Eastern Risings

Falling in the final, Chen took over the WPA's No. 1 ranking.

By the time the final 16 had been determined late Friday night, the handwriting was on the wall at the Liaoning Hunnan Sports Training Arena - and it was printed in big, bold Chinese characters. Fourteen of the last 16 players were from North Asia; 10 of those players were from China.

The only two non-Asians remaining in the field, American Monica Webb and Canada's Brittany Bryant, must have been wondering just what they had gotten themselves into. Sure, the two talented players were incredibly delighted to still be standing in the final 16 of the 2011 Women's World 9-Ball Championship. But by Saturday afternoon, Webb and Bryant were left to rue what might have been. Webb trailed, 5-2, to China's Han Yu before fighting back to grab a 7-6 lead, only to hand the match to Han with a costly positional error. Bryant also saw a sure win slip through her grasp against China's Zhou Doudou. Up 8-6, Bryant was in total control, only to commit several basic errors that allowed Zhou to gain the win, 9-8.

When the quarterfinals were finally set, the message was emphatically complete. Seven of the final eight players were Chinese. The lone non-Chinese player left standing? Taiwan's talented Lin Yuan Chun, who won the World 9-Ball title in 2008.

Although the nearly all-Chinese quarterfinal seemed to deflate the potential drama that should accompany a "world" championship, there were still plenty of stars to electrify the home fans. Fu was playing great, as was Liu. And world No. 2 Chen Siming looked in championship form.

But easily the most popular entrant in the quarterfinals was Pan Xiaoting. That China has literally taken over the women's game is not in doubt. As to who is the leader of the charge, there's also no doubt. Pan's win at the 2007 World 9-Ball Championship was the first ever by a player from China. She then set off for the U.S., where she carved out a successful niche for herself with the Women's Professional Billiard Association. At the same time, Pan's looks, fashion sense and pleasant demeanor fit perfectly with the tastes of the Chinese public. Known as the "Queen of 9-Ball," Pan is a huge star in every sense of the word, always followed by throngs of fans and media wanting a photo or autograph.

But while Pan is one of China's most popular sporting personalities, the massive wave of talent in the likes of Fu, Liu, Chen and others has led to whispers that she has lost a step in the last few years. After outlasting Korea's Ga Young Kim in a hill-hill set in the round of 16, Pan said she had indeed heard the gossip.

"In recent years I only played in other countries," Pan said. "But now there are many new billiard players coming up [in China]. Their skills have improved rapidly. This has motivated me to practice more and this is what I'm doing now because I want to show that I'm still capable of being on top of the game."

In her high-profile quarterfinal against Fu, though, Pan fell short. After coming from 8-5 down to tie, she watched as Fu made two very difficult pots to take the case game.

"Yes, I felt nervous today," Fu said afterward. "I knew Pan when I was a kid and just starting out. I'm honored to play her."

By the time the final four had been set late Saturday night, the home team sweep was complete, as Bi took down Taiwan's Lin, 9-7. Bi, though, was still cruising very much under the radar of Chinese fans, and she would enter her semifinal match against Fu on the final day as a heavy underdog.

Actually, few paid Bi any mind as the storyline fans hoped would unfold was for Fu, the defending champion and world No. 1, to face Chen, the world No. 2, in the final. The 17-year-old Chen, whom many observers of the women's game feel could be China's top talent, was to face another rising prospect, 19-year-old Han Yu, in the second semifinal.

"This is my first time in the semifinal of a world championship," Chen said after easily beating compatriot Zhou Dodou in the quarters. "I'm hoping I can win and that I can play Fu in the finals."

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