-old overcame the odds to defeat O'Sullivan in their first round clash. Fu dominated this match from the outset, opening up a 6–3 overnight lead; and although O'Sullivan made four centuries (including a maximum 147 break), Fu never looked to be in trouble and won 10–6.[17] Fu subsequently eliminated Alan McManus 13–7 in the second round[18] before losing 7–13 to Stephen Lee in his quarter-final match.[19]

In 2003, Fu also won his first title since turning professional in the invitational Premier League, beating Mark Williams 9–5 in the final in Sunderland. This was the first time the title went outside of the British Isles.[20]

First ranking tournament title

As a result of his run to the quarter finals of the World Championship the previous season, he climbed up to number 19 for the 2003/2004 season.[21] This meant he only had to play one qualifying match to progress to the main draw of the tournaments. He qualified for all the ranking tournaments except the World Championship, his best results including a third round loss to Michael Holt in the LG Cup[22] and reaching the semi-finals of the Welsh Open, beating Liu Song, Matthew Stevens, Ken Doherty and Stephen Hendry before succumbing to Steve Davis.[23] After a consistent 2003/2004 season, he regained a top 16 position for 2004/2005 season, ranked 16.[24]

The following season was less consistent, although he qualified for all tournaments except the Malta Cup, and his best result was a quarter-final loss to Ding Junhui at the China Open.[25] He finished the season ranked 25, falling seven places.[26] The 2005/2006 season did not look better either, a series of first round defeats saw him provisionally drop out of the top 32. However, he had a good run at the 2006 World Championship, beating three seeded players – Alan McManus 10–3, Stephen Maguire 13–4, and Ken Doherty 13–10 – to reach the semi-finals, where he lost to world no.7 and 2002 World Champion Peter Ebdon 16–17. In that match, Fu was 9–15 down with only one session left to play, but won seven out of the next eight frames to send the match into the deciding frame, which Ebdon eventually won.[27] Fu's success in this tournament can be largely attributed to working with coach Terry Griffiths. Fu had used Griffiths for a short while some years ago – but did not commit to the necessary changes in technique.[7] This run enable him to stay in the world top 32 for next season, ranked 22.[28]

The 2006/2007 season was not hugely successful. He skipped the UK Championship to play in the Asian games (winning two medals there), and, largely due to the fact that he was affected by a virus, was unable to repeat his World Championship form of the previous year, losing 3–10 to Anthony Hamilton in the first round,[29] a defeat that saw Fu start the 2007/2008 season ranked 27th in the world – a drop of five places. His best result that season was a quarter-final run in the China Open, where he lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan.[30]

Marco Fu after winning the 2007 Grand Prix

The 2007/2008 season was to bring his first ranking title. Following a first round loss at the Shanghai Masters and nine years after his first appearance in a ranking final at the 1998 Grand Prix, Fu won the Grand Prix — his first ever victory in a ranking event. After defeating the reigning World Champion John Higgins in the first knock-out round 5–4, Liu Song 5–0 in the quarter-finals and Gerard Greene 6–5 in the semi-finals, he faced Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.[31] After falling 3–4 behind after the first session, he went on to win 9–6, with a break of 76 in the final frame.[32] Previously, Fu's biggest title has only been the invitational Premier League which he captured in 2003. For the rest of the season, he reached the quarter-finals of the UK Championship, losing to Mark Selby; and he also reached the semi-finals of the Masters, losing to Stephen Lee.

He qualified for the World Championship, with a 10–3 win over Alan McManus.[33] He played China's Ding Junhui in the first round, and it was an emphatic fight, which he lost 9–10.[34] He capped a successful season by finishing in career high 14 in the rankings, a climb of thirteen places from the previous season.[35] This guaranteed Fu an automatic place at the latter stages of tournaments for the next season without having to play pre-qualifying matches, as well as being seeded.

2008/2009

The 2008/2009 season started with a last 32 loss to Barry Hawkins in the Northern Ireland Trophy and crashed out in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters to Mark Selby. At the Grand Prix, he lost in the second round to Ronnie O'Sullivan, a repeat of last season's final. Things did not improve for Fu in the Bahrain Championship, where he lost in the first round to Dominic Dale. At the UK Championship, he beat Barry Hawkins in the first round, followed by Matthew Stevens and Joe Perry. In the semi-finals, Fu knocked out the 2008 World Championship runner up, Ali Carter, after a great comeback. At one stage in the match he was trailing 2–5, but Carter missed a simple pink ball in the eighth frame, allowing Fu to win the frame, ending the first session trailing by 3–5. He levelled to 6–6, and then led by 8–6, making three centuries in the process. In the final, Fu was defeated (after conceding) by Shaun Murphy in a tense match by 10 frames to 9. It was a match highly affected by tension and both of the players did not produce their best form, the only century being a 102 from Fu. He suffered a first round defeat to John Higgins at the Masters, decided by a fluked last black, in what was a great effort to nearly force a decider. In the Welsh Open, Fu was defeated by Neil Robertson in the quarter-finals, having beaten Fergal O'Brien en route as well as runaway favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan. In the World Championship, he advanced to the second round by beating Joe Swail 10–4 comfortably. He faced Shaun Murphy in the next round, where he lost 3–13.

