Han Yu (pool player)
Han Yu (born 1992) is a Chinese professional pool player. She is a three time WPA World Nine-ball Championship women's champion, winning the event in 2013, 2016 and 2018. Han is also a semi-finalist in three further world championships, in 2017 in the nine-ball event, and 2011 and 2014 in ten-ball.[1]
Born | 1992 (age 30–31) |
---|---|
Sport country | China |
Pool games | Nine-ball |
Tournament wins | |
World Champion | Nine-ball (2013, 2016, 2018) |
Twice a winner of the nine-ball event at the All Japan Championship and thrice at the China Open 9-Ball Championship, Han won the "player of the year award" in 2016 for Billiards Digest.
Career
Han Yu picked up the game of pool aged six following her father to a pool hall. She first appeared at a major pool event in 2007 as she won the China national nine-ball championship aged 15.[2] She also reached the semi-finals of the All Japan Championship, before winning the event in 2009.[3][4][5] In 2011, Han reached the semi-final of the WPA World Ten-ball Championship, losing to winner Kelly Fisher 9–4,[6] and later in the year lost again in the semi-final of the All Japan Championship to Bi Zhu-Qing.[7]
In 2013, Han became a world champion for the first time, winning the WPA World Nine-ball Championship. She defeated Fisher and Tan Ho-yun to reach the final, where she defeated Yuan-chun Lin 9–1.[8][9][10] After winning the championships, Han began to pack up her cue, and did not celebrate.[11] Han was then surrounded by fans asking for autographs and photographs, and broke into tears when her mother arrived.[11] The following year, Han reached the semi-finals of the WPA World Ten-ball Championship, but lost to Kelly Fisher again.[12]
In 2016, Han reached the semi-finals of the Amway Cup and was defeated 8–9 there by the eventual champion, Chezka Centeno.[13] Two months later, she completed a 9–8 final victory over Liu Shasha in the China Open. In December 2016, Han won her second world championship with a 9–7 victory in the final against Chihiro Kawahara.[14] Han won her third world championship in 2018, winning the nine-ball final over Wang Xiao Tong.[14][15]
Han Yu was picked as eighth seed for the 2019 World Pool Masters, missing the preliminary round but lost 6–7 to Shane Van Boening in the first round.[16]
Achievements
- 2009 All Japan Nine-ball Championship winner[17]
- 2013 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship winner[15]
- 2014 China Open 9-Ball Championship winner[18]
- 2016 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship winner[15]
- 2016 China Open 9-Ball Championship winner[18]
- 2016 Billiards Digest Player of the Year[2]
- 2018 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship winner[15]
- 2018 CBSA World Chinese Eight-ball Championship winner[19]
- 2018 AZBilliards Player of the Year[20]
- 2019 All Japan Nine-ball Championship winner[17]
- 2023 China 9-Ball Open Championship winner
References
- "Players: Han Yu :: ProPool.info". propool.info. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- "Billiards Digest - Pool's Top Source for News, Views, Tips & More". billiardsdigest.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
- "All Japan Championship". azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "Han Yu". Billiard Walker. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "All Japan Championship « Asian Pocket Billiard Union". cuesports.org.tw. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "Kelly Fisher to Finals: China Stopped". azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- Ted Lerner (25 September 2011). "The Prodigy vs. the Upstart". Wpa-pool.com. World Pool-Billiard Association. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- "Famous Pool Sharks". thehypertexts.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
Han Yu
- Ted Lerner (12 August 2013). "Hands down for Han!". Wpa-pool.com. World Pool-Billiard Association. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- "Billiards Buzz – Jan 2017". Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2019 – via Issuu.
- "Hands Down For Han!". pro9.co.uk. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- "2013 Women's 10-ball World Championship". Billiard Walker. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "Centeno becomes youngest player to ever win Amway Cup". kozoom.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "Han Yu Wins WPA Women's World 9-Ball Championship". azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "2018 Women's World 9Ball Champion – Han Yu!!". WPA Pool. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
- "World Pool Masters 2019". azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- "Champions". World Pool-Billiard Association. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- "China World 9-Ball Open". azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- "China Billiard World Championships". azbilliards.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- "Shane Van Boening and Han Yu Wins 2018 AzB Player of the Year Awards". 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 14 August 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2023.