WU CHIA-CHING - TAIWAN

Age - 16
Based - Taipei, Taiwan
Nickname - Little Genius
Hobbies - Pool
Cue Used - Southwest
Achievements - 2005 World Pool Champion. 2005 Asian 9-Ball Tour Singapore Leg Runner-Up. Silver Medallist 2004 World Junior Pool Championship. Third Place, 2004 Philippines Invitational.

16 year-old Wu Chia-ching created history in July of this year when he ran undefeated through the knock-out rounds to become the youngest ever winner of the WPA World Pool Championship for Men.

Wu had signalled his intentions in 2004 when he made it through the group stages of the same event as a raw 15 year-old. Overshadowed by his more established countrymen like Chao, Yang and Hsia, Wu took out some of the best names in world pool en route to the final.

The likes of Marcus Chamat, 2003 World Champion Thorsten Hohmann and the Philippines Marlon Manalo all fell to the fearless young potter from Taipei but it was fellow countryman Kuo Po-cheng who stood between Wu and ultimate glory.

Trailing 12 – 16 in the race to 17 final, all looked lost for Wu but a mistake from his opponent allowed him to run the last four racks for the title. This will be the ‘Little Genius’s’ first visit to the UK and it is one that is eagerly anticipated.