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Key Information

Marco Fu
Traditional Chinese傅家俊
Simplified Chinese傅家俊
Cantonese YaleFuh Gā Jeun
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinFù Jiājùn
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationFuh Gā Jeun
JyutpingFu⁶ Gaa¹ Zeon³

Marco Fu Ka-chun (Chinese: 傅家俊;[2][3] born 8 January 1978) is a Hong Kong professional snooker player. He is a three-time ranking event winner, having won the 2007 Grand Prix, the 2013 Australian Goldfields Open and the 2016 Scottish Open. He has been a runner-up at two Triple Crown events, at the 2008 UK Championship and the 2011 Masters. In addition, Fu has reached the semi-finals of the World Championship twice—in 2006 and in 2016.

Fu reached a career-high ranking of fifth in the world in 2017. He turned professional in 1998 and has remained on the World Snooker Tour to-date. Despite not competing in events during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fu was given an invitational place to remain on the tour during the 2021–22 snooker season. As a prolific break-builder, Fu has compiled over 500 century breaks in professional competition, including five maximum breaks. A cultural icon in Hong Kong, Fu presented a 10-episode chat show called Marco Fu and Friends on ViuTV.

Career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Marco Fu was born on 8 January 1978 in British Hong Kong.[4] He began playing snooker at age nine, but did not do so regularly until he was 15.[5] Fu migrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with his parents at age 12. After his high school graduation at age 18, Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council Co. Ltd. President Joseph Lo invited him to return to Hong Kong to begin his career as a professional snooker player.[5] Before turning professional, Fu won the IBSF World Snooker Championship and the IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship, both in 1997.[5]

After winning these tournaments, Fu turned professional for the 1998–99 snooker season.[5] In his first season as a professional, he was ranked 377th in the world.[6] He reached the final of the Grand Prix, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan 5–2 and then Peter Ebdon 5–3.[6] Stephen Lee defeated him 2–9 in the final. During the rest of the 1998–99 season, Fu qualified for four more ranking tournaments,[7] including the 1999 World Snooker Championship, winning four qualifying matches before losing to James Wattana 8–10 in the first round of the main draw.[7] He was voted World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Newcomer of the Year and WSA Young Player of the Year in 1999.[8][6]

World Championship quarter-finalist (1999–2003)

[edit]

In the 1999–00 season, with Fu now ranked 35th in the world,[9] he received automatic entry into the main draw of most of the ranking tournaments. Although he failed to repeat the success of reaching the final of the Grand Prix, he made a run to the quarter-finals before losing to Ali Carter. Other achievements of note include reaching the semi-finals of the 2000 Malta Grand Prix and the Scottish Open.[10] Following a dramatic rise, in the 2000–01 season Fu was ranked 15th in the world, his first appearance in the top 16.[11][12] However, a succession of defeats and a first-round loss at the 2001 World Snooker Championship to Chris Small, saw him fall out of the top 16 for the next season.[13] In the 2001–02 season Fu's best result was a last 16 appearance at the LG Cup.[14] He failed to qualify for three ranking events, including the 2002 World Snooker Championship, and, as a result, his ranking fell to 27 for the following season.[15]

Prior to the 2003 Welsh Open, his best result of the 2002–03 season was reaching the third round of the 2002 UK Championship in December 2002.[16] However, at the Welsh Open in February, Fu defeated Stephen Lee 5–0 in the second round and beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 5–3 in the quarter-finals before losing his semi-final 4–6 to Stephen Hendry, who went on to win the title.[17] Going into the 2003 World Snooker Championship three months later, after first round losses at the European and Scottish Opens,[18][19] he drew world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round.[20]

Snooker Scene later described the match between O'Sullivan and Fu as "one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game".[21] Fu held a 6–3 overnight lead and, despite O'Sullivan making a maximum break, Fu won 10–6.[20] Fu subsequently eliminated Alan McManus 13–7 in the second round,[22] before losing 7–13 to Stephen Lee in his quarter-final match.[23] Later that year, Fu won his first professional title at the invitational Premier League, beating Mark Williams 9–5 in the final.[24]

First ranking tournament title (2004–2008)

[edit]

As a result of his run to the quarter-finals of the World Championship the previous season, Fu climbed to number 19 in the world rankings for the 2003–04 season.[25] He qualified for all the ranking tournaments except the World Championship. His best result included a third round loss to Michael Holt in the LG Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the Welsh Open, beating Liu Song, Matthew Stevens, Ken Doherty and Stephen Hendry before succumbing to Steve Davis.[26][27] Fu finished the season ranked 16th in the world.[28]

His best result the following season was a quarter-final loss to Ding Junhui at the China Open.[29] He finished the season ranked 25, falling nine places.[30] A series of first round defeats during the 2005–06 season saw him provisionally drop out of the top 32.[31] However, he had a good run at the 2006 World Championship, beating three seeded players—Alan McManus 10–3, Stephen Maguire 13–4, and Ken Doherty 13–10.[32][33] He reached the semi-finals where he lost to the 2002 world champion Peter Ebdon 16–17.[34] In that match, Fu was 9–15 down with only one session left to play, but won seven out of the next eight frames to send the match into the deciding frame, which Ebdon eventually won.[31] This run enabled him to stay in the world top 32 for next season, ranked 22.[35]

Photograph of Marco Fu standing while holding the Grand Prix trophy
Marco Fu after winning the 2007 Grand Prix

In the 2006–07 season he did not compete in the 2006 UK Championship so he could attend the 2006 Asian Games, where he won two silver medals.[36] At the 2007 World Snooker Championship, Fu lost 3–10 to Anthony Hamilton in the first round.[37] His best result during the season was a quarter-final run in the China Open, where he lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan.[38] Following a first round loss at the Shanghai Masters, and nine years after his first appearance in a ranking final at the 1998 Grand Prix, Fu won the 2007 Grand Prix —his first victory in a ranking event. After defeating the reigning world champion John Higgins in the first knock-out round 5–4, Liu Song 5–0 in the quarter-finals. and Gerard Greene 6–5 in the semi-finals, he faced Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.[39] After falling 3–4 behind after the first session, he won 9–6, with a break of 76 in the final frame.[40] He later reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 UK Championship, losing to Mark Selby and the semi-finals of the 2008 Masters, losing to Stephen Lee.[41]

He qualified for the 2008 World Snooker Championship, with a 10–3 win over Alan McManus.[42] He played Ding in the first round where he lost 9–10.[43] He capped a successful season by finishing in career high 14th in the rankings, a climb of thirteen places from the previous season.[44]

UK Championship finalist (2008–2010)

[edit]

The 2008–09 season started with a last 32 loss to Barry Hawkins in the Northern Ireland Trophy and losing in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters to Mark Selby. At the Grand Prix, he lost in the second round to Ronnie O'Sullivan, a rematch of last season's final.[45] At the 2008 UK Championship, he beat Barry Hawkins in the first round, followed by Matthew Stevens and Joe Perry. In the semi-finals, Fu defeated Ali Carter: after trailing 2–5, he levelled to 6–6 and won 8–6.[46] In the final, Shaun Murphy defeated Fu 9–10.[47] He suffered a first round defeat to John Higgins at the Masters.[48] At the 2009 World Snooker Championship, he advanced to the second round by beating Joe Swail 10–4 before losing 3–13 to Murphy.[49]

In December 2009, Fu participated in the East Asian Games, held in Hong Kong. In the singles competition Yu Delu beat him by 4–1 in the quarter-finals,[50] but he later won a gold medal in the team competition.[51] Fu lost his next three first-round matches. He lost against Peter Lines 3–9 at the 2009 UK Championship,[52] Peter Ebdon 2–6 at the Masters[53] and Andrew Higginson 2–5 at the Welsh Open.[54]

However, Fu won the 2010 Championship League by beating Mark Allen 3–2 in the final.[55] Fu also reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 China Open, where he lost 1–5 against Mark Williams.[56] At the last ranking event of the season, the World Championship, Fu faced Martin Gould in the first round and led 5–4 after the first session. Ultimately Fu lost the match 9–10.[57]

