The UK Snooker Championship, one of the sport's most prestigious tournaments, witnessed a groundbreaking moment this year. 

Bai Yulu, a 21-year-old rising star from Dongguan, made history by defeating three male players consecutively to reach the fourth round. This achievement marks her as the first female player in the 21st century to accomplish such a feat in a professional ranking event.

After clinching her first World Women's Snooker Championship title in March, Bai secured her spot on the World Snooker Tour for the 2024–2026 seasons. In the UK Championship qualifiers, she displayed remarkable consistency. In the first round, Bai scored four breaks over 50 points to win 6-4 against Farakh Ajaib. She repeated this impressive performance against Jamie Jones, a former Crucible Quarter-Finalist, in the second round, advancing with the same scoreline. Facing Scott Donaldson, ranked 44th globally, Bai staged a thrilling comeback from 3-5 down, winning 6-5 with seven 50+ breaks.

"I was really nervous and didn't expect to win," Bai admitted. "But I performed well in the final frames. Winning three matches has already been amazing, and I've learned so much."

Bai's passion for snooker was ignited at age 8 when her family moved to Dongguan. Inspired by her father, she began pursuing her dreams in this sport at age 10. Training over eight hours a day for more than a decade, her dedication has paid off. In 2016, she captured the China Youth Snooker Championship title, and by 2024, she had added the World Women's Snooker Championship trophy to her collection.

Coach Li Jianbing, who has mentored Bai for years, emphasized that female snooker players can match or even surpass their male counterparts with rigorous training. He believes Bai is destined to compete with the world's best in the near future.

Dongguan, renowned as a national sports hub, has become a thriving center for snooker. For now, Dongguan is home to over 500 snooker clubs, including 38 in Chang'an Town alone. Over the years, the city has not only nurtured a star like Ding Junhui but also many other talents who have risen to the global stage. 

Familiar names such as Xiao Guodong, Tian Pengfei, Cai Jianzhong, Liu Chuang, Zhang Anda, and Xu Si all trained in Dongguan, which fostered China's earliest and most prominent professional snooker players. At its peak, 95% of the country's professional snooker players grew up in Dongguan, with 9 of the 13 Chinese players competing in the UK emerging from the city.

Bai Yulu's remarkable achievements reflect not only her talent and determination but also Dongguan's unwavering support for aspiring athletes. With her historic performance, Bai inspires a new generation of players to dream big, turning Dongguan into a beacon for snooker enthusiasts worldwide.