Snooker’s Cool For Daqing School

Snooker stars Michael Georgiou, Alfie Burden, Stuart Carrington and Martin O’Donnell, as well as WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson, visited Daqing Number One Middle School on Monday, during the International Championship.

They met around 200 pupils, aged 11 and 12, to teach them more about snooker, which is among the most popular sports in China. The four players gave tips to coaches and students on how to improve their skills.

Ferguson said: “When we bring a big event to a big city, our job is to integrate with the local community. It’s great to see out players giving up their time during a major tournament. Every year we come back here there are more students playing snooker. The children are passionate about the sport because they watch the stars on television and it’s inspirational.

“Days like this provide the inspiration, and by leaving the snooker tables in the schools, we are providing the facilities for them to train. Sport is such an important part of every day life, and it’s about the social benefits and the inclusion you can bring into communities.”

O’Donnell added: “It was great fun, all the kids were really enthusiastic. We have to spread the word, promote this game and get it as far out as we can. The more people playing snooker around the world the better.”