Masters finalist (2010–15)

[edit]
Photograph of Marco Fu sitting at the 2011 German Masters
Marco Fu at the 2011 German Masters

In November 2010, Fu participated in the Asian Games, held in Guangzhou. He won the singles competition by defeating Ding Junhui 4–2 in the final.[58] Fu also reached the semi-finals of the Premier League where he lost 2–5 against Shaun Murphy.[59] He lost in the second round of the 2010 UK Championship 2–9 against Stuart Bingham.[60] Fu participated at the Players Tour Championship, where his best results came at the first and second events in Sheffield, where he reached the semi-finals, losing 1–4 against Stephen Maguire and 2–4 against Mark Selby, respectively.[59] He later finished 16th on the Players Tour Championship Order of Merit.[61]

He reached the final of the 2011 Masters, where he lost 4–10 against Ding Junhui.[62][63] Fu reached the semi-finals of the 2011 German Masters, where he lost 3–6 against Mark Williams.[64] At the 2011 Welsh Open, he was whitewashed by Mark Williams in the last 32, after winning his qualifying match 4–1 against Joe Swail.[65] Fu lost his first round matches at the China Open and World Championship, 3–5 against Judd Trump and 8–10 against Martin Gould, respectively.[66][67] He finished the season ranked world number 23, the first time he had been outside of the elite top 16 since 2007.[68]

Fu qualified for four of the eight ranking tournaments of the 2011–12 season. At the Welsh Open he lost in the first round 1–4 to Ronnie O'Sullivan and lost in the first round of the World Open following a 3–5 defeat to John Higgins. Fu had earlier made the second maximum break of his career during the final qualifying round for the World Open in a match against Matthew Selt.[69] Fu's best performance of the season came at the 2011 UK Championship. He qualified by beating Anthony Hamilton 6–5 and then saw off Stuart Bingham 6–4 in the first round to set up a last 16 clash with world number one, Mark Selby who he defeated 6–3 and then played Mark Allen in the quarter-finals.[70] Fu led 5–4 in the match, but lost the last two frames to lose 5–6.[71] Fu qualified for the 2012 World Snooker Championship with a 10–4 win over Shailesh Jogia, but lost in the first round of the event 3–10 to Matthew Stevens.[72] As a result, he finished the season ranked world number 28, his lowest position since 2000.[68]

In Australia, Fu saw a return to form as he beat Joe Perry, Jamie Burnett and Stephen Lee all by 5–1 scorelines to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Goldfields Open.[73] There he lost 2–6 to Peter Ebdon and said after the match that his goal for the season was to reclaim a top 16 place.[74] At the International Championship he secured wins over Martin Gould and Mark Davis to reach the quarter-finals.[75] Fu let a 3–1 lead against Shaun Murphy slip to lose 4–6.[76] Before he played Mark Allen in the first round of the 2012 UK Championship, Allen reiterated his views that Fu had cheated in a prior match. Fu himself denied the claims and went on to defeat Allen 6–3. Allen received a three-month suspended ban for his comments.[77] In the second round Fu lost 4–6 to Matthew Stevens.[78] He reached his first ranking event final since 2008 at the German Masters by beating Ricky Walden, Peter Lines and Matthew Stevens all 5–3. His semi-final against Barry Hawkins included a near hour-long battle of safety play, with Fu edging the match 6–4 just after midnight.[79] Fu led Ali Carter 5–3 after the opening session of the final, but on the resumption of play did not pot a ball for 86 minutes and lost 6–9.[80] Following this, Fu lost in the second round of the World Open to Ding Junhui and in the first rounds of the Welsh Open and the China Open to Allen and Graeme Dott respectively.[75]

Photograph of Fu taking a shot at the 2013 German Masters
Fu at the 2013 German Masters

Fu played in seven minor-ranking Players Tour Championship events and reached the final of the Third Event by defeating veteran players Stephen Maguire, Mark Williams, Ali Carter and Shaun Murphy.[75] He lost to world number 65 Rod Lawler 2–4 in the final.[81] He also reached the quarter-finals of the European Tour Event 3, which helped him finish 21st on the Order of Merit to qualify for the Finals.[82] In the Finals Fu beat Mark Joyce and Carter, before losing 1–4 to Tom Ford in the quarter-finals.[75] Fu won Group 7 of the Championship League courtesy of a 3–0 victory over Maguire and in the Winners Group lost in the semi-finals 0–3 to Carter.[83] In the first round of the World Championship, Fu beat Matthew Stevens 10–7 to face Judd Trump in the last 16.[84] He fell 2–6 behind after the first session, but fought back to trail only 7–8 before losing five consecutive frames to end his season with a 7–13 defeat.[85] Fu finished just short of his early season goal to get back into the top 16 as he finished world number 17, but this did mean he had climbed 11 spots during the year.[86]

The Wuxi Classic was Fu's first ranking event of the 2013–14 season; he lost 4–5 to Mark King in the second round.[87] He then played in the Australian Goldfields Open where he defeated Ken Doherty 5–2, Shaun Murphy 5–2 and Dominic Dale 5–1.[87] In the semi-finals he built a 4–1 lead over Robert Milkins and later won 6–4.[88] Fu faced world number one Neil Robertson in the final, defeating him 9–6 to take the second ranking event title of his career and regain his place in the top 16 of the world rankings.[89] Another final followed at the minor-ranking Bluebell Wood Open, with Fu fighting back from 1–3 down against Ricky Walden to square the match at 3–3 before Walden fluked a pot in the deciding frame to win.[90] Fu then lost in the second round of both the Shanghai Masters 5–3 to Kyren Wilson and the Indian Open 4–3 to Gary Wilson.[87] He advanced to the quarter-finals of the International Championship where he played Mark Selby. Fu came back from 5–3 down to take the match 6–5 with consecutive breaks of 84 and 112 in the final frame before defeating Joe Perry 9–8 in the semi-final.[91][92] In the final, Fu won an hour long frame to hold a 9–8 advantage over his opponent Ding Junhui, but lost the match 9–10.[93]

Fu then suffered defeats in the first round of the 2013 UK Championship and German Masters to Mitchell Travis and Paul Davison respectively.[87] However, he reached the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open where Barry Hawkins whitewashed him 5–0.[94] Fu beat world number one Neil Robertson in the last 16 of the World Open 5–4 on a re-spotted black and eliminated Mark Joyce 5–3 in the next round.[95] In the semi-finals he won three successive frames from 5–1 down against Mark Selby but lost the next frame to be beaten 6–4.[96] Another semi-final followed at the PTC Finals with a 4–1 victory against John Higgins in the quarters, however, he suffered a 4–2 defeat against Gerard Greene.[87][97] Fu lost 13–8 to Shaun Murphy in the second round of the World Championship.[98]

In the 2014–15 season, Fu reached seven quarter-finals. His first came in the opening ranking event, the Wuxi Classic, where he lost 5–4 to Barry Hawkins.[99] He was knocked out in the first round of the Shanghai Masters. He saw off Liam Highfield, David Gilbert and Rod Lawler at the International Championship, before a ranking event quarter-final went the distance for the second time this season as Fu lost 6–5 to Robert Milkins.[100] Ronnie O'Sullivan whitewashed him 6–0 in the last eight of the non-ranking Champion of Champions.[101] Another quarter-final followed at the 2014 UK Championship after Fu came back from 5–3 down to eliminate Shaun Murphy 6–5, with both players criticising the condition of the table after the match.[102] Stephen Maguire knocked him out 6–4.[103]

At the Masters, Fu made his third competitive maximum break in his first-round match against Stuart Bingham beating him 6–3 to advance to the sixth quarter-final of his season, where he lost to O'Sullivan him 6–1.[104] His final quarter-final exit of the season came in the Welsh Open 5–1 at the hands of Mark Williams.[99] For the ninth successive season, Fu could not progress past the second round of the World Championship as Judd Trump defeated him 13–8.[105]

