Ding Junhui (China)

World ranking — 11

Earnings — £500,725 AFTER bursting onto the snooker scene, Chinese star Ding Junhui's progress has been steady over the last 12 months.

The whiz kid reached the semi-finals of the Premier League last season, before losing to John Higgins in the last four.

At the UK in Telford, he knocked out Adrian Gunnell and Nigel Bond, then had a cracking battle against Shaun Murphy in the last eight, which Ding lost 9-7.

Currently he is on the edge of breaking into the Premier League's top four.

Victory over Stephen Hendry would enhance his chances of rising from fifth spot in the current standings.

During the season, he lives in Sheffield where he practices at the World Snooker Academy.

Many of Ding’s fellow professionals have been full of praise for him, including Ronnie O’Sullivan, who said: “If he carries on improving and gets a few more bits to his game he will be a multiple World Champion.

“Tennis has Federer, golf has Tiger Woods, Ding could do the same to snooker.”