Hong Kong’s Marco Fu Ka-chun said he cannot wait to get back to the professional circuit – and if social media is anything to go by, neither can his fans.
The 43-year-old former world No 5 was on Monday given an invitational tour card by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) for the start of the 2021/22 season, allowing him to extend his long career and play in all the big tournaments.
Fu has not played on the World Snooker Tour in more than a year but is hopeful he can raise his game for the start of the next season.
“First of all I would like to thank World Snooker for this opportunity,” Fu told the Post. “l’m delighted that l have this chance again to play on the main tour against the best players in the world, l miss competing very much, and l can’t wait to play in tournaments.
“Competing on a pro level after a long break will be a big challenge, but l will try my best to get myself ready for the next competition. l’m sure my first tournament back will be a nerve-racking experience.”
Fu, a three-time winner on the pro tour and twice runner-up in a Triple Crown event, has dropped out of the top 64 in the world rankings and needed the invitational card to remain on the circuit as a full-time player.
He is down to 72 in the world but the WPBSA was sympathetic to his plight of being unable to leave Hong Kong over the past year to compete in tournaments because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
“Marco Fu will be offered an Invitational Tour Card due to his outstanding achievements in the sport,” the WPBSA said in a statement. “The Hong Kong player has missed a number of events over the past year due to travel restrictions.”
Snooker fans welcomed the decision to give Fu a card. The Hong Kong player is a popular personality on tour, for his style of play and his demeanour on and away from the table.
Popular snooker Twitter user Cluster of Reds wrote: “It’s a no-brainer to give Marco Fu a tour card, considering his absence was not his fault.”
SnookerBlog praised the decision to give tour cards to Fu, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry and two of the best female players in the world, Hong Kong’s Ng On-yee and Reanne Evans.
“Ladies on the pro tour. Hendry putting in the hours. Marco Fu’s back. Don’t know about you friends but I’m thinking next season will be something special. So many things to look forward to,” SnookerBlog wrote.
DJ Gandolfini said Fu was one of the most underrated players in the sport and was looking forward to his return.
“Excellent to hear that Marco Fu gets an invitational tour card. Would have been unfair if he lost it through no fault of his own! One of the most underrated players in the game is Marco!”
Muskehound said Fu has been up there with the best players in the world, writing: “Love, love, love Marco Fu – for me, worthy of mention in any conversation about who ‘should’ have won a world title.”
Hendry is making his comeback after nine years off the tour, not targeting a rise in the rankings but hoping to play at the Crucible – where he ruled the table seven times – in the World Championship one more time.
World No 2 Ng and 12-time women’s world champion Evans were given two-year tour cards with the WPBSA committed to expanding pro opportunities for more snooker players around the world.