Later career (2015–2019)

[edit]

After exiting the first two ranking events of the 2015–16 season at the first round stage, Fu met David Gilbert in the quarter-finals of the International Championship but lost 5–6 after leading 4–2.[106] He won the non-ranking General Cup by beating Mark Williams 7–3.[107] Fu eliminated Shaun Murphy in the fourth round of the 2015 UK Championship for the second year in a row.[108] Liang Wenbo opened their quarter-final match with three successive centuries, but Fu fought back to send the tie to a deciding frame which he lost.[109] En route to the final of the Gibraltar Open, Fu made a maximum break in the second round against Sam Baird.[110] Fu won his first title carrying ranking points since the 2013 Australian Open by eliminating Michael White 4–1 in the final.[111] In the 2016 World Championship, Fu saw off Peter Ebdon, Anthony McGill and Barry Hawkins to reach the semi-final for the second time but eventually lost to Selby 17–15.[112]

After enduring a difficult start to the 2016–17 season where he failed to get beyond the second round of the first eight ranking events, Fu came back from 5–2 down to defeat Jamie Jones in the quarter-finals of the UK Championship.[113] Leading 5–4 against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals, he lost the final two frames to lose 5–6.[114] Before the end of 2016, Fu reached the final of the Scottish Open, with his closest game being a 4–3 victory over Neil Robertson in the fourth round; Fu did not lose more than a frame in his other five matches. In the final against John Higgins, trailing 1–4, he won eight frames in a row to win the match 9–4. Throughout the tournament, Fu made 11 centuries and 21 more breaks over 50 in seven matches.[115][116]

At the 2017 Masters, he played Judd Trump in the opening round and won 6–5.[117] He beat Mark Allen in the quarter-finals 6–2 and then lost 6–4 to O'Sullivan in the semi-finals.[118] Fu also played in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix and was 4–3 up on Ryan Day, who needed four snookers in the eighth frame. He got them to square the match and then overcame Fu 4–6.[119] At the Players Championship, Fu defeated Anthony McGill 5–1 and Mark Selby 5–2, before coming back from 5–3 down against Ding Junhui to win 6–5 and reach the final.[120] From 5–2 up on Trump, Fu lost six frames in a row and would be beaten 8–10.[121] Fu had a poor start to his first round match at the World Championship as he was 7–1 down to Luca Brecel, though he made a century to be 7–2 behind overnight. He won the first two frames upon the resumption of play and eventually levelled at 8–8, later winning 10–9.[122] The second round saw Fu play Neil Robertson, They tied at 4–4, 8–8, and 10–10. Fu lost frame 21 but won the next three to win 13–11.[123] Fu was then defeated 13–3 by defending and eventual champion Selby, losing with a session to spare.[124] However, he was ranked sixth after the event, the highest Fu has ever finished a season in his career.[125]

The 2017–18 season saw Marco Fu getting off to another difficult start, as he could not reach the quarter final of any ranking event before the turn of the year. Two weeks after suffering a 0–6 defeat against Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round of the Masters, Fu revealed that he had undergone laser eye surgery in December to treat retinal degeneration and floaters in his dominant left eye.[126] Fu indicated he regretted taking part in the Masters while still recovering from the surgery. He also announced that he would not enter any more tournaments before making a full recovery and regaining his old level in training.[127] He made his return at the 2018 World Snooker Championship where he lost to Lyu Haotian 5–10.[128]

Following the eye surgery, Fu only reached the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Open, where he lost to David Gilbert,[129] and the 2020 European Masters, losing to Gary Wilson.[130]

COVID-19 pandemic, career revival, 16-red total clearance (2020-present)

[edit]

In February 2020, Fu returned to Hong Kong because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with his last appearance being at the 2020 Welsh Open where he lost to Ding in the opening round.[131][needs update] As a consequence of not entering any events during the rest of the season, his ranking steadily dropped out of the Top 64, but an offer of an invitational tour card meant he would not need to qualify to rejoin the tour as a result.[132]

Fu returned to compete in professional snooker tournaments at the 2022 World Snooker Championship, marking the first event since the 2020 Welsh Open in which he played in an event on the main tour. He lost in the first round of qualifying, being defeated in a deciding frame by Ian Burns. As travel restrictions eased in Hong Kong, Fu proceeded to compete in the subsequent 2022-23 season where he did not top his group in the opening event, the 2022 Championship League. He had managed to qualify for the 2022 European Masters and reached the third round, consequently as a result of a bye due to his opponent in the second round not getting a visa, where he lost 5-3 to Farakh Ajaib. He did not qualify for the subsequent 2022 British Open or the 2022 Northern Ireland Open, but was invited to compete as a local wildcard in the 2022 Hong Kong Masters, where he reached the final. In his semi-final match against John Higgins, he compiled his fifth maximum break in the deciding frame.

At the end of the 2022-23 season, Fu was awarded a new two-year invitational tour card.[133] During his 2025 World Championship second round qualifying match against Ben Mertens he became only the seventh player, and second in a world championship contest, to make a 16-red total clearance, compiling 139 after being awarded a free ball following a foul by his opponent in frame four.[134][135] Having finished the 2024-25 season ranked outside the world's top-64 at number 70, Fu faced losing his place on the tour but was awarded a further two-year invitational card.[136][137]

Status and records

[edit]

Fu is a prolific break-builder, having made his 500th century break at the 2019 Scottish Open.[138] He achieved a maximum break on five occasions, at the 2000 Scottish Masters,[12] the qualifying stages for the 2012 World Open, the 2015 Masters, the 2015 Gibraltar Open and the 2022 Hong Kong Masters .[139][140] Fu has also made a break of 148 after receiving a free ball in an exhibition match in 2020.[141]

He once held the record for the longest frame in the history of televised snooker. The record of 77 minutes, held with Mark Selby, was played out in the decisive final frame during the quarter-final match at the 2007 UK Championship held in Telford, England. Fu eventually lost the match 7–9.[142] However, the record was then broken by Shaun Murphy and Dave Harold in a match at the China Open later in the same season, with a frame of 93 minutes.[143] As of 2022, the record, held by Fergal O'Brien and David Gilbert, stands at 123 minutes and 41 seconds.[144][145]

Fu won the Medal of Honour in 2000.[146]

Personal life

[edit]

Fu was educated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and has lived for a time in England, Wales and Scotland. He married in 2011 and has two daughters, born in 2012 and 2015. His wife and daughters returned to Hong Kong in 2016 to facilitate their education.[147][148] On June 30, 2017, Fu was appointed by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as a Justice of the Peace.[149]

Fu is a Buddhist due to influence from his mother, and has become a vegetarian since 2003.[150][151] Fu hosted a ten-episode series on Hong Kong's ViuTV entitled Marco Fu and Friends, with the format of an informal chat show with Hong Kong celebrities and playing a frame of snooker with them.[152]

