Wu Jia-qing

Who is Wu Jia-qing?

Wu Jia-Qing is a professional pool player. He is nicknamed the Taishan Shentong. Previously known as Wu Chia-Ching, the spelling of his name was changed upon moving to mainland China.

Raised by his grandmother from the age of 2, Wu began playing eight-ball the age of 10 at his family-run pool hall. When he became serious about pool, his grandmother would shuttle him from one competition venue to another on her scooter.

In 2005, after only six years of playing, Wu became the youngest player ever to win the WPA World Nine-ball Championship. The next year, he was the top seed of the event, but lost in the quarter-final round to eventual winner Ronato Alcano of the Philippines.

Wu also won the 2005 WPA World Eight-ball Championship. Previously, he was the runner-up at the 2004 Juniors Nine-ball World Championship.

He placed second to Darren Appleton in the inaugural WPA World Ten-ball Championship in 2008, claiming the runner-up prize of US$40,000 In the semi-finals of the event, Wu had defeated Demosthenes Pulpul of the Philippines, 11–8, using a borrowed cue stick.