Championship League13/09/2020 - 30/10/2020, Championship League Stage Two Group A26/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Two Group C26/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Two Group B27/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Two Group D27/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Two Group E28/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Two Group F28/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Two Group G29/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Two Group H29/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Three Group 130/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Championship League Stage Three Group 230/10/2020 - 19/10/2020, Champion of Champions02/11/2020 - 08/11/2020, German Masters Qualifiers10/11/2020 - 14/11/2020, Northern Ireland Open16/11/2020 - 22/11/2020, Star Snooker Academy, Steelers Sports Club, 2b Birley Moor Road, SHEFFIELD, Ding Junhui has won 14 ranking titles in his career (Richard Sellers/PA), Ronnie O’Sullivan won his first round match in record-breaking time (Nigel French/PA), Ding Junhui has never quite managed to break his Crucible duck (Dave Howarth/PA), Highlights - Brian Ortega vs Korean Zombie, Unstoppable vs Unmissable - Khabib vs Gaethje. When his father left the room for a break, Ding decided to take over the cue and, before his father returned, he had won the game. Ding JunHui. Ronnie O’Sullivan has hailed his second-round opponent Ding Junhui for resisting the temptation to turn into a ‘snooker slave’ as the Chinese star continues to chase an elusive first world crown at the Crucible. “I’m sure he’d love to get his hands on the world title, but each year you get older, it gets harder,” added O’Sullivan. "For overseas players we provide the whole package, from picking them up at the airport, bringing them to Sheffield, accommodating them, and giving them coaching and practice facilities. Beijing’s World Snooker College aims to train the next Ding Junhui. "You are already starting to see the success - Ding Junhui has been involved with the academy system for four years. Ding won the pair’s last Crucible clash in the last eight in 2017 but, despite reaching the final in 2016 and winning 14 other ranking titles, he is still yet to win the sport’s ultimate prize. Star Academy has been a regular practice base for former World Champions Ronnie O'Sullivan, Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, John Higgins and 2015 Shanghai Masters Champion Kyren Wilson & Jimmy White. Week 1: July 13th-17th. He has won the Masters and the UK, but for someone of Ding’s ability he is obviously capable of winning a lot more.”. It's what the game needs to get away from the old stereotypes. The academy specialises in coaching for all ages and is known worldwide for their elite junior programs. Watch BT Sport's unbeatable line-up of world-class live sport for just £25 per month. By age 15, he was winning national and regional snooker youth championships, quickly becoming China's top player. This is snooker for athletes.". Week 2: July 20th-24th. Ronnie O’Sullivan has hailed his second-round opponent Ding Junhui for resisting the temptation to turn into a ‘snooker slave’ as the Chinese star continues to chase an elusive first world crown at the Crucible. Jubilant Jak Jones says a move to Ding Junhui’s new snooker academy in Sheffield has revolutionised his career. Ding Junhui was born on April 1, 1987 in China. They have one child. Jubilant Jak Jones says a move to Ding Junhui’s new snooker academy in Sheffield has revolutionised his career. He has been married to Apple Zhang since 2014. “But for me there’s always a trade-off. They get looked after.". And, while O’Sullivan is convinced Ding is more than capable of going all the way at the Crucible, he also warned him that time is running out if he wants to finally realise the dreams of millions of Chinese snooker fans. "The idea is for players of any age or standard, from school kids to beginners, to come here, have coaching, or just practice in these conditions," Warren said. |  Ding Junhui (born 1 April 1987) is a Chinese professional snooker player who has been considered the most successful Asian player in the history of the sport. Gold Member of the EPSB 147 club scheme. Week 5: August 10th-14th. The child, affectionately nicknamed "Little Ding" by the Chinese press, reportedly discovered his own hidden talent. When he was 8 years old, Ding tagged along with his father as he visited a pool hall to hone his skills with a local expert. present) ( 1 child). “I’m a little bit in that bracket where I like to enjoy my life, so I probably don’t practise as much as I should and I probably don’t enter as many tournaments as I should to get the best out of myself. Agence France-Presse Published: 10:41am, 6 May, 2017. “Ding has done pretty well, and I think he has handled the pressure well. “Ding probably falls into that category as well. Versatile and state-of-the-art, the indoor venue is capable of hosting everything from international athletics meetings to basketball, volleyball and judo. As a prolific break-builder, has compiled 528 century breaks during his career, as of December 2019. He gets really excited by the really big tournaments, but probably doesn’t want to be on the road 24/7. Week 3: July 27th-31st. Advertisement. But the reason Ding Junhui, Peter Ebdon and Shaun Murphy are in the building is because the EIS is also home to the new World Snooker Academy, a centre of excellence designed to drag the sport kicking and screaming into the modern era. Many players have based themselves at the academy over the years including Ding Junhui, James Wattana, Nigel Bond, Mark Allen to name a few! The pockets are very tight, the cloths are very slippery, and the way the balls react makes them seem much lighter. Ding Junhui was born on April 1, 1987 in China. He lost by 6-3 to Martin Gould in the semi-finals. As a prolific break-builder, has compiled 528 century breaks during his career, as of December 2019. “Everyone has a different way of approaching snooker, be it [Stephen] Hendry or [Steve] Davis, or a Jimmy White, who managed to enjoy himself and still compete. He drives his own car in many ways, and I respect that.”