Performance and rankings timeline

[edit]
Tournament 1997/
98 		1998/
99 		1999/
00 		2000/
01 		2001/
02 		2002/
03 		2003/
04 		2004/
05 		2005/
06 		2006/
07 		2007/
08 		2008/
09 		2009/
10 		2010/
11 		2011/
12 		2012/
13 		2013/
14 		2014/
15 		2015/
16 		2016/
17 		2017/
18 		2018/
19 		2019/
20 		2020/
21 		2021/
22 		2022/
23 		2023/
24 		2024/
25 		2025/
26
Ranking[nb 1] [nb 2] [nb 3] 35 15 17 27 19 16 25 22 27 14 8 14 23 28 17 8 11 12 5 18 55 50 [nb 4] 94 [nb 4] 68 [nb 4]
Ranking tournaments
Championship League Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event A A RR WD RR A
Saudi Arabia Masters Tournament Not Held 3R 1R
Wuhan Open Tournament Not Held 1R 2R 2R
English Open Tournament Not Held 2R 1R 2R 2R A A 2R LQ LQ 1R
British Open A 1R 1R 2R 2R 2R 2R 2R Tournament Not Held A LQ LQ 2R 1R
Xi'an Grand Prix Tournament Not Held A WD
Northern Ireland Open Tournament Not Held 2R A 1R 2R A A LQ 1R WD WD
International Championship Tournament Not held QF F QF QF 2R LQ 2R A Not Held 2R LQ
UK Championship A 2R 2R 3R 2R 3R 1R 2R 2R WD QF F 1R 2R QF 2R 1R QF QF SF 3R 3R 3R A A LQ LQ LQ
Shoot Out Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event A A A A A A WD A A
Scottish Open[nb 5] A LQ SF 2R 1R 1R 2R Tournament Not held MR Not Held W 4R 2R 3R A A A WD A
German Masters[nb 6] A NR Tournament Not Held SF LQ F 1R LQ 1R 1R A LQ LQ A A LQ WD LQ
World Grand Prix Tournament Not Held NR 1R SF DNQ 2R DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
Players Championship[nb 7] Tournament Not Held 1R DNQ QF SF 1R 2R F DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
Welsh Open A 2R 3R 2R LQ SF SF 3R 1R 1R 2R QF 1R 1R 1R 1R QF QF 4R 2R A 2R 1R A A LQ 3R 1R
World Open[nb 8] A F QF 2R 3R 1R 3R 3R 1R RR W 2R 1R 1R 1R 2R SF Not Held 1R 2R QF 1R Not Held LQ LQ
Tour Championship Tournament Not Held DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ
World Championship LQ 1R 1R 1R LQ QF LQ 1R SF 1R 1R 2R 1R 1R 1R 2R 2R 2R SF QF 1R LQ A A LQ LQ LQ LQ
Non-ranking tournaments
Champion of Champions Tournament Not Held 1R QF A WD 1R A A A A A A A
The Masters A A WR WR A A A WR LQ LQ SF 1R 1R F A A QF QF 1R SF 1R A A A A A A A
Championship League Tournament Not Held A A W RR A SF RR RR RR A A A A A A A A A
Former ranking tournaments
Malta Grand Prix Non-Ranking SF NR Tournament Not Held
Thailand Masters 1R LQ LQ 1R 1R NR Tournament Not Held NR Tournament Not Held
Irish Masters Non-Ranking Event LQ 2R 1R NH NR Tournament Not Held
Northern Ireland Trophy Tournament Not Held NR 1R 1R 2R Tournament Not Held
Bahrain Championship Tournament Not Held 1R Tournament Not Held
Wuxi Classic[nb 9] Tournament Not Held Non-Ranking Event LQ 2R QF Tournament Not Held
Australian Goldfields Open Tournament Not Held A SF W A 1R Tournament Not Held
Shanghai Masters Tournament Not Held 1R QF 2R 1R LQ WR 2R 1R 1R 1R 3R Non-Ranking Not Held Non-Ranking
China Open[nb 10] NR LQ 1R 2R 2R Not Held QF LQ QF 2R 1R QF 1R LQ 1R 2R 2R 3R LQ A 1R Tournament Not Held
Riga Masters[nb 11] Tournament Not Held Minor-Rank 1R A 2R A Tournament Not Held
China Championship Tournament Not Held NR 2R 1R 1R Tournament Not Held
WST Classic Tournament Not Held 1R Not Held
European Masters[nb 12] NH LQ Not Held LQ 1R 1R LQ 1R 2R NR Tournament Not Held 1R A 1R QF A A 2R LQ Not Held
Former non-ranking tournaments
Super Challenge NH RR Tournament Not Held
Millennium Cup Not Held QF Tournament Not Held
Champions Cup[nb 13] A QF A A A Tournament Not Held
Scottish Masters A A LQ 1R SF A Tournament Not Held
World Champions v Asia Stars Tournament Not Held W Tournament Not Held
Thailand Masters Ranking Event A Not Held W Tournament Not Held
Euro-Asia Masters Challenge Tournament Not Held RR F Not Held SF Tournament Not Held
Malta Cup[nb 12] Tournament Not Held Ranking Event RR Tournament Not Held Ranking Event
Huangshan Cup Tournament Not Held F Tournament Not Held
Beijing International Challenge Tournament Not Held RR RR Tournament Not Held
Wuxi Classic[nb 9] Tournament Not Held A SF QF A Ranking Event Tournament Not Held
Premier League A A RR SF A W SF SF A A A A RR SF A A Tournament Not Held
World Grand Prix Tournament Not Held 1R Ranking Event
General Cup[nb 14] Tournament Not Held A Tournament Not Held RR NH RR A SF RR W Tournament Not Held
Shoot Out Tournament Not Held 1R 1R A A A 1R Ranking Event
China Championship Tournament Not Held QF Ranking Event Tournament Not Held
Macau Masters Tournament Not Held RR Tournament Not Held
Hong Kong Masters Tournament Not Held SF Tournament Not Held F Not Held
Six-red World Championship[nb 15] Tournament Not Held A A A NH 2R A A QF A SF 2R A Not Held LQ Not Held
Performance Table Legend
LQ lost in the qualifying draw #R lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) 		QF lost in the quarter-finals
SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament
DNQ did not qualify for the tournament A did not participate in the tournament WD withdrew from the tournament
NH / Not Held means an event was not held.
NR / Non-Ranking Event means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
R / Ranking Event means an event is/was a ranking event.
MR / Minor-Ranking Event means an event is/was a minor-ranking event.
PA / Pro-am Event means an event is/was a pro-am event.
  1. ^ It shows the ranking at the beginning of the season
  2. ^ He was an amateur
  3. ^ New players don't have a ranking
  4. ^ a b c Players issued an invitational tour card began the season without ranking points
  5. ^ The event was called the Players Championship (2003/2004)
  6. ^ The event was called the German Open (1997/1998)
  7. ^ The event was called the Players Tour Championship Grand Final (2010/2011–2015/2016)
  8. ^ The event was called the Grand Prix (1997/1998–2000/2001 and 2004/2005–2009/2010) and the LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004)
  9. ^ a b The event was called the Jiangsu Classic (2008/2009–2009/2010)
  10. ^ The event was called the China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)
  11. ^ The event was called the Riga Open (2014/2015–2015/2016)
  12. ^ a b The event was called the Irish Open (1998/1999), European Open (2001/2002–2003/2004) and the Malta Cup (2004/2005–2007/2008)
  13. ^ The event was called the Charity Challenge (1997/1998–1998/1999)
  14. ^ The event was called the General Cup International (2004/2005–2011/2012)
  15. ^ The event was called the Six-red Snooker International (2008/2009) and the Six-red World Grand Prix (2009/2010)

Career finals

[edit]

Below is a list of finals contested by Fu.[153]

Ranking finals: 8 (3 titles)

[edit]
Legend
UK Championship (0–1)
Other (3–4)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1998 Grand Prix England Stephen Lee 2–9
Winner 1. 2007 Grand Prix England Ronnie O'Sullivan 9–6
Runner-up 2. 2008 UK Championship England Shaun Murphy 9–10
Runner-up 3. 2013 German Masters England Ali Carter 6–9
Winner 2. 2013 Australian Goldfields Open Australia Neil Robertson 9–6
Runner-up 4. 2013 International Championship China Ding Junhui 9–10
Winner 3. 2016 Scottish Open Scotland John Higgins 9–4
Runner-up 5. 2017 Players Championship England Judd Trump 8–10

Minor-ranking finals: 3 (1 title)

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 2012 UK PTC Event 3 England Rod Lawler 2–4
Runner-up 2. 2013 Bluebell Wood Open England Ricky Walden 3–4
Winner 1. 2015 Gibraltar Open Wales Michael White 4–1

Non-ranking finals: 10 (5 titles)

