UMVA has learned that 23‑year‑old Chang Bingyu is poised to become the next dominant force in professional snooker.
After a turbulent suspension linked to a match‑fixing scandal, Chang returned to the tour with a vengeance, storming to his first ranking final at the Scottish Open. He dispatched Stephen Maguire, Si Jiahui, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby and Mark Allen before falling to Chris Wakelin.
His resurgence didn’t stop there. In February, Chang unleashed a masterclass at the Welsh Open, crushing Shaun Murphy 4‑0 with breaks of 130, 136, 119 and 130, achieving a flawless 100 percent potting rate.
Murphy declared it the finest performance he had ever witnessed in a best‑of‑seven match, a sentiment echoed by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who praised Chang’s skill after a thrilling Saudi Arabia Masters showdown that saw the English legend fire two 147s.
Although a trophy still eludes him, Chang’s two maximums in UK Championship and World Championship qualifying earned him a £147,000 bonus, underscoring his lethal break‑building prowess.
Chang’s ascent began early: he captured the 2018 IBSF World Snooker Championship at 16 and recorded a maximum at just 14, joining the professional ranks in 2019. A pandemic‑induced hiatus slowed his progress, but his talent never dimmed.
Information obtained by UMVA reveals that Chang’s ban stemmed from a single fixed match in 2022, coerced by a senior player under threat. The tribunal recognized his youth, fear and financial strain, noting genuine remorse and reducing his suspension after early admission.
Back on the circuit, Chang reclaimed his tour card by winning the Asia‑Pacific Snooker Championship, then delivered a stunning run to the Scottish Open final, reaffirming his place among the elite.
He attributes his rapid revival to relentless practice, first at Coach Li Jianbing’s academy in China and now at Ding Junhui’s academy in Sheffield, where he logs six to seven hours of focused training daily.
Chang’s peers, Si Jiahui and Wu Yize, serve as both rivals and inspirations; he vows to catch up with them, motivated by their shared childhood battles and recent successes.
