Cool in combat, dad, noodles: Can Bai Yulu rule snooker world again?

It has been a whirlwind 12 months for Bai Yulu since being crowned World snooker champion in her home city of Dongguan.  

"My most unforgettable match was the World Championship final last year. At that time I hadn't ever won the tournament and I didn't have my professional card," she told CGTN Europe.  

"It was quite stressful at the start. I had many friends supporting me, and my coach and family. There was pressure to do well, but after a few games I changed my mood and turned the feeling of pressure into motivation. In fact, the semi-final and final were thrilling to play in.

"After I won, many people recognized me and friends who saw my face on railway billboards sent me messages. It was a very interesting time when I had to do interviews and have lots of meals! It was a tiring time!"

China's queen of the baize was in buoyant and determined mood when we caught up with her at her UK workbase inside Ding Junhui's snooker academy in Sheffield in northern UK ahead of her World title defence which begins on Monday.

Read more:World snooker champion Zhao Xintong: Who is China's new megastar?

It comes at a time when China is riding high in the snooker universe. Zhao Xintong recently became the first Chinese male World Champion at the Crucible in a tournament featuring a record 10 Chinese players in the televised stage.  

Can 21-year-old Yulu make it a Chinese World double?

In 2023, she lost in the final in Bangkok. In 2024, she conquered Thailand's Mink Nutcharut in a dramatic last-frame decider in the final. In 2025?

"This year it's back in Dongguan," Yulu added. "The goal is definitely to win the championship again and I hope I can perform better at home again. I mainly try to relax my mind and hope I can maintain the state of last year and continue it like this."

Yulu has every reason to be confident. 

Becoming World champion ensured direct qualification to the World Snooker Tour and a two-year professional tour card. It's been quite the rise for the new pro. 

In November, she became the first female in history to win three successive matches at a ranking event before missing out on a historic spot at the UK Championship. She lost to world No. 21 Jack Lisowski who described her run in Leicester as "incredible".

Yulu was also one of 128 players in the qualifying rounds for the recent World Championship. 

With many of the competitions in the UK and other players and academies already based in Sheffield, it made sense to settle in the Yorkshire city in June 2024 to train at the academy set up by compatriot Ding Junhui. 

"Sheffield is a special existence in the hearts of every snooker player," Yulu said. "It has the Crucible Theatre and every player dreams to play there. It's so special for everybody involved in snooker.

"Occasionally I go back to China but I live in the UK most of the time. I miss China but the training is better in the UK and the environment. My academy is more spacious and I play with many more Chinese players. It's also quieter than in China so the quality of training is higher and I can be more focused."

Yulu's support team has played a huge role on her path to stardom and billboards. The core member, who has been with her every step of the way since buying her a second-hand table when she was 9, is her father.  

He has been at Yulu's side since her relocation last summer, but the dynamics between the pair hasn't always been smooth.

"When I first started training properly and I was still at school I told my dad I didn't want to study anymore," Yulu said. "He said girls could practise professionally and still achieve good results , but my mum was more straightforward. She said that if I liked it then she would support me. 

"My father was still worried! He was afraid if I didn't get good grades, my studies would be delayed. In the end, they decided to support me playing snooker.

"I've got a lot of experience now. I used to lose a lot of matches and that made me feel insecure, but my parents continued to encourage me, along with my coach Li Jianbing who has been with me since my junior days. He has always believed I can be the best female snooker player, so I'm very grateful for their support. 

"That gives me so much confidence, because if I was alone with nobody saying anything then it would be very difficult for me to stick with."

Dogs, music and noodles

Yulu maybe a magician with a snooker cue, but her skills do not extend to the kitchen. She revealed her father has a big passion for noodles and does all her cooking. In between the relentless training, Yulu enjoys TV and music. She'd also like to have a dog, but, for now, her schedule does not accommodate the commitment needed.

Instead of dreaming of homemade spicy noodles or walking a furry pet, Yulu is staying cool as she prepares for battle in front of her friends again and the thousands of new fans she is now attracting.

"I am aiming for a calm state of mind," she said. "You can only concentrate on the table because there are too many ideas of winning or losing which affect you and distract you.

"Focusing on winning can affect your whole performance. I don't think there is anything that can be practised for the mentality of the game. Everything comes from experience so you accumulate this kind of actual combat experience bit by bit."