[edit]
Legend
The Masters (0–1)
Other (4–2)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 1999 Scottish Masters Qualifying Event Wales Matthew Stevens 1–5
Winner 1. 2003 Premier League Wales Mark Williams 9–5
Runner-up 2. 2003 Euro-Asia Masters Challenge – Event 2 Republic of Ireland Ken Doherty 2–5
Winner 2. 2004 World Champions v Asia Stars Challenge Scotland John Higgins 5–1 [154]
Winner 3. 2006 Thailand Masters Thailand Issara Kachaiwong 5–3
Runner-up 3. 2008 Huangshan Cup England Ali Carter 3–5 [155]
Winner 4. 2010 Championship League Northern Ireland Mark Allen 3–2
Runner-up 4. 2011 The Masters China Ding Junhui 4–10
Winner 5. 2015 General Cup Wales Mark Williams 7–3
Runner-up 5. 2022 Hong Kong Masters England Ronnie O'Sullivan 4–6

Pro–am finals: 1 (1 title)

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score
Winner 1. 2010 Asian Games China Ding Junhui 4–2

Team finals: 1

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Team/partner Opponent(s) in the final Score
Runner-up 1. 2018 Macau Masters England Joe Perry
China Zhang Anda
Wales Mark Williams 		England Barry Hawkins
Wales Ryan Day
China Zhao Xintong
China Zhou Yuelong 		1–5

Amateur finals: 2 (2 titles)

[edit]
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref
Winner 1. 1997 IBSF World Under-21 Championship Belgium Bjorn Haneveer 11–7 [156]
Winner 2. 1997 IBSF World Amateur Championship England Stuart Bingham 11–10 [157]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Marco Fu

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Marco Fu Ka-chun (born 8 January 1978) is a player, widely regarded as the territory's most successful exponent of the sport. Fu began playing at age nine but took it seriously from 15, eventually migrating to as a teenager to develop his game. As an amateur, he dominated the international scene by winning both the World Amateur Championship and the World Under-21 Championship in 1997, securing his place on the tour. He turned in 1998 at age 20, quickly establishing himself with strong performances in early ranking events. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Fu has achieved three ranking tournament victories: the 2007 Grand Prix, the 2013 Australian Goldfields Open, and the 2016 Scottish Open. He has reached eight ranking finals in total, including runner-up finishes at the 2013 German Masters and the 2013 International Championship, and has compiled five maximum 147 breaks, with a notable one at the 2015 Masters that made him only the third player to achieve this feat at the event. Fu's consistency is highlighted by two semi-final appearances at the World Snooker Championship (in 2006 and 2016), as well as runner-up spots at the UK Championship (2008) and the Masters (2011), the latter marking the first all-Asian final in a Triple Crown event alongside compatriot Ding Junhui. His career-high world ranking of fifth came in 2017, reflecting a peak period of form that included multiple deep runs in major tournaments. After a hiatus from the main tour due to the , Fu returned in 2025 via an invitational tour card, promptly making headlines with a rare 16-red total clearance in the qualifiers—the seventh such instance in history. However, in 2025, he fractured his elbow and is expected to miss two months of competition (as of November 2025). Known for his elegant cue action and resilience, Fu has been instrumental in popularizing in Asia, particularly and , while overcoming challenges like a 2017 comeback from 7-2 down against .

Early life and background

Childhood and family

Marco Fu was born on 8 January 1978 in . Fu spent the first 12 years of his life in , immersed in its bustling urban environment, before emigrating with his parents to , , , in 1990. There, he completed his high school education at age 18.

Introduction to snooker and amateur success

Marco Fu first became interested in snooker during his childhood in , where he began playing the game at the age of nine, encouraged by his father who recognized the sport's growing popularity in the region. Inspired by televised matches, Fu developed a passion for the precision and strategy of , often watching icons of the era that captivated audiences worldwide. He was self-taught in the basics, practicing on public tables in local venues before joining snooker clubs around the age of ten, where he began formal training and competed in junior events, though he did not play regularly until age 15. Fu's family provided crucial support by facilitating access to snooker facilities, allowing him to balance school with increasingly serious practice sessions. By his early teens, he had relocated with his family to , , at age 12, where he continued honing his skills at local clubs and even practiced alongside established professionals like , gaining valuable insights into competitive play. This period marked his transition from casual player to dedicated amateur competitor, as he represented [Hong Kong](/page/Hong Kong) in various international amateur tournaments, steadily building a reputation across for his composure and technical proficiency. Fu's amateur success culminated in a remarkable 1997 season, where he achieved a rare double by winning both the for seniors and the IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship, defeating Bjorn Haneveer in the under-21 final. These victories, along with multiple wins in the Amateur Championship, solidified his status as one of Asia's top young prospects and paved the way for his entry into professional .

Professional career

Debut and early professional years (1998–2003)

Marco Fu turned professional in 1998 at the age of 20 following his successes as an , including victories in the World Amateur Championship and World Under-21 Championship the previous year, which earned him a tour card for the 1998–99 season. His strong amateur foundation, built through consistent performances in international under-21 events, aided his relatively quick adaptation to the professional circuit despite the increased competition. Fu faced early challenges on the tour, starting the 1998–99 season ranked 377th in the world and often struggling to progress beyond early rounds in events. However, he showed promise in his debut tournament, the 1998 Grand Prix, where he reached the final as the lowest-ranked player ever to do so at that stage, losing 9–6 to Stephen Lee. The following year, in the 1999 Grand Prix, Fu advanced to his first quarter-final in a event, defeating players like Mark King before falling to . A pivotal milestone came in the , where Fu reached the quarter-finals for the first time, defeating 10–9 in the last 32 and 13–7 in the last 16 with notable resilience, including a strong comeback after O'Sullivan's . He ultimately lost 13–7 to Stephen Lee in the quarter-finals. During the 2000–01 season, Fu compiled his first in a ranking event, signaling his growing proficiency in high-pressure matches. These performances marked a gradual improvement in Fu's standing, as he ended the 2002–03 season ranked No. 19, a significant rise from his initial position outside the top 100, bolstered by consistent earnings and deeper runs in major tournaments.

Breakthrough and first titles (2004–2010)

Marco Fu's breakthrough came in the 2004 Welsh Open, where he advanced to the semi-finals for the first time in a major ranking event, defeating in the quarter-finals before losing 3–6 to . This performance marked a significant step forward from his earlier professional struggles, propelling him into the world's top 20 and establishing him as an emerging talent on the . Fu continued his ascent in 2005 by reaching the semi-finals of the Masters, the first of two such appearances in the invitational event during this period, where he fell 5–6 to after a competitive match featuring several high breaks. His consistency grew over the next two seasons, with quarter-final runs in events like the 2006 —where he became the first player to reach the semi-finals, losing 17–21 to —and solid performances that kept him in the top 16 rankings. These results culminated in 2007 with his first ranking title at the Grand Prix in , where he defeated 9–6 in the final, compiling breaks of 65, 72, and 54 to secure a £50,000 prize and rise to No. 7 in the world rankings. The 2008 season solidified Fu's status as a top contender, highlighted by his run to the final of the in , where he overcame 9–7 in the semi-finals but lost a thrilling 9–10 decider to after Murphy fluked the pink in the final frame. Earlier that year, he had also reached the semi-finals of the Masters, losing 4–6 to Stephen Lee, and ended the season at a career-high No. 5 in the rankings while earning £149,550 in . By 2010, Fu maintained his top-16 position with a last-16 finish at the , defeating 9–7 before falling to , contributing to annual earnings that exceeded £100,000 during this consistent phase of his career.

