The Jumping Dragon

Zhou Yuelong

He Guoqiang player poster
Nationality
China
Date of birth
24 JAN 1998
Turned pro
2014
Highest achievement
Two-time ranking event runner-up
Current world ranking
19

Profile

Zhou Yuelong first rose to prominence by winning the 2013 IBSF World Under-21 Championship at just 15 years old. Two years later, he helped China B claim the 2015 Snooker World Cup title as part of an all-teenage team. Widely regarded as one of the strongest players yet to capture a ranking title, Zhou has reached multiple ranking event finals, including the 2022 Northern Ireland Open and the 2025 English Open, where he narrowly missed out on both occasions. He also enjoyed a memorable World Championship breakthrough in 2018, recording his first Crucible victory with a win over Mark Allen before reaching the last 16.

Career history

  1. 2026

    Semi-finalist at the World Grand Prix, losing narrowly 6-5 to Zhang Anda.

  2. 2025

    Reaches another ranking final but again loses to Mark Allen, a narrow 9-8 defeat at the English Open. Semi-finalist at the Northern Ireland Open.

  3. 2022

    Reaches his third ranking final at the Northern Ireland Open, and leads Mark Allen 4-1 but eventually loses 9-4.

  4. 2020

    Reaches his maiden ranking final at the European Masters, only to suffer a whitewash 9-0 defeat to Neil Robertson. Makes the Shoot Out final, losing out to Michael Holt. Enjoys a fine run to the semi-finals of the UK Championship before losing to Neil Robertson.

  5. 2019

    After qualifying for the final stages of the World Championship, wins a match at the Crucible for the first time, beating Mark Allen 10-7. Makes his first 147 at the Indian Open. Reaches the final of the World Cup for China B alongside Liang Wenbo, before losing to Scotland.

  6. 2017

    Reaches the semi-finals of a ranking event for the first time at the European Masters in Belgium, losing 6-4 to Stuart Bingham. Climbs into the world’s top 32.

  7. 2016

    Reaches the last 16 of the UK Championship.

  8. 2015

    At the age of 17, wins the World Cup for China’s B Team alongside Yan Bingtao. They beat Scotland in the final in Wuxi.

  9. 2013

    Wins the World Amateur Championship at the age of 15.