BREAK-BACK TO WORLD FRAME FOR MARCO FU
Hong Kong’s former world No 5 has not picked up a cue in a month and will have only 10 days of preparation to answer call of the Crucible
Marco Fu Ka-chun is ready to return to the pro snooker tour after a two-year absence, with the Hongkonger’s reappearance on the circuit welcomed across the game.
Fu, the 44-year-old former world No 5, could not have chosen a more daunting stage to make his comeback, declaring on social media: “I’ve just entered this year’s World Championships.”
His task is made even more difficult by the fact that he has not practised in anger for a month.
But the call of the Crucible in Sheffield, England remains irresistible for those blessed with the talent to play on snooker’s biggest arena and Fu simply wanted another chance to soak in the experience.
“I’ve decided to play simply because it’s the World Championships,” Fu told the Post. “l’ve been away for two years and l miss competing very much. I don’t know how my form is because l haven’t picked up my cue for a month.
“All the snooker clubs are closed due to Covid in Hong Kong, so l need to travel to the UK to practise before the World Championship. l only have 10 days practice. Preparation is far from ideal and I won’t expect too much from myself, just want to play and enjoy it.”
Fu has had a testing time since winning this third ranking title, the Scottish Open in 2016, the same year he reached the semifinals of the World Championships losing 17-15 to Mark Selby.
In 2018, he needed to take time away from the game to undergo eye surgery and then travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic kept him away from ranking tournaments in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
World Snooker helped his cause by granting him a two-year invitational tour card, which allowed him to stay on the pro circuit but which he was unable to make full use of because of Covid-19.
If Fu was looking forward to his return, so were his fans with his social media accounts flooded with messages welcoming him back.
Fu turned pro in 1998 and has won three ranking tournaments – the 2007 Grand Prix in Aberdeen, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-6 in the final, the 2013 Australian Goldfields Open and the 2016 Scottish Open.
In 2006, he reached the semi-finals of the World Championship, battling back from 15-9 down against Peter Ebdon, eventually losing 17-16.
He also made the final of the prestigious UK Championship in 2008 and 2011, losing to Shaun Murphy (10-9) and Ding Junhui (10-4) respectively.
Wayne Griffiths, head snooker coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, said the city should be proud of Fu and women’s player
Preparation is far from ideal. I won’t expect too much from myself, just want to ... enjoy it
MARCO FU
Ng On-yee, who recently qualified for the first round of the Welsh Open on the main tour.
“When Marco discussed the possibility that he would return for the world championships I was fully supportive,” Griffiths said.
“He has been playing well in training and I knew he was missing the chance to compete. We will offer him all the support he needs now in preparation for the biggest event of the season.
“We hope this will be the start of a road back more regularly to the main tour for Marco. Having him and On-yee representing Hong Kong at the very top of the game is something we all work for and we are very lucky to have two such great ambassadors for our sport and for Hong Kong in our national team.
“They are an inspiration to others.”