Peak consistency and major finals (2011–2015)

During the 2011–2015 period, Marco Fu demonstrated sustained consistency at the elite level of professional , maintaining a position within the world's top 20 for much of the time and achieving a career-high of fifth during this period. At the end of the 2011/12 season, he finished 23rd after a mixed year that included early exits in several events, but he rebounded strongly thereafter. By the conclusion of the /13 season, Fu had climbed to 17th on the , bolstered by deep runs in tournaments like the PTC Finals where he reached the quarter-finals. His form peaked in 2013/14, ending the season eighth overall after winning the Australian Goldfields Open and strong performances in major events. A highlight of Fu's peak came in January 2011 at the Masters, one of snooker's Triple Crown events, where he advanced to his first final in the invitational tournament by defeating 6–4 in the semi-finals before losing 4–10 to compatriot in an all-Asian showdown. This performance underscored his growing prowess in high-stakes matches, building on his earlier ranking successes to secure a seeded place at major events. In 2013, Fu captured his second ranking title at the Australian Goldfields Open in , overcoming 9–3 in the final with a series of fluent breaks, including a 133 in the decisive frame, which propelled him into the top 10 provisionally. Fu's consistency extended into 2014 and with additional deep runs in premier tournaments. At the , he navigated a tense last-16 victory over 6–5, potting the final black to advance, before exiting in the quarter-finals 4–6 to . He also won the minor-ranking Gibraltar Open in March 2014, defeating Michael White 4–1 in the final, to affirm his status among the tour's top performers. In , Fu showcased exceptional break-building at the Masters, compiling a maximum 147 break—the first ever at —during his 6–3 last-16 win over , though he was then whitewashed 1–6 by in the quarter-finals. These achievements highlighted Fu's technical refinement, particularly in positional play and long potting, enabling him to average over 50 points per break in several key victories during this era.

Challenges and later professional years (2016–2019)

Following a peak period of consistent high-level performances, Marco Fu encountered significant challenges from 2016 onward, primarily stemming from issues that limited his practice time and affected his competitive edge. In December 2017, Fu underwent to treat retinal degeneration and myodesopsia in his left eye, conditions that caused visual disturbances including spots and . This procedure led to a necessary recovery period, during which he missed multiple ranking events in the 2017–18 season, including parts of the early calendar. Fu returned to the tour in early 2018 but struggled to regain his previous consistency, with the eye condition continuing to impact his focus and precision during matches. His results suffered, marked by frequent early-round defeats, such as a first-round exit at the 2018 World Snooker Championship to Lyu Haotian. This downturn contrasted sharply with his 2016 triumphs, including a ranking title at the Scottish Open and a World Championship semi-final appearance. By the end of the 2018–19 season, Fu's world ranking had slipped to 55th, a significant decline from his career-high of fifth in 2017. To mitigate the slide, Fu prioritized events on the , where he had historically performed well, aiming to accumulate ranking points through invitational and regional tournaments. However, his overall earnings diminished notably, totaling approximately £110,500 in the 2018–19 season—less than a third of his 2016–17 haul of £338,150—reflecting fewer deep runs and the financial pressures of reduced practice capacity. By 2019, Fu's ranking had fallen as low as 50th at points during the season, heightening concerns over his tour status, though he showed flashes of resilience with a notable 4–2 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan at the World Open. The combination of ongoing recovery from surgery and inconsistent results culminated in him finishing outside the top 64 by the close of the 2019–20 season, resulting in the loss of his professional tour card; initial attempts to reclaim it via Q School were unsuccessful, confining him to invitational appearances.

Hiatus, return, and recent developments (2020–present)

Marco Fu took a break from professional snooker due to the , which prevented him from competing in the 2020–21 season amid travel restrictions and health concerns for his family in . During this period, he prioritized family safety and recovery, remaining based in rather than traveling to the for tournaments. Fu was awarded an invitational tour card by the World Snooker Tour for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, allowing his return to the professional circuit despite the challenges of the pandemic. He received a renewed two-year invitational tour card in May 2023 following a "really challenging time," enabling continued participation through the 2024–25 season. In April 2025, Fu was awarded a further two-year invitational tour card for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons. In the 2023–24 season, Fu competed in multiple World Tour events, reaching the last 32 stage in several ranking tournaments, including the and Wuhan Open, before concluding the campaign ranked world number 80. The following 2024–25 season saw him advance to the last 32 at the British Open, where he defeated 4–2 and Joshua Thomond 4–1 before losing 4–0 to , while exiting in the last 64 at the English Open with a 4–0 defeat to David Grace. Fu's form continued into 2025, highlighted by a rare 16-red total clearance of 139 during his first-round match against at the qualifiers, becoming only the seventh player to achieve such a break in professional history, though he ultimately lost 10–4. In the 2025–26 season, Fu started strongly, earning the Player of the Month award for July 2025 and qualifying for main draws including the Wuhan Open and British Open. In September 2025, however, Fu suffered a fractured elbow, sidelining him for two months and causing him to withdraw from the and Xi'an Grand Prix qualifiers. Despite the injury, he returned to compete in the 2025 Northern Ireland Open, losing in the first round to on October 19. Throughout his return, Fu has engaged fans more actively via , expressing gratitude for his tour opportunities and sharing career reflections. He has also contributed to the development of young Asian players through involvement in regional initiatives and academies.

Playing style and equipment

Technique and strengths

Marco Fu is a right-handed player renowned for his smooth and compact cue action, which emphasizes control and precision without excessive feathering, allowing for consistent delivery across various shot types. His technique is particularly noted for exceptional long potting accuracy, enabling him to open up the table effectively from distance in competitive matches. Among Fu's key strengths is his outstanding safety play, where he excels at positioning the cue ball to limit opponents' scoring opportunities while setting up favorable attacks. He is also a fluent break-builder, demonstrated by his compilation of 549 century breaks, reflecting his to construct substantial scores under pressure. Fu thrives in frame-ball situations, leveraging his tactical patience to turn defensive scenarios into winning opportunities through calculated risks and recoveries. Fu's style draws inspiration from the flair of and the precision of , players he admired during their frequent exhibition visits to in the 1980s, which motivated him to pursue the sport professionally. While his approach emphasizes reliability, it occasionally veers toward tactical conservatism in high-stakes finals, prioritizing over aggressive potting to maintain leads.

Preferred cues and breaks

Marco Fu has primarily used a custom DeRoo S8 cue throughout much of his , featuring a 3/4 jointed design with a high-density old-growth shaft for enhanced control and feel. The cue measures approximately 57 5/8 inches in length, aligning with his preference for a standard full-size cue that supports his precise stroke mechanics. In 2012, Fu transitioned to a new custom cue after years with the DeRoo model, reflecting periodic adjustments to suit evolving playing conditions, though specifics on subsequent brands remain limited. Fu's break-building prowess is exemplified by his five official maximum 147 breaks in professional competition, with the first achieved in 2003 during the LG Cup against David Gray and the most recent in 2022 at the Hong Kong Masters semi-final against John Higgins. He has also recorded higher clearances in non-standard scenarios, including a rare 148 break via a free ball in a 2020 practice match and a 16-red total clearance of 139 in the 2025 World Snooker Championship qualifiers against Ben Mertens, joining an elite group of just seven players to accomplish the latter feat. These accomplishments underscore his exceptional potting accuracy and tactical acumen in constructing extended runs. In competitive play, Fu has amassed 549 century breaks, establishing him as one of snooker's most prolific break-builders and highlighting his consistency during peak years from 2004 to 2015. His smooth, deliberate cue action facilitates these high-scoring contributions by enabling fluid positioning and minimal shot-time variance. Regarding equipment adaptations, Fu encountered a notable challenge in the semi-final when his cue tip detached mid-match against , yet he adapted on the fly to level the score at 8-8 before the final session. Later career adjustments, including tip replacements, have allowed sustained performance into his late 40s.

