Li Xing, born on October 4, 1990, is a Chinese professional snooker player who once won glory. However, with the turmoil in the 2023 competition, he was permanently banned for multiple violations of collusion in the game. This reversal of fate became a major turning point in his career. Li Xing's story began as a rookie, and he went through hardships, crazy rises and falls, and became the focus of world attention.
Li Xing participated in his first professional tournament in 2008, but the real challenge began when he entered the professional tour.
Li Xing's professional career began in the 2008–09 season, and he showed his potential to challenge in his first tournament. Although he failed to qualify in the 2008 Jiangsu Classic, he unexpectedly defeated the world runner-up Ali Carter that year, which undoubtedly made many snooker fans look at him with admiration. As he gradually adapted to the rhythm of professional competitions, Li Xing's abilities began to show the potential of his career.
From the 2009 to 2010 season, Li Xing performed well in many competitions, especially in the Welsh Open, where he won all the way and finally entered the final round. Although he was defeated in the end, his performance demonstrated his pursuit and hard work. His ranking peaked at No. 81 at the end of the season, and although he failed to stay on the Pro Tour, he still won praise for his potential.
"Even in the face of numerous difficulties, I still persist in pursuing my dream. Along the way, every game is an opportunity to grow."
After several years of training, Li Xing returned to the professional game in a more mature manner in the 2013-14 season. That year he defeated No. 3 Jude Trump in the Wuxi Classic in a match that was hailed as the best performance of his career. As his ranking gradually rose, Li Xing reached No. 28 in 2019, which was also the peak moment of his career.
However, Li Xing's success did not last long. At the end of 2022, Li Xing was suspended from the competition following the investigation into him by the World Players Association of Snooker. Facing charges in January 2023, he was accused of multiple crimes including admission of gambling and interference with investigations, and was eventually sentenced to a lifetime ban by an independent disciplinary tribunal. This decision was the beginning of a nightmare for Li Xing, and his career came to an abrupt end at that moment.
"All the glory slipped away inadvertently. When the former dream chaser became a member of the darkness, I also want to know where all this came from?"
Li Xing's story, from his unyielding faith to the lesson of losing everything, reminds us of the consequences of our choices. How to balance personal dreams and moral responsibilities in one's career may be a problem that many athletes have to face. Will Li Xing be able to regain his confidence, get out of the haze and return to the game in the future, or will he remain silent in this shadow? How do we expect his next story to unfold?