SINGAPORE (AFP) - When the masters of the green baize cue off at the World Snooker Championships in England on Saturday, tens of millions of people will be watching.

But it won't be the likes of Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, and Ronnie O'Sullivan that will draw the biggest audiences.

Instead, the blockbuster first round clash between Chinese superstar Ding Junhui and Hong Kong veteran Marco Fu is likely to claim that distinction, with the sport's popularity in Asia on a steep upward curve.

In China, a staggering 110 million people tuned into the China Open final in 2005 when Ding made his breakthrough by beating seven-time world champion Hendry, and his showdown with Fu is likely to attract similar interest.

Ding is credited with the sport's new-found respect in China and he has been elevated to the status of national hero, placing him alongside basketball icon Yao Ming and hurdler Liu Xiang in the popularity stakes.

The 20-year-old from Jiangsu province is the youngest player ever to win three ranking titles -- the China Open and UK Championships in 2005 and the Northern Ireland Trophy in 2006.

But he is in the midst of form slump, failing to make it past the quarter-finals this season. Now without a title for 19 months, there have been whispers that he is a choker.

"No one likes to be considered a mentally weak player," Ding admitted to Chinese state media this month, saying he was determined to prove his critics wrong at the world championships in Sheffield.

"I want to try my best at the world championships because the title drought gives me a lot of pressure. I know media and fans doubt my consistency, so I have something to prove this time."

Despite the lack of a recent title, Ding can take comfort in knowing he has inspired a new generation of Chinese players.

Liu Song, Tian Pengfei, Xiao Guodong and Liu Chuang have all followed him to the pro-circuit in England this season and Liu Chuang has qualified for the worlds, along with Liang Wenbo.

It gives Asia four players in the 32-man draw, with China now the most competitive country for snooker after Britain and Australia.

"They take some pressure off me as they give Chinese fans more people to focus on," Ding said of his compatriots.

"We live in a house in England and compete in the same tournaments. That makes me feel very comfortable."

Liang has a huge first round match against Ken Doherty while Liu has an equally difficult task against O'Sullivan.

Wang Liwei, deputy director of the Multi-ball Administrative Center (MBAC), the sport's governing body in China, recognises Ding's impact in his homeland, where its image has become far more professionalized.

"Ding has opened the window to the world of snooker. Chinese players today know what is happening outside, and that's very important," he told reporters.

"He's a trailblazer. He has proved to millions of Chinese families that professional dreams can be realized. And he has made sponsors realize there's a huge (snooker) market out there."

World Snooker, the sport's global governing body, says that approximately 50 million of China's huge population play snooker, with 300 public venues with snooker tables in Beijing alone.