TNT Sports
Marco Fu sets out targets after being handed new two-year tour card – 'Love of the game still there'
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Published 16/05/2023 at 08:07 GMT+1
Marco Fu has not qualified for the final stages of the World Championship since 2018, but would love to make up for lost time after being handed a new two-year invitational tour card. "My target is very obvious," said Fu. "I would love to finish in the top 64 after two years and qualify for the Crucible again." Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
Fu makes 147 maximum break, sparks 'deafening' celebrations at Hong Kong Masters
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Marco Fu is focused on qualifying for the World Championship and returning to the top 64 in the rankings after being handed a new two-year invitational tour card.
The Hong Kong icon, who reached two world semi-finals in 2006 and 2016, has battled eye problems after undergoing laser eye surgery in recent years.
He last appeared at the Crucible in 2018 before the global pandemic forced him to abandon his professional career for almost two years.
A run to the final of the Hong Kong Masters this season, where he narrowly lost 6-4 to Ronnie O'Sullivan in October, has boosted his hopes of recapturing former glories on the World Snooker Tour.
“My target is very obvious. I would love to finish in the top 64 after two years and qualify for the Crucible again," said the three-time ranking event winner.
"I haven’t been there for a long time now. I will try my very best to achieve those things. I think with my eye problem and Covid, my standard has definitely dropped from five years ago.
"The love of the game is still there. I still look forward to practising every day. I love taking my cue into a snooker club. As long as I feel that, I will keep on playing.
"Hopefully, I will get back to the standard where I can compete as I did five years ago. That is the standard I want to achieve. I will do my very best.”
The Championship League is the first ranking event of the new season with Leicester hosting the various groups of the competition between June 26-July 21.
World champion Luca Brecel lifted the title last year with a 3-1 win over Lu Ning and will be among the favourites with Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby and Judd Trump among the leading men who competed in last year's event.
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Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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