2009/2010

The 2009/10 season started with a last 16 loss to Ronnie O'Sullivan by 2–5 at the Shanghai Masters. Along the way, Fu edged out Nigel Bond 5–4. At the Grand Prix he lost in the last 32 4–5 against Mark Davis.

In December 2009, Fu participated in the East Asian Games, held in Hong Kong. In the singles competition he was beaten by Chinese Yu Delu 4–1 in the quarter-finals.[36] But later won a gold medal in the team competition with Hong Kong.[37] Fu lost his next three first round matches. He lost against Peter Lines 3–9 at the UK Championship,[38] Peter Ebdon 2–6 at the Masters[39] and Andrew Higginson 2–5 at the Welsh Open.[40] Later Fu captured the Championship League by beating Mark Allen 3–2 in the final[41] and reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 China Open, where he lost 1–5 against Mark Williams.[42] At the last ranking event of the season, the World Championship Fu faced Martin Gould at the Crucible. Fu lead 5–4 after the first session, after he missed a straight red for 6–3.[43] Ultimately Fu lost the match 9–10.[44] As a result Fu slid down to 14th in the world rankings.

2010/2011

Marco Fu at the 2011 German Masters

In the 2010/2011 season Fu lost in the first round of the Shanghai Masters 4–5 against Mark Davis[45] and the World Open 1–3 against Andrew Higginson.[46] Fu was ranked 16th in second revision of the rankings. In November 2010, Fu participated in the Asian Games, held in Guangzhou. He won the singles competition by defeating Ding Junhui 4–2 in the final.[47] Fu reached the semi-finals of the Premier League, where he lost 2–5 against Shaun Murphy.[48] Fu reached the second round of the UK Championship, where he lost 2–9 against Stuart Bingham.[49] Fu also participated at the Players Tour Championship, where his best results came at the first and second event in Sheffield, where he reached the semi-finals, but lost 1–4 against Stephen Maguire and 2–4 against Mark Selby respectively.[48] Fu finished 16th on the Players Tour Championship Order of Merit.[50]

Fu has reached the final of the Masters, where he lost 4–10 against Ding Junhui, a final noteable for being the first all Asian final.[51] [52]Fu reached the semi-finals of the German Masters, where he lost 3–6 against Mark Williams.[53] In Welsh Open, he lost 0–4 against Mark Williams in last 32, after winning his qualifying match 4–1 against Joe Swail.[54] Fu lost his first round matches at the China Open and World Championship, 3–5 against Judd Trump and 8–10 against Martin Gould respectively.[55][56]

Status and records

Fu is a prolific break-builder.[57] He achieved his highest break of 147 at the 2000 Scottish Masters[7] and has compiled 200 competitive century breaks during his career.[58] Fu once held the record for the longest frame in the history of televised snooker. The record of 77 minutes held with Mark Selby was played out during the decisive final frame during the four quarter-final match at the 2007 UK Championship held in Telford, England. Fu eventually lost the match 7–9.[59] However, the record was then broken by Shaun Murphy and Dave Harold in a match at the China Open later in the same season. The new record is 93 minutes.[60]

Personal life

Fu was educated in Vancouver, Canada and has had spells living in Wales and Scotland, and now stays in London with wife Shirley, who he married in May 2011. He is a supporter of Manchester United and also enjoys the music of Avril Lavigne.[61]

Shirley also comes from Hong Kong. She has completed her Masters at a London University in Supply Chain Logistics.[62]

Career finals

Ranking event finals: 3 (1 title, 2 runner-ups)

Legend
World Championship (0–0)
UK Championship (0–1)
Other (1–1)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1998 Grand Prix England Stephen Lee 2–9
Winner 1. 2007 Grand Prix England Ronnie O'Sullivan 9–6
Runner-up 2. 2008 UK Championship England Shaun Murphy 9–10

Non-ranking tournaments

Amateur tournaments

References

  1. ^ "Marco Fu". Yahoo! UK. 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "Official player profile of Marco Fu". wst.tv. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. "Players" section. Retrieved 11 September 2008.
  3. ^ "Fu Ka-Chun, Marco". Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  4. ^ "Billiard Sports Biography – FU Ka Chun Marco". The Official Website of the 16th Asian Games. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Squat Issue 2.5 – Marco Fu Q&A
  6. ^ a b c "Snooker Player Profiles: Marco Fu". Sporting Life. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
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