. Achieved the 147 highest break 6 times in his career, as of December 2019. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. I like to be healthy, live a good lifestyle and that means I can’t play in every tournament otherwise my lifestyle wouldn’t be how I’d want it. Former world champion Ebdon, now living in Dubai, uses the academy as a base whenever he returns to the UK. "For players who want to become professionals, to be able to practice in these conditions must be a massive advantage for them.". There is not a bar or cigarette vending machine in sight. Star Snooker Academy is pleased to announce bookings for Junior Summer Schools 2020 are now available, these include coaching, practice and accommodation (subject to availability) please email for further details. It is not exactly the first place you would expect to bump into a bunch of snooker players. Many players have based themselves at the academy over the years including Ding Junhui, James Wattana, Nigel Bond, Mark Allen to name a few! He has been married to Apple Zhang since 2014. Ding Junhui Snooker Academy, Sheffield. Postponed due to coronavirus 2021 dates coming soon! “Some players can play well into their 40s like me and [John] Higgins and the [Mark] Williams of the world, but we’re exceptions to the rule. Ding Junhui lost by 5-1 at the same stage to the eventual champion, Mark SElby. They have one child. Luca Brecel reached … Ding Junhui, Jack Lisowski, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson » The 2020 World Championship [18 Aug 2020 | No Comment | ] The 2020 World Snooker Championship was played from 31 July to 16 … At age 15, he became the youngest winner of the IBSF World Under-21 Championship. The academy specialises in coaching for all ages and is known worldwide for their elite junior programs. The Cwmbran star, who recently left home in south Wales to move to the Steel City, reached his first ranking event quarter-final at the English Open after toppling Matthew Stevens 4-3 on Thursday.. We're getting a lot of interest. They are training partners in the Sheffield World Snooker Academy. Since opening in September 2006, the academy has established links with schools and colleges in South Yorkshire, with the aim of sparking interest in snooker among the teenagers of today. Has a daughter with his wife, Apple Zhang, born in August 2018. "In the holidays we will run summer schools, not just for locals, but for kids from all over Europe. Ding Junhui began playing snooker in China at age nine and rose to international fame at just 15 when he became the youngest winner of the IBSF World Under-21 Championship. Won the Yushan World Open on 24 September 2017 by beating. 2.7K likes. "The conditions are fantastic - as good as you would find in a ranking tournament," he told BBC Sport. With eight championship-standard tables housed in brightly lit, sound-proofed rooms, it aims to provide the perfect environment for promising youngsters to improve their game, and seasoned pros to warm up for major competitions. "Snooker just seems to fit in with all the other sports based here. We are proud to be recognised by the EASB as a Centre of Excellence and current venue for the 2019 English Snooker Finals weekend and currently stage a number of events in the English Amateur Tour Ranking Series along with World Snooker Challenge Tour. ", "There are no distractions in the academy. TOP PICKS. Academy featured on the 'The Ronnie O'Sullivan Show'  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D601NgYZ1lU. The Ding Junhui Snooker Academy offers a unique practice facility in heart of Sheffield city centre. In 2003, Ding turned professional at the age of 16. Throughout his career, he has won 13 major ranking titles, including two UK Championships in 2005 and 2009, two Shanghai Masters titles in 2013 and 2016, and one German Masters title in 2014. At the World Snooker College in China’s capital, there are no textbooks or exams, just rows upon rows of snooker tables and an ever-growing trophy case. Enrolled at Shanghai Jiao Tong University to study Business Administration and Management in December 2006. "For many players, it's a big shock going from playing on snooker club tables to using a professional table. The English Institute of Sport in Sheffield's Don Valley is an impressive facility. O’Sullivan has been a big fan of Ding since they first met in the 2005 Masters quarter-final and sees shades of himself in the way the 33-year-old is coping the expectations of millions of supporters in his homeland. |  The commitment to nurturing talent at grassroots level is clearly the driving force behind the project. "The image of snooker is changing - it's in a transitional period," academy director Keith Warren told BBC Sport. A facility like this can only improve young, serious players, who are keen enough to want to pursue snooker as a career - this is the place to come and learn the trade. Other Works Updated: 2:55pm, 20 Jul, 2018. Ding Junhui (Chinese: 丁俊晖; born 1 April 1987) is a Chinese professional snooker player who has been considered the most successful Asian player in the history of the sport. Publicity Listings Official Sites, Is China's most successful player ever, having become only the second teenager, after. The Ding Junhui Snooker Academy offers a unique practice facility in the heart of Sheffield city centre. O’Sullivan said: “If Ding looks at his career over all, he’ll say he’s probably got a great balance – he’s been super successful on the table, but he hasn’t been a slave to the sport. "This spring, we are also launching the Paul Hunter scholarship, which will give one elite junior the chance to spend a year at the academy, and will include things such as media training, nutritional advice and sports psychology. He came to England as a 15 year-old, and will be a top 16 player next year - he is without doubt a future world champion.". Khabib and his father - An animated short story... Mourinho - "I don't think" Bale intro began Spurs collapse, Highlights - Arminia Bielefeld 1-4 Bayern Munich.