Luca Brecel aims to be in the top four in the world by the end of the season, while Zhao Xintong is looking for the first place in the ranking.
Two of the stars of the last campaign have started the new season strongly, with Zhao leading his first Championship League group on Wednesday and Brecel the same on Friday.
The Cyclone won the UK Championship and German Masters last season, finishing the season at number six in the world, while the Belgian Bullet’s sprint to the final in the UK and the Scottish Open victory helped him finish at number 12 .
Brecel thinks he can climb seriously in the coming months, making it a big challenge to catch the elite in the top four of the rankings.
Speaking after winning his Championship League group, Brecel said: “I played really good things in all my games today, I made a lot of breaks and I felt like I was the best player in the group. I am very happy to be the best of the group.
“I practice a lot during the summer and play really good things in practice, so it’s no surprise, but it’s always fun to do it on the competition table.
“I feel like I’m playing a lot better than last season, so hopefully it will be another good season.
“I don’t have many points to defend this season, so the only way is up. If I can get some good results like last season I might be able to finish in the top four by the end of the season so a lot to play for/
“I feel very good, relaxed and playing well. It is well.’
Zhao is a little less optimistic, but when asked if he wants to be in the world rankings, he says that this is something he is aiming for in the near future and that he plans to improve on his memorable results from the previous campaign.
“I want to be better than last year and I want to do my best. I will do everything I can to win the games and the tournament,” said the 25-year-old.
‘The idea of becoming number one in the world in the future sounds good. Hopefully I can.’
Another player to top their Championship League group this week was Anthony Hamilton, who celebrated his 51st birthday while taking victories over Noppon Saengkham and Steven Hallworth.
The Pottingham sheriff thinks Zhao could even make it to the top of the league table this season, although he admits it will be tough.
“Of course he’s good enough,” Hamilton told Metro.co.uk. He can do it this season, right? Since he doesn’t get many points, he starts in a strong position.
“But he should keep winning tournaments to be number one in the world, look at Neil [Robertson]he wins about five tournaments a year and he is not often number one.
“You have to win the World Cup, otherwise you will get into trouble, the number one in the world.”
Hamilton has seen it all, still on tour after turning pro in 1991, and he values Zhao as highly as anything he’s seen in years.
‘I think he’s the best I’ve seen in snooker since Ding [Junhui]† It’s just a joy to watch Xintong play, it really is,” the sheriff said.
“He makes the game look like… what are the rest of us playing with? He makes it look so easy. It’s natural talent.
“He has the simplest cue action I think we have in the game, which is the best in all sports, the simplest moves that don’t go wrong.
“It’s been around for a few years and we snooker players are like, what are you doing? Just concentrate and you will start winning tournaments, and now he is.”
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