Jin Long
Name: Jin Long
DOB: May 23rd, 1981
Nationality: Chinese
Turned Pro: 2001
Highest Ranking: #60 (2009/10)
Current Ranking: #60
Highest Break: 125 (2008 Masters Qualifiers)
Career Highlights: 2005 & 2008 Asian Champion, 2004 & 2008 Grand Prix last 48, 2008 UK Championship last 64, 2009 World Championship last 64
In short
Having now qualified for the main tour for the fourth time, in the past it has probably been fair to describe China’s Jin Long as a yo-yo player, moving between the PIOS and the top tier almost every season. Now however it looks like he has adapted to life on the professional circuit and may be here to stay…
Early Career
The first time came in 2002/3 following strong runs to the finals of the Asian and Chinese Championships in the previous season. Ending up 117th in the rankings though, he lost his place immediately and found himself back on the Challenge Tour.
A run to the final of event four in 2003/4 helped him to reclaim his main tour place at the first attempt however, and his second season was to be slightly more successful as he went all the way to the last 48 of the Grand Prix before coming unstuck against Tony Drago.
Though his other results were poor, leaving him down in 118th place, victory in the Asian Championship with a 6-4 win over Cai Jianzhong ensured that he would remain on the tour for another season. His form did not improve in the ranking events however and he lost all his matches to finish 94th and bottom of the professional list.
2008/9
After another couple of years away, he regained his place for a fourth time with victory against another current tour player, India’s Aditya Mehta, in the final of the 2008 Asian Championship.
Having struggled previously on the tour, his 2008/9 was to be a significant improvement as Jin won 13 matches, including all but one of his round one ties. He puts his improved form down to him now being used to the tables used on the professional tour, as well as being comfortable living in Sheffield with the other Chinese players and the excellent facilities at the English Institute for Sport.
His best run came in the Grand Prix where he defeated Lee Spick, Robert Milkins and Gerard Greene to again reach the last 48, before being whitewashed by Stoke’s Dave Harold. Strong results also came in the UK and World Championships as he reached the third round in both, securing a large amount of ranking points in the process.
As a result of this he managed not only to do enough to stay on the tour via the one-year list, but was able to move up into the top 64 in 60th place and ensure that in 2009/10 he will have one less qualifying match to negotiate.
