LHASA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- One year ago, Kelsang Tsewang was sitting in the stands, watching snooker icons Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui face off. This winter, the 28-year-old stepped into the spotlight himself, competing on the same table against China's leading professional Xiao Guodong.
The 2025 Lhasa Winter Plateau Snooker Challenge was staged in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, on December 31 and January 1. The exhibition featured leading international players Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson alongside Xiao and China's rising talent Wu Yize, giving locals a rare opportunity to watch elite-level snooker up close.
The top two finishers from the qualifiers in Xizang earned the opportunity to face elite professionals. After a runner-up finish, Kelsang Tsewang secured a duel against Xiao. Although Xiao comfortably won the contest, the experience left a deep impression on the young Tibetan. "I'm incredibly happy," Kelsang Tsewang said afterwards. "I enjoyed it even more than I had expected."
Kelsang Tsewang's path to snooker was not a straightforward one. During his university years, he aspired to become a professional footballer and trained intensively with his college team. Despite solid performances, his ambitions were cut short after he was eliminated early in a national youth team selection trial. "That was when I truly realized how big the gap was between me and professional athletes," he said.
After graduating, Kelsang Tsewang returned to Lhasa to work. In 2021, he was introduced to snooker through a casual game with friends, initially viewing it as little more than a way to pass time. The experience, however, proved to be a turning point.
Drawn by the sport, he began playing regularly, studying match footage and live broadcasts, and steadily refined his skills. Before long, he outperformed his playing partners and started seeking tougher competition at local clubs.
Through these matches, Kelsang Tsewang met Urgyen Dorje, a well-known local player.
In Kelsang Tsewang's eyes, Urgyen Dorje is warm and generous, always willing to share his knowledge with those eager to learn. What began as a rivalry gradually developed into a mentor-student relationship and eventually a close friendship.
The two faced each other in the semifinals of this year's tournament, where Kelsang Tsewang emerged victorious. "I was genuinely happy for him," Urgyen Dorje said. "He earned the chance to compete against top professionals."
The Lhasa event is part of a broader effort to promote snooker in the region. Since 2018, Xizang has hosted five snooker challenge tournaments, inviting leading domestic and international players to compete while creating opportunities for local athletes to test themselves against the world's best.
On the tournament's opening day, three-time world champion Mark Williams delivered one of the tournament's standout moments, notching a maximum 147 break in his match against Neil Robertson to provide a fitting finale to the 2025 snooker calendar.
Williams, who was visiting Lhasa for the second time, said he adapted far more easily to the high-altitude conditions than during his previous appearance. "Last year I needed oxygen," he said. "This time I didn't. The scenery here is spectacular, and I'm very glad to be back. I hope to have more opportunities to come to China in 2026."
Now, Kelsang Tsewang runs a snooker club in Lhasa, where many children come to learn the sport. "Xizang has seen rapid development in recent years, and children now have much better conditions than we ever had," he said. "I believe that snooker and many other sports will continue to grow on the plateau in future."
As the new year begins, Kelsang Tsewang has set a new goal for himself. "I hope to train and study outside the region this year, take part in more competitions, and work toward the possibility of becoming a professional player," he said. ■
