Ka Wai Cheung from Hong Kong won the 2024 WSF Championship yesterday evening in Golem, Albania. This victory earns him a professional tour card for two seasons: 2024/25 and 2025/26. He was impressive throughout the competition. Here is the report by WPBSA:
Ka Wai Cheung Wins WSF Championship
Ka Wai Cheung has defeated Gao Yang 5-0 in the final of the 2024 WSF Championship to secure the title and his status as a main tour professional for the first time at the Grand Blue Fafa Resort in Albania.
Cheung’s victory continues Asia’s dominance in snooker’s most prestigious amateur competition, which has been won by players from the continent in four of its five editions, with the 24-year-old following in the footsteps of Luo Honghao (2018), Si Jiahui (2022) and Ma Hailong (2023).
The result means Cheung will compete on the main tour in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons for the first time in his career and also denied 2020 WSF Junior champion Gao the feat of becoming the first player to win both the Junior and Open events.
The man from Hong Kong China was in dominant form all week, dropping just four frames in ten matches, and also fired in the tournament high break of 138 en route to a 4-0 semi-final victory over former Ukrainian professional Iulian Boiko, runner-up at the event in 2020.
After topping his group with four straight victories, Cheung overcame Oskar Charlesworth, Luke Pinches, Harvey Chandler, Oliver Sykes and Boiko to set up a final meeting with Gao.
The former professional from China had battled his way to the final by winning three final frame deciders, including a dramatic 4-3 semi-final victory over England’s Daniel Womersley earlier in the day.
The nerves were clearly apparent from both cueists in the early exchanges, but it was Cheung who managed to get over the line in a scrappy opener before doubling his advantage courtesy of breaks of 52 and 39 in the second frame of the evening.
Gao desperately needed to find something quickly after also losing a scrappy third frame and he looked to have found some form when he got in first in frame four and scored a break of 53.
However, Cheung showed determination to fight back and get a snooker on the colours when only able to tie before eventually winning it on the final black to head into the mid-session interval just one frame away from the title.
A break of 60 from Cheung upon their return was enough to complete the whitewash victory and secure both the title and a two-year World Snooker Tour card.
“It is every player’s dream to join the World Snooker Tour,” said Cheung. “I just feel very happy and surprised with my performance, especially in the semi-finals with back-to-back centuries. I played my own game and tried to play like it was practice, which is not easy, but my performance gave me a lot of confidence for the final.
“In the final, the fourth frame was big as I already thought it was 3-1 at the mid-session interval but I tried to play the shot I thought was right and the result came.”
“This is the biggest achievement in my snooker life, I think. I have always wished to be a professional player, so I am really happy to make this happen. It is also a significant result for our sport and I hope that the Hong Kong government will consider to keep Billiard Sports in the Hong Kong Sport Institute instead of asking us to leave in 2025.
“I’ve been a part of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) for around 7-8 years as a full-time athlete and even when I was younger, I was a part-time junior athlete. Every tournament, every competition I get support from the HKSI and HKSBCC.
“I have always had a lot of support and encouragement from people in Hong Kong to play more and to chase my goal to earn a [World Snooker] Tour ticket. I am grateful to the HKSI because we get a lot of support to go to all the places to get experience and to play competitions and practice with high standard players. I hope this can remain unchanged in the future so that I can have an easier way to do well in the World Snooker Tour.
Cheung has played snooker since he was 10 years old after he watched the sport on TV and counts former ranking event winner Marco Fu as one of his key inspirations in the sport:
“Marco Fu is always like an idol for me,” continued Cheung. “Because he is always flying around, I do not have much time to see and practice with him, so when I practice in the Elite Training Centre, I have thoughts like I want to be like him and stay on the World Snooker Tour. When I see him play at big tournaments like the Hong Kong Masters that is a big encouragement for me.”
The World Snooker Federation would like to thank all of its partners who have supported the event, including the Albanian Snooker Federation and of all the players, officials and supporters who contributed to a fortnight to remember in Albania.
Congratulations Ka Wai Cheung!
and some images taken during the final and shared by Matt Huart on social media …
11 thoughts on “Ka Wai Cheung is the 2024 WSF Champion”
My wish for the win and tourcard was Iulian Boiko, so I was somewhat disappointed with the semis. I see that Bai Yulu didn’t play this event, so I wonder what becomes of her. And there was Sean Maddock among the players whose name rang a bell, wasn’t he some teenage sensation with the youngest max, but completely disappeared since?
Bai Yulu played in the Albanian Women’s tournaments, losing to Ng On Yee in the main event, but winning the U21 event. Perhaps she considered playing in the WSF just too much. It’s a very exhausing tournament and lasted for 9 days.
Sean Maddocks had very good results in junior events, but has yet to make a breakthrough at senior level. He’s still only 21, which is 3 years younger than Cheung Ka Wai.
Thanks. Well, I kind of hoped Bai Yulu would try to get to the main tour, I don’t see the women’s tour any useful to develop her game.
I’m not sure how much Bai Yulu has a choice when it comes to what events she can attend outside China. Lewis?
Bai Yulu said in an interview that this season her priority was to win the Women’s World Championship, which of course will get her on tour. I can imagine that would be bigger news in China than getting on tour via Q School or the CBSA ranking list. The WSF tournament is extremely long and probably expensive. Anyone who was there for both events (U18 or Women’s, followed by WSF Open) would have to commit to 2 weeks in Albania. Also, for any Chinese players, they would miss the New Year festival back home. It wasn’t realistic that Bai Yulu could actually win that gruelling event, so she may prefer to play smaller international events and CBSA tour events. Let’s not forget, the Women’s World Championship will be played in her home base at the Dongguan Academy, so she doesn’t need to broaden her travelling experience at this stage. In fact, I’m currently making plans to travel to Dongguan and Yushan in March.
Thank you for the info, Lewis. Of course, that’s an easier way to the main tour and I hope she succeeds and gets out of that disheartening uncompetitive place that is the women’s tour, fast. She is my only hope, although I might be again disappointed and I would also like to see Mink remain on the tour (by finishing as the #1 woman maybe?), if only to see all that development 2 years might have brought to her not being wasted by returning to women only competitions.
Yes, it was the right result. Cheung Ka Wai dominated the event, losing only 4 frames throughout. Yesterday he won his semi-final and final (against ex-professionals) without losing a single frame. Gao Yang battled through several close matches, and had nothing left to give in the final. Last year Cheung lost 4-1 to Quid Phetmalaikul in the final round of Q School, but he has obviously reflected on that and didn’t falter this time. That’s also something Gao Yang (and Iulian Boiko) can look to as well.
We’ve known Cheung Ka Wai as a very exciting talent for several years, and he will be a great addition to the tour. It will also provide a boost to the HKSI, although the funding situation is still unclear. There are some other talented juniors from Hong Kong, such as Wallace Wong and Shaun Liu, who could follow Cheung if given support.
From a British perspective, I though Oliver Sykes looked good. But the fact is, these global amateur events are increasingly dominated by non-UK players.
Indeed Lewis and that makes the UK centric organisation of the sport even more difficult to justify. If there are three Q-Schools only one should be played in the UK, and about the Q-Tour all but two should be played in various countries in mainland Europe. The “excuse” I have only heard too often has always been “we have the best amateurs…”. This isn’t true (anymore) as the results of events played “internationally” clearly show. Of course, for WST there are financial considerations but fairness should be their first priority IMO.
Well not quite. Yes, ‘fairness’ is a concept that snooker has problems with. For example, Barry Hearn’s definition of ‘fairness’ was completely incorrect.
But unfortunately even more important than that is financial viability. If it costs too much to run a Q School in mainland Europe alongside one in the UK, it’s probably not possible right now.
Incidentally, Wayne Griffiths was in Albania, supporting a number of HK players. Hopefully, this helps him going forward. Perhaps the CBSA could have sent Ju Reti, who coached both Gao Yang and Gong Chenzhi, the two beaten finalists.
Yes, I saw Wayne, who I have met a few times in the past, watching the games that involved his “pupils”. Wayne also came to the women events to support On Yee when she first came to the UK. Wayne is very dedicated as a coach, and very humble. Unlike some other coaches I’ve met he never puts himself forward when his students succeed.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
My wish for the win and tourcard was Iulian Boiko, so I was somewhat disappointed with the semis. I see that Bai Yulu didn’t play this event, so I wonder what becomes of her. And there was Sean Maddock among the players whose name rang a bell, wasn’t he some teenage sensation with the youngest max, but completely disappeared since?
Bai Yulu played in the Albanian Women’s tournaments, losing to Ng On Yee in the main event, but winning the U21 event. Perhaps she considered playing in the WSF just too much. It’s a very exhausing tournament and lasted for 9 days.
Sean Maddocks had very good results in junior events, but has yet to make a breakthrough at senior level. He’s still only 21, which is 3 years younger than Cheung Ka Wai.
Thanks. Well, I kind of hoped Bai Yulu would try to get to the main tour, I don’t see the women’s tour any useful to develop her game.
I’m not sure how much Bai Yulu has a choice when it comes to what events she can attend outside China. Lewis?
Bai Yulu said in an interview that this season her priority was to win the Women’s World Championship, which of course will get her on tour. I can imagine that would be bigger news in China than getting on tour via Q School or the CBSA ranking list. The WSF tournament is extremely long and probably expensive. Anyone who was there for both events (U18 or Women’s, followed by WSF Open) would have to commit to 2 weeks in Albania. Also, for any Chinese players, they would miss the New Year festival back home. It wasn’t realistic that Bai Yulu could actually win that gruelling event, so she may prefer to play smaller international events and CBSA tour events. Let’s not forget, the Women’s World Championship will be played in her home base at the Dongguan Academy, so she doesn’t need to broaden her travelling experience at this stage. In fact, I’m currently making plans to travel to Dongguan and Yushan in March.
Thank you for the info, Lewis. Of course, that’s an easier way to the main tour and I hope she succeeds and gets out of that disheartening uncompetitive place that is the women’s tour, fast. She is my only hope, although I might be again disappointed and I would also like to see Mink remain on the tour (by finishing as the #1 woman maybe?), if only to see all that development 2 years might have brought to her not being wasted by returning to women only competitions.
Yes, it was the right result. Cheung Ka Wai dominated the event, losing only 4 frames throughout. Yesterday he won his semi-final and final (against ex-professionals) without losing a single frame. Gao Yang battled through several close matches, and had nothing left to give in the final. Last year Cheung lost 4-1 to Quid Phetmalaikul in the final round of Q School, but he has obviously reflected on that and didn’t falter this time. That’s also something Gao Yang (and Iulian Boiko) can look to as well.
We’ve known Cheung Ka Wai as a very exciting talent for several years, and he will be a great addition to the tour. It will also provide a boost to the HKSI, although the funding situation is still unclear. There are some other talented juniors from Hong Kong, such as Wallace Wong and Shaun Liu, who could follow Cheung if given support.
From a British perspective, I though Oliver Sykes looked good. But the fact is, these global amateur events are increasingly dominated by non-UK players.
Indeed Lewis and that makes the UK centric organisation of the sport even more difficult to justify. If there are three Q-Schools only one should be played in the UK, and about the Q-Tour all but two should be played in various countries in mainland Europe. The “excuse” I have only heard too often has always been “we have the best amateurs…”. This isn’t true (anymore) as the results of events played “internationally” clearly show. Of course, for WST there are financial considerations but fairness should be their first priority IMO.
Well not quite. Yes, ‘fairness’ is a concept that snooker has problems with. For example, Barry Hearn’s definition of ‘fairness’ was completely incorrect.
But unfortunately even more important than that is financial viability. If it costs too much to run a Q School in mainland Europe alongside one in the UK, it’s probably not possible right now.
Incidentally, Wayne Griffiths was in Albania, supporting a number of HK players. Hopefully, this helps him going forward. Perhaps the CBSA could have sent Ju Reti, who coached both Gao Yang and Gong Chenzhi, the two beaten finalists.
Yes, I saw Wayne, who I have met a few times in the past, watching the games that involved his “pupils”. Wayne also came to the women events to support On Yee when she first came to the UK. Wayne is very dedicated as a coach, and very humble. Unlike some other coaches I’ve met he never puts himself forward when his students succeed.