Wu Jia-qing

Wu Jiaqing
Wu Chia-ching at the 2007 World Pool Trickshot Masters
Personal information
Nickname
"Little Genius"
Born (1989-02-09) 9 February 1989 (age 37)
Pool career
Country China
Pool games9-Ball
Tournament wins
World Champion9-Ball (2005),
8-Ball (2005)
Highest rank14[1]

Wu Jiaqing (simplified Chinese: 吴珈庆; traditional Chinese: 吳珈慶; pinyin: Wú Jiāqìng; born 9 February 1989) is a Taiwanese-born Chinese professional pool player. He is nicknamed the Taishan Shentong ("Little Genius from Taishan"). Since 2011, Wu switched from representing Chinese Taipei to representing the country of China.[2][3] Previously known as Wu Chia-ching, the spelling of his name was changed upon moving to mainland China.[4]

Career

Raised by his grandmother from the age of 2, Wu began playing eight-ball at the age of 10 at his family-run pool hall. When he became serious about pool, his grandmother would shuttle him from one competition venue to another on her scooter.[5]

In 2005, after only six years of playing, Wu became the youngest men's player ever to win the WPA World Nine-ball Championship at 16 years old. The next year, he was the top seed of the event, but lost in the quarter-final round to eventual winner Ronato Alcano of the Philippines.

Wu also won the 2005 WPA World Eight-ball Championship. Previously, he was the runner-up at the 2004 Juniors Nine-ball World Championship.

He placed second to Darren Appleton in the inaugural WPA World Ten-ball Championship in 2008, claiming the runner-up prize of US$40,000[6] In the semi-finals of the event, Wu had defeated Demosthenes Pulpul of the Philippines, 11–8, using a borrowed cue stick.[7][8][9]

In 2011 Wu applied for and obtained citizenship of the People's Republic of China. Ostensibly, Wu did this, to allow himself to compete in more international events. Wu stated the decision was made for sporting reasons and should not be regarded in a political light.[10] As of April 2011, Wu has not given up his Republic of China nationality.[11] Republic of China Deputy Minister of the Interior Lin Tzu-ling stated that "An ROC national who wants to give up his or her citizenship must go through certain procedures. So far, I do not think we have received any application from him (Wu) to do so". The Minister noted that “As long as he is still an ROC national, he will be drafted into the military if he comes back to Taiwan.” The Republic of China's Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area stipulates that both the “Taiwan Area” and the “Mainland Area” are parts of the ROC, and the “Mainland Area” is legally defined as “ROC territory outside of the Taiwan Area.”[11] In addition, the law does not recognize PRC citizenship and defines PRC citizens as “people of the Mainland Area” who “have household registration in the Mainland Area.” Article 9-1 of the same law prohibits “the people of the Taiwan Area” from obtaining household registration in “the Mainland Area,” those who break the law are banned from voting and serving in office, while their household registration in “the Taiwan Area” is annulled.[11]

Career achievements

References

  1. ^ "Ranking - WPA Pool". WPA Pool. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  2. ^ "Growing pains of Taiwanese pool champ". www.asiaone.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  3. ^ "WU CHIA-CHING'S DECISION TO TURN DOWN SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP IS A BLESSING FOR SINGAPORE SPORT". Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
  4. ^ Joey Villar (11 May 2011). "Alcano fans quest for 3rd jewel". The Philippine Star. p. 22.
  5. ^ "Wu's grandmother interview". Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  6. ^ dailytimes.com.pk Deprecated link archived 17 April 2013 at archive.today, "Britain's Appleton Wins World 10-Ball Championship"
  7. ^ sports.inquirer.net Archived 20 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine, "Pulpul's Magical Run Ends"
  8. ^ abs-cbnnews.com Archived 7 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine, "Pulpul Fails to Reach World 10-Ball Finals"
  9. ^ insidepoolmag.com Archived 10 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine, "Dynamite Blasts World 10-Ball Championship"
  10. ^ Pool player switches to PRC citizenship/22/2003501381, Taipei Times, 22 May 2011, archived from the original on 28 September 2015, retrieved 31 July 2011
  11. ^ a b c China Post, 26 April 2011 http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/wu-still-obliged-to-serve-in-taiwan-military.html Archived 1 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine