Right on Cue: Li Hang

Eurosport - Thu, 11 Jun 15:21:00 2009

We continue our feature profiling rising stars with a look at Li Hang, who impressed at last week's Jiangsu Classic.

SNOOKER Chinese snooker player Li Hang - 0

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Full name: Li Hang

Nationality: Chinese

Age: 18 (DOB: October 4, 1990)

World Ranking: 69

Career highlights: Asian U21 champion 2008, reached the last 64 of the Northern Ireland Trophy and the Grand Prix in 2008.

General: At last week's Jiangsu Classic in China, Mark Allen won the event and Mark Selby produced a 147 but in many ways the stand out performer was Li. The 18 year-old prospect was desperately unlucky not to reach the semi-finals on frame difference after wins against Ding Junhui, Peter Ebdon and Ryan Day in the group stage.

Strengths: Li's strength is his consistency. He rarely seems phased in pressure situations and always seems to produce a steady game. After winning a place on the main tour by claiming the Asian U21 championship in 2008, he went on enjoy a solid debut season with the big boys.

On only one occasion did he lose a first-round match and even then he impressed, going down 10-9 to Daniel Wells in a high-quality world championship qualifier. Li managed to reach the last 64 of both the Northern Ireland Trophy and Grand Prix and comfortably held on to his main-tour status.

Weaknesses: Li is still getting used to playing the bigger names in snooker and the step up in class that goes with it. His development happened in his native China, where the game is still taking off, so in his formative years he did not have access to same standard of coaching and youth tournaments as some of his competitors.

His first season on the tour will have done him the world of good though, and he is in a good position to move up the rankings next season.

Trivia

Starting playing snooker aged 11

Played in the wild card round of the 2006 China Open as a 15-year-old.

Made first round proper of the 2007 China Open before losing 5-1 to Ken Doherty.

Had career-high break of 135 in qualification rounds of 2008 Bahrain Championship.

Finished bottom of his group at the 2008 Jiangsu Classic but managed to beat Ali Carter.