Achievements and records

Tournament titles and rankings

Marco Fu has secured three World Snooker Tour ranking event titles during his professional career. His first came at the 2007 Grand Prix, where he defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan 9–6 in the final to claim the £75,000 top prize. This victory marked a significant breakthrough, as Fu became the first player from Hong Kong to win a ranking title, inspiring greater interest in snooker across Asia. He followed this with a second ranking triumph at the 2013 Australian Goldfields Open, overcoming home favorite Neil Robertson 9–6 in the final in Bendigo. His third and most dramatic ranking win occurred at the 2016 Scottish Open, where he mounted a stunning comeback from 4–1 down to beat John Higgins 9–4, securing £70,000 and the Stephen Hendry Trophy. In addition to his ranking successes, Fu claimed one minor-ranking event title at the 2015/16 Gibraltar Open, defeating 4–2 in the final for £25,000. He has also amassed multiple non-ranking and professional titles, including the 2002/03 Premier League Snooker, the 2006/07 Thailand Masters, the 2011/12 , and the 2015/16 General Cup, further highlighting his consistency across various formats. Fu turned professional in 1998, entering the rankings at No. 377 by the end of his debut 1998/99 season after reaching the Grand Prix final as a qualifier. His rankings rose steadily, breaking into the top 16 for the first time end-of-season in the 2004/05 season at No. 11 and maintaining a top-16 position for 14 consecutive seasons through 2017/18. He achieved his career-high provisional ranking of No. 5 in 2013, with end-of-season highs of No. 7 in 2011/12 and 2013/14. Following a hiatus due to eye issues, Fu returned in the 2020s and received an invitational tour card in 2025, currently ranked at No. 95. Throughout his career, Fu has earned over £2.3 million in prize money, with his most lucrative year being 2016/17 at £338,150 thanks to his Scottish Open win and strong performances in other events. His 2007/08 season earnings were £149,550, boosted by the Grand Prix victory. His achievements have significantly elevated snooker's profile in Asia, as Hong Kong's most successful player and a pioneer for the region.
SeasonRanking Event TitleOpponent in FinalScore
2007/08Grand PrixRonnie O'Sullivan9–6
2013/14Australian Goldfields OpenNeil Robertson9–6
2016/17Scottish OpenJohn Higgins9–4
SeasonMinor-Ranking TitleOpponent in FinalScore
2015/16Gibraltar OpenKyren Wilson4–2

Notable performances and milestones

Marco Fu has achieved several standout performances at the , including reaching the quarter-finals three times. In 2003, as a qualifier, he upset 15th seed 13-7 to advance, before falling 13-7 to Stephen Lee in the last eight. In 2007, he defeated Mark King to reach the quarter-finals, losing 13-6 to Joe Perry. He replicated this feat in 2015, defeating and Joe Perry en route to a 13-8 quarter-final defeat by . During his 2016 semi-final against , Fu participated in the longest frame in history, lasting 76 minutes and 11 seconds, which helped level the match at 12-12 before Selby ultimately won 17-15. He also reached the semi-finals in 2006, losing in a deciding frame to . Fu has compiled 5 maximum 147 breaks, including notable ones at the 2015 Masters against and the 2022 semi-final versus . In 2004, during the Welsh Open, he reached the semi-finals and compiled one of the fastest centuries in a event, completing a 100 break in under 15 minutes against before losing 3-6. Key milestones include becoming the first player to reach the Masters final in 2011, where he faced in the inaugural all-Asian showdown, and compiling his 100th in a tournament during the 2012 season. In 2025, Fu achieved a rare 16-red total clearance of 139 in the qualifiers against , the seventh such instance in history. These achievements, alongside his three titles such as the 2007 Grand Prix, underscore his consistency at major events. Fu has significantly promoted in and through high-profile appearances and advocacy, inspiring a new generation of players and contributing to the sport's growth in . He received recognition for his contributions with the Hong Kong Sports Stars Award in 2003, highlighting his role as a national sporting icon.

Personal life

Family and residence

Marco Fu was born on 8 January 1978 in to a family that introduced him to early in life; his father taught him the game when he was nine years old. Fu married his wife, Shirley, in 2011 after meeting her earlier in the . The couple has two daughters: their first, Alicia Belle, was born on 22 December 2012 in , and their second, Amelia Lara, arrived in 2015. Shirley has provided crucial support throughout Fu's career, including during periods when the family lived in the UK for his professional commitments; she is originally from . Following the birth of their second daughter, the family relocated to in 2016 to prioritize the children's education, though Fu continues to travel extensively for tournaments. He has occasionally introduced his daughters to through family activities and his involvement in youth programs in , such as the MSK snooker school for children that he co-founded in 2019. Fu maintains a low public profile regarding his family, rarely sharing personal details in media appearances to shield them from excessive exposure amid his high-profile career. The family is primarily based in , with Fu splitting time between there and the during tour seasons for convenience.

Interests and philanthropy

Marco Fu has demonstrated a commitment to youth development in through his co-founding of Master Snooker Kingdom in 2019, the world's first EduTech-powered academy aimed at children aged 4 to 10. The academy, based in , integrates training with STEM education, etiquette lessons, and programs to foster holistic growth and promote the among young Asians. Since its inception, it has offered proprietary curricula developed by snooker professionals and educators, contributing to grassroots efforts in the region by revolutionizing image through structured youth coaching. Fu's involvement includes overseeing programs that emphasize discipline and skill-building, aligning with his post-2020 focus on nurturing the next generation amid his professional hiatus and return. In philanthropy, Fu has participated in various charitable initiatives supporting underprivileged children and social welfare. In October 2016, he joined fellow stars , , , and in donating billiards facilities to an for Tibetan orphans in Beijing's suburbs, as part of the Foundation's Billiards Fund program to advance billiards-related social causes. He has also led charity events, such as the "Run With Your Heart" initiative in , where he exchanged his cue for running shoes to raise funds alongside other elite athletes. In November 2021, Fu played in an exhibition match at a charity event in , further highlighting his support for local causes. These efforts reflect his dedication to giving back through sport, including ongoing involvement in programs via his academy.

Career statistics

Performance and rankings timeline

The following table summarizes Marco Fu's performance in key and non- events across his , focusing on the (), (), and The Masters (non-). Entries indicate the deepest stage reached in each tournament, with qualifying losses denoted where applicable. Seasons with limited participation (2019–2022 due to eye condition and impacts) show actual results where played. Year-end rankings reflect his final position at the close of each season where data is available; otherwise, NR (not ranked) is used.
SeasonWorld ChampionshipUK ChampionshipThe MastersYear-end rank
1998–99L32L32DNP64
1999–00L32L32DNP43
2000–01L32L16DNP29
2001–02L48L32DNP19
2002–03QFL16DNP15
2003–04L48L32DNP11
2004–05L32L32DNP9
2005–06SFL32WC7
2006–07L32WDDNP8
2007–08L32FSF10
2008–09L16L32L1611
2009–10L32L16L1610
2010–11L32QFL169
2011–12L32L16F7
2012–13L16L128DNP8
2013–14L16QFQF9
2014–15L16QFQF10
2015–16SFSFL1612
2016–17QFL32SF11
2017–18L32L32L1616
2018–19L144L32DNPNR
2019–20DNPDNPDNPNR
2020–21DNPDNPDNPNR
2021–22DNPDNPDNPNR
2022–23L144L80DNP109
2023–24L144L80DNP80
2024–25L80L80DNP67
2025–26QOngoingDNPNR
Legend for tournament results:
  • W: Winner
  • F: Runner-up
  • SF: Semi-final
  • QF: Quarter-final
  • L16/L32/L48/L64/L80/L128/L144: Last 16/32/etc. (main draw or final qualifying rounds)
  • Q: Lost in qualifying (specific round not detailed)
  • WD: Withdrew
  • WC: Wildcard entry
  • DNP: Did not participate
  • NH: Not held (none applicable here)
  • Ongoing: Season in progress as of November 14, 2025
Non-ranking events beyond The Masters (e.g., wins in 2002 and 2011) are not tabulated here to focus on consistent major fixtures. Year-end rankings are provisional for the 2025–26 season.

