On Yee Crowned ‘Best of the Best’ for Second Time

Newly crowned three-time world champion Ng On Yee has been named ‘Best of the Best’ for the second time at the Samsung Hong Kong Sports Stars Awards earlier this week.

Having previously won the prestigious award in 2015 following her maiden world title success, the 27-year-old again received the honour at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in recognition of her career-year 2017, which saw her claim five ranking event titles on the World Women’s Snooker Tour including her second world crown in Singapore last March.

On Yee told the South China Morning Post:

“Winning the World Championship in 2017 was a great moment for me. I had to play until the last shot in the final before beating my opponent, Vidya Pillai.

“Since winning the world title for the first time in 2015, I’ve become a more mature player. I have been playing in more tournaments all around the world. I have seen more young faces come up against me and they are finishing on the podium.

“I hope my success can help lift the sport and make it more popular in Hong Kong, for it is a sport that can be played by men and women, young and old.”

Crowned world number one for the first time earlier this year based on her results during the past two seasons, On Yee recently cemented her position at the top of the women’s game by claiming her third world title in Malta. The event represented her most dominant victory to date, as she overcame world class players including Belgium’s Wendy Jans and English duo Maria Catalano and Rebecca Kenna without the loss of a single frame in Malta.

Her victory also ensures that On Yee has qualified to play in the qualifying rounds of the professional World Championship in Sheffield next month, while she is also set to begin her defence of her world 6-Red and 10-Red titles at the Festival of Women’s Snooker in Leeds.