There is plenty of debate and discussion as to who might prove to be the next champion to emerge from China, following in the footsteps of the mighty Ding Junhui.
Quite an act to follow of course, with the world No2 having hoovered up just the five ranking titles last season alone and signalled his intent this term with success in his home Yixing Open last week.
Liang Wenbo’s time to truly seize the baton may have come and gone, and delving down into the next wave of young prospects several have their admirers.
Lyu Haotian gained some fame for reaching the quarter-finals of the International Championship at 14 and continues to progress.
And more recently the spotlight has fallen on Zhao Xintong, who beat Ken Doherty at 15 in that same Chengdu event two years ago and is improving with every event.
But former world champion Graeme Dott reckons world amateur champion Zhou Yuelong, who beat Zhao 8-4 in last year’s final for that trophy, could just prove to be the best of the bunch.
After seeing off Zhou 5-3 at the Wuxi Classic Dott said: “I have played him three times and I just think he has the best all-round game of all of them.
“I think he will be the next big player coming through from China. After Ding and Wenbo, people talk about Zhao, but Zhou is my favourite. He is the one to look out for.”