Ranking finals (3 wins, 5 losses)

YearTournamentOpponentResultScoreVenue
1998Grand PrixStephen LeeRunner-up6–9Preston Guild Hall, Preston, England
2004Welsh OpenJohn HigginsRunner-up8–9Newport Centre, Newport, Wales
2007Grand PrixRonnie O'SullivanWinner9–6Aberdeen Exhibition Centre, Aberdeen, Scotland
2008UK ChampionshipShaun MurphyRunner-up9–10Telford International Centre, Telford, England
2013German MastersShaun MurphyRunner-up9–10Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany
2013International ChampionshipDing JunhuiRunner-up9–10Sichuan International Tennis Centre, Chengdu, China
2013Australian Goldfields OpenNeil RobertsonWinner9–6Bendigo Stadium, Bendigo, Australia
2016Scottish OpenJohn HigginsWinner9–4Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland

Minor-ranking finals (1 win, 2 losses)

YearTournamentOpponentResultScoreVenue
2011Antwerp Open (PTC Event 3)Mark AllenWinner4–1, ,
2013Lisbon Open (ET Event 6)Mark AllenRunner-up3–4, ,
2014Gdynia Open (ET Event 3)Runner-up3–4, ,

Non-ranking finals (4 wins, 5 losses)

YearTournamentOpponentResultScoreVenue
2002Premier League SnookerWinner7–5, ,
2006Northern Ireland TrophyRunner-up3–9Waterfront Hall, ,
2011Winner3–1Crondon Park Golf Club, Brentwood,
2011MastersRunner-up4–10, ,
2015General CupWinner4–2General Arena,
2016Paul Hunter ClassicRunner-up2–4Stadthalle, ,
2022Runner-up4–6,
2023World Mixed Doubles(Team event with )Runner-upN/A, ,

Pro-am and amateur finals (1 win, 0 losses)

YearTournamentOpponentResultScoreVenue
1997World Amateur ChampionshipStuart MannWinner11–7Masterton, New Zealand

References

  1. https://wpbsa.com/player/marco-fu/
  2. https://www.wst.tv/players/5012642c-60cc-4ab3-a41b-b152370562eb/
  3. https://www.rkgsnooker.com/player/player-profile/marco-fu/token-134
  4. http://www.prosnookerblog.com/players/d-f/marco-fu/
  5. https://snookerhq.com/2022/09/02/marco-fu-player-profile-career-summary-stats/
  6. https://www.scmp.com/topics/marco-fu
  7. https://www.snookershorts.com/shorts/player-spotlight-marco-fu
  8. https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=4
  9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/articles/cvg7lryr295o
  10. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/jan/16/ding-junhui-wins-masters-marco-fu
  11. https://www.totallysnookered.com/sport/snooker/tournaments/world-championship/snooker-star-marco-fu-achieves-ultra-rare-16-red-total-clearance-at-2025-world-championship-qualifiers-5077364
  12. https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/september/28/Fu-Out-For-Two-Months-With-Fractured-Elbow/
  13. https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2102681/heres-why-snooker-star-marco-fu-hong-kongs-most-famous-athlete
  14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/39624692
  15. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6235557/bio/
  16. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6235557/trivia/
  17. https://hub.hku.hk/bitstream/10722/350960/1/FullText.pdf
  18. https://snookerhq.com/2018/09/23/when-canadian-snooker-ruled-world/
  19. https://www.prosnookerblog.com/players/d-f/marco-fu/
  20. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/season/1998-1999?status=professional
  21. https://www.snooker.org/trn/9899/gp98_res.shtml
  22. https://cuetracker.net/tournaments/grand-prix/1999/320/finishes
  23. https://cuetracker.net/tournaments/world-championship/2003/242
  24. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/2986607.stm
  25. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/ranking-history
  26. https://www.snooker.org/trn/0304/wo2004_res.shtml
  27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/7055652.stm
  28. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/7794708.stm
  29. https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=22&event=23
  30. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/prize-money/per-season
  31. https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?season=2012&template=11
  32. http://www.championshipleaguesnooker.co.uk/marco-fu
  33. https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/30038416
  34. https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/30410441
  35. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2131783/marco-fu-admits-fears-his-future-snooker-after-laser-surgery-fix
  36. https://theoldgreenbaize.com/2018/01/29/marco-fu-to-take-rest-from-snooker-following-eye-surgery/
  37. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2142851/marco-fu-knocked-out-crucible-chinas-lyu-haotian-hints-comeback
  38. https://snookerhq.com/2019/02/05/marco-fu-beats-ronnie-osullivan/
  39. https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=31&season=2018
  40. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/career-total-statistics
  41. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2185062/hong-kongs-marco-fu-ends-10-year-losing-streak-against-ronnie
  42. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3124975/marco-fu-likely-retain-place-pro-snooker-tour-despite-drop-ranking
  43. https://metro.co.uk/2023/05/15/marco-fu-delighted-with-invitational-tour-card-after-really-challenging-time-18786960/
  44. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3220643/hong-kongs-marco-fu-targets-return-crucible-after-being-handed-invitational-card-world-snooker-tour
  45. https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/april/24/jimmy-white-and-marco-fu-awarded-invitational-tour-cards/
  46. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/2023-2024
  47. https://cuetracker.net/tournaments/british-open/2024/6219
  48. https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=22&event=1833
  49. https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/april/10/fu-makes-rare-16-red-clearance/
  50. https://snookerhq.com/2025/04/10/marco-fu-records-rare-16-red-break-world-snooker-championship/
  51. https://snookerhq.com/2025/09/30/snooker-star-out-for-two-months-with-fractured-elbow/
  52. https://www.tntsports.co.uk/snooker/betvictor-northern-ireland-open/2025-2026/live-tom-ford-marco-fu_mtc1648074/live.shtml
  53. https://x.com/Marcofu18
  54. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3016612/marco-fu-and-ng-yee-part-hong-kong-effort-rally-asian-countries-and
  55. https://snookerinfo.co.uk/
  56. https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/snooker/news/3036804/fu-relishing-davis-tie
  57. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/may/01/mark-selby-marco-fu-snooker-world-championship
  58. http://www.deroocues.com/
  59. https://www.thesnookerforum.co.uk/board/forum/snooker-billiards-equipment/cues/33404-marco-fu-s-new-cues
  60. https://wpbsa.com/about-us/history/147-breaks/
  61. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3110191/marco-fu-hits-rare-148-break-after-being-given-free-ball-one-week
  62. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-3566253/Marco-Fu-fights-bizarre-cue-tip-incident-draw-level-world-No-1-Mark-Selby-World-Snooker-Championship-semi.html
  63. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2092673/new-heights-hong-kong-snooker-star-marco-fu-delights-his-highest
  64. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/2978893.stm
  65. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/32267904
  66. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/32485903
  67. https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/36177534
  68. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/maximums
  69. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/centuries/2004-2005
  70. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/centuries/2012-2013
  71. https://www.snooker.org/plr/records.shtml
  72. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3207701/hong-kong-pool-star-robbie-capito-vows-be-snookers-marco-fu-and-inspire-next-generation
  73. https://www.scmp.com/article/445130/shining-stars
  74. https://www.scmp.com/article/414119/snooker-star-right-cue-role-model
  75. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/wedding-ceremony-of-snooker-player-marco-fu-ka-chun-and-news-photo/1125192892
  76. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/dad-fu-reaches-german-masters-snooker-final-034200985.html
  77. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/1283556/fatherhood-makes-new-man-fu
  78. https://www.tntsports.co.uk/snooker/the-masters/2016-2017/marco-fu-interview-it-is-heartbreaking-and-embarrassing-that-snooker-cant-fund-128-players_sto6016215/story.shtml
  79. https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/NjM1MzMzMTQ1
  80. https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2067496/hong-kong-star-marco-fu-praying-snooker-retains-top-status-sports
  81. https://www.cyberport.hk/enewsletter/v155/1550009.html
  82. https://www.linkedin.com/company/marco-fu-snooker-academy
  83. https://mastersnookerkingdom.com/snooker/
  84. http://m.tibet.cn/eng/culture/news/201610/t20161022_5725112.html
  85. https://www.scmp.com/article/335416/fu-lead-charity-charge-elite-promise-run-their-hearts
  86. https://muckrack.com/nazvi-careem/articles
  87. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/tournament-record/world-championship
  88. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/tournament-record/uk-championship
  89. https://cuetracker.net/players/marco-fu/tournament-record/masters
  90. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/dec/21/snooker
  91. https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/24797603
  92. https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/38357882
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