Sha Sha Liu (also known as Liu Shasha) is a female Chinese professional pool player. She is one of the most successful nine-ball players,having won the WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship on three occasions,in 2009,2014 and 2015. Aged 16 years old in 2009,she is the youngest world nine-ball champion ever,and won the event on her international debut.[2] In addition to her three World nine-ball championships,she also reached the final of the WPA World Heyball Championship in 2018.
Liu was born on July 26,1993,in Lankao County,Henan Province to mother Cao Yumei and father Liu Dongbo.[3][4] She grew up in Bailou Village,in Bailou Township the same village as Fu Xiaofang already a member of the national billiards team.[4] The families of both lived next to each other,and after Liu dropped out of school aged 12,Fu suggested she learned how to play billiards. Her father,took her to Jiamusi to learn with Fu in 2005.[4]Poverty stricken,she was left in Jiamusi for two years with 200 Chinese yuan,of which she would only spend 50.[4] Initially,Liu worked in the pool hall and was only supposed to be a sparring partner for Fu.[5] In 2007,Liu switched from billiards to play nine-ball under new coach Zhang Shuchun.[4] The training regiment was strict,with Liu playing for 10 hours a day,not owning a mobile phone and one day off a month.[4] Liu and Fu's upbringing from the same village and similar paths to professionals earned them a nickname of "billiard sisters".[6][7][5]
Career
First World championship (2009–2012)
Liu entered her first international tournament as she travelled to Hyōgo Prefecture,Japan to play in the 2009 All Japan Championship. She reached the semi-finals before losing 4–9 to Lim Yun-Mi.[8] Just one week later,she travelled back to China,and as a wild card was entered into the 2009 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship,being held in China for the first time.[9] In a field of 64 players,[10] she made it to the single-elimination rounds before defeating Tamara Rademakers 9–4,[11]Chen Siming 9–7 and Pan Xiaoting 9–8 to reach the final.[12] Her oponent in the final,Karen Corr won five of the first six racks to lead 5–1. Liu completed six break and runs in the next eight racks to win the match and the tournament 9–5.[13][14] Aged 16,she was the youngest winner of the event.[15][3] Liu awarded the grand prize of the event –$30,000 –to her coach.[16] She was both the youngest winner of the event and the first to win coming through qualification.[17][18] Following the win,Liu won China Central Television's "Best Non-Olympic Athlete of the Year" award at their Sports Personality of the Year event.[4]
Liu was awarded a place at the 2010 Amway Cup[zh] as reigning world champion.[19] She progressed from her group,but finished in the round of 32.[20] In defending her World nine-ball championship in 2010,Liu defeated Chen Siming to set-up a semi-final match against Fu.[21] Liu was unable to win the match,as she lost to Fu 6–9,but did win the third place match against Shu-Han Chung.[22] Fu,who had celebrated Liu's victory in 2009,won the event,with back-to-back World championships for the pair from the same village.[23] She competed in the 2010 China 9-Ball Open,reaching the quarter-finals,where she played her opponent from the 2009 World final Karen Corr,losing 2–9.[24][25] Competing at the 2010 Asian Games,Liu was playing her first international eight-ball tournament,she reached the final and played Kim Ga-young. With the match at hill-hill ,Kim had a shot to win the match on the 8-ball ,but missed,allowing Liu to win the match and tournament.[26][27] This was the first Asain Games victory for a Chinese player in pool.[26]
Liu competed at the 2014 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship;completing victories over Gao Meng,Jiang Teng,Angeline Ticoalu and Kim Ga-Young to reach the final for the second time. She played Chen Simeng,with both players being 21 years old. In a race-to-9 match,Siming led 7–5 and 8–6,but Liu won the next three racks to win the match and championship.[46] On winning her second world title,Liu commented that she had considered giving up pool having not had great form coming into the tournament,but family encouragement had prevented it.[47][48] She said "last year I was under so much pressure that I thought about quitting pool and I didn’t know if I could improve" and "Winning this year is a better feeling and it’s more important than when I won in 2009".[49]
Liu reached the final of the next tournament,the 2014 All Japan Championship,where she lost 3–9 to Wu Zhi-Ting.[50][51] She competed at the 2015 China Open,reaching the last 16 2–9 to Kelly Fisher.[52] In defending her world nine-ball championship at the 2015 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship ,she reached the final again,where she played Ouschan. Liu won five out of the first six racks and completed a 9–4 victory.[53][54] This was her third world nine-ball title,the first Asian player to do so.[18][55][56]
Two China Open finals (2016–2019)
At the 2016 China Open,Liu reached the final for the second time. She played Han Yu in the final. Despite leading 8–5,she lost the match 8–9.[57] In defending her world nine-ball championship at the 2016 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship she was only able to reach the last 16 stage,being defeated 7–9 by Gao Meng.[58][59] Liu had led 6–2,but was unable to win the match. She lost her place as world number one at the end of the tournament.[1] Liu reached the semi-final of the 2017 Amway Cup,where she was beaten Pan Xiaoting 6–9.[60][61] She did defeat Pan in the quarter-finals and then Fu in the semi-finals of the 2017 China Open.[62][63] She played Chen Siming in her third China Open final,losing 8–9.[63][64][65][66] With the score being the reverse of the 2014 World nine-ball final,Chen said "this time,I've given you a taste of your own medicine."[65] Competing at the 2017 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship,Liu reached the quarter-finals,but lost 1–9 to eventual winner Chen.[67] She played in the ladies events of the 2017 WPA World Heyball Championship,losing in the quarter-finals.[68][69]
In 2018,she reached the quarter-finals of the Amway Cup,losing 2–9 to Siming.[70] She reached the semi-finals of the 2018 China Open,but lost a hill-hill game to Kelly Fisher.[71][72] Liu played in the 2018 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship,but was defeated in the last 16 by Jiang Teng.[73] Playing at the 2018 World Heyball championship,she reached the final,her fourth World championship final. She played Han in the final,trailing 5–13,fought back to 14–15 behind,but eventually lost 14–17.[74] In September,Liu won the Chinese Billiards International Open,defeating Wang Ye 9–7.[75] Liu reached her fourth straight China Open semi-final in 2019,[76] this time losing 5–9 to Rubilen Amit.[77] She then reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 WPA Women's World Nine-ball Championship,losing to Kelly Fisher 5–9.[78]
Post-COVID-19 restrictions (2023–present)
Travel and international play for Chinese athletes was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Liu returned to play in August 2023 in a national team selection competition.[79] She competed at the returning 2023 China Open,which had not been held since 2019.[79] She defeated Fan Langtong,Bai Ge,and Pia Filler to reach the China Open final for the fourth time.[80] She was defeated in the final by Han 7–9.[80] Returning for the 2024 WPA World Nine-ball Championship,she reached the quarter-finals,where she lost 2–3 in sets to Kristina Tkach.[81] She played at the 2024 All Japan championship,reaching the semi-finals,where she lost to Wang Xiaotong.[82]
Liu entered the 2024 Asian ten-ball championship where she reached the final,and defeated Rubilen Amit in the final 7–6.[83] The win meant that Liu would play in the ten-ball event at the 2025 World Games.[84][85] At the World Games,she reached the semi-finals,but lost to Chezka Centeno 4–7.[86] Liu won the bronze medal,defeating Ina Kaplan 7–6.[87] The same year,she reached her fifth China Open final,this time being defeated by Chihiro Kawahara 7–9.[88] In December,she entered her first Euro Tour event,the 2025 Spanish Open.[89] She defeted Ouschan 8–3 in the final to win the event.[90][91][92]
12"世锦赛刘莎莎7–9"潘晓婷终结者" 三连冠梦碎"[Liu Shasha's World Championship dream of a three-peat ends in a 7–9 defeat to Pan Xiaoting's "termination"]. Sina Sports News. December 15, 2016. I won't be unhappy about not being number one anymore. Winning a championship is easy, but staying number one isn't easy.
12"世界女子九球选手简介--刘莎莎"[Profile of World Women's Nine-Ball Players – Liu Shasha]. 手机新浪网 (in Chinese). May 25, 2011.
1234567"刘莎莎：从摘棉花女孩到台球世界冠军——中新网"[Liu Shasha: From Cotton Picking Girl to World Billiards Champion]. Chengdu Business Daily (in Chinese).
12"项目贫富差距大 两年花50元冠军今想给教练买宾利_综合体育_新浪竞技风暴_新浪网"[The project has a large wealth gap; the champion who spent 50 yuan in two years now wants to buy his coach a Bentley.]. Shanghai Youth Daily (in Chinese). November 22, 2010.
↑"台球姐妹花：付小芳与刘莎莎-搜狐新闻"[Billiards Sisters: Fu Xiaofang and Liu Shasha]. news.sohu.com (in Chinese). June 24, 2011 – via Southern People Weekly.
↑"付小芳 刘莎莎 台球姐妹花"[Fu Xiaofang and Liu Shasha, the billiards sisters]. All journals (in Chinese). Retrieved January 11, 2026.
↑"九球天后刘莎莎：没手机也不上网 打球只为挣钱"[Nine-ball queen Liu Shasha: Playing ball without a cell phone or internet is solely for earning money.]. Xiamen Evening News (in Chinese). December 16, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑Xiao, Xiong (November 22, 2009). "九球世锦赛刘莎莎夺冠 16岁台球美女刘莎莎-搜狐体育"[A 16-year-old underdog won the World Nine-Ball Championship after a stunning comeback, winning eight consecutive frames to defeat the world number one.]. Sohu Sports (in Chinese). Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"九球天后刘莎莎：没手机也不上网 打球只为挣钱_体育_凤凰网"[Nine-ball queen Liu Shasha: Playing ball without a cell phone or internet is solely for earning money.]. Xiamen Evening News (in Chinese). December 16, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
12"9球世锦赛刘莎莎3冠追费雪 潘晓婷8年前首捧杯"[Liu Shasha wins her third World 9-Ball Championship] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. November 8, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"安丽杯小组赛潘晓婷遇强敌 刘莎莎付小芳并肩作战_综合体育_NIKE新浪竞技风暴_新浪网"[In the Amway Cup group stage, Pan Xiaoting faced a tough opponent, while Liu Shasha and Fu Xiaofang fought side by side.]. 12 January 2026 (in Chinese). Sina Sports. March 1, 2010.
↑"世锦赛姐妹内战粉丝团犯难 男球迷高喊莎莎我爱你"[The World Championships saw a sister-led all-female battle, leaving the fan group in a dilemma. Male fans shouted "Sasha, I love you!"]. Sina Sports (in Chinese). August 29, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑Shuying, Mo (June 30, 2011). "新科"九球天后"付小芳：台球改变了我的一生——中新网"[Newly crowned "Queen of Nine-Ball" Fu Xiaofang: Billiards changed my life.]. chinanews.com.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved January 12, 2026– via The Bund Pictorial.
↑"刘莎莎称前世界NO.1一素质她不具备 坦言自身还有不足_综合体育_新浪竞技风暴_新浪网"[Liu Shasha admitted that she lacked the qualities of a former world number one] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. September 25, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
12"刘莎莎决胜局死里逃生 击败韩国魔女首夺8球金牌_综合体育_新浪竞技风暴_新浪网"[Liu Shasha narrowly escaped defeat in the deciding game to win her first 8-ball gold medal against the South Korean "witch".] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. November 18, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"女子九球世錦賽産生準四強 韓雨爆冷擊敗劉莎莎_新聞臺_中國網絡電視臺"[The Women's Nine-Ball World Championship has produced a semi-finalist: Han Yu upsets Liu Shasha]. China Network Television (in Chinese). September 25, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
12"世界9球中国公开赛决赛 刘莎莎赢"中国德比""[Liu Shasha wins the "Chinese Derby" in the final of the World 9-Ball China Open]. Sina Sports (in Chinese). May 19, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2026– via China News Network.
↑"9球世锦赛刘莎莎9–8战胜陈思明 第二次摘世界冠军"[Liu Shasha defeated Chen Siming 9-8 to win her second world title] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. October 18, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"中国"90后"球手刘莎莎女子九球世锦赛夺冠(图)--体育--人民网"[Chinese post-90s player Liu Shasha wins World Women's Nine-Ball Championship (Photo)]. People's Daily (in Chinese). October 18, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2026– via China News Network.
↑"九球世锦赛刘莎莎9–4欧斯纯 第3次夺冠创纪录_体育_央视网(cctv.com)"[Liu Shasha defeated Ouschan 9-4 to win her third World Nine-Ball Championship, setting a new record.]. 12 January 2026 (in Chinese). China Central Television. November 8, 2015.
↑Xiaoqing, Wei. "九球世锦赛-刘莎莎成功卫冕 成亚洲首位三冠王_手机凤凰网"[Nine-Ball World Championship - Liu Shasha successfully defends her title, becoming the first Asian to win three titles.]. iFeng sports (in Chinese). Retrieved January 12, 2026– via China News Network.
↑"九球世锦赛潘晓婷获最受欢迎球员 陈思明摘MVP"[Pan Xiaoting won the Most Popular Player award at the World Nine-Ball Championship, while Chen Siming took home the MVP award] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. November 8, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"中国九球美女成亚洲首位世锦赛三冠王 -中新网APP"[Chinese billiards beauty becomes the first Asian to win three World Championship titles]. ku.m.chinanews.com (in Chinese). November 9, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2026– via China News Network.
↑"世界女子9球锦标赛 刘莎莎被淘汰出局 -中新网APP"[Liu Shasha was eliminated from the World Women's 9-Ball Championship]. China News Network (in Chinese). December 15, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑Ping, Ping (June 12, 2017). "2017年浦东唐城世界9球中国公开赛落幕_国家体育总局"[The 2017 Pudong Tangcheng World 9-Ball China Open concluded.]. Sports Information Center of General Administration of Sport of China (in Chinese). Retrieved January 12, 2026– via China Sports Daily.
12"9球中国赛陈思明9–8绝杀刘莎莎 时隔7年再夺冠"[Chen Siming defeated Liu Shasha 9-8 to win the 9-Ball China Open, reclaiming the title after 7 years]. Sina Sports (in Chinese). June 12, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"中式台球世锦赛刘莎莎负金佳映 付小芳晋级四强"[Liu Shasha lost to Jin Jiaying and Fu Xiaofang in the World Chinese Billiards Championship, advancing to the semifinals] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. March 15, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"世界9球中国公开赛：付小芳9:1横扫凯利·费雪夺冠"[World 9-Ball China Open: Fu Xiaofang sweeps Kelly Fisher 9-1 to win the championship] (in Chinese). Sina Sports. September 9, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"2018年中式台球世锦赛落幕 中国选手包揽男女冠军"[The 2018 World Chinese Billiards Championship concluded with Chinese players sweeping both the men's and women's titles]. Xinmin Evening News (in Chinese). March 31, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
12[台球]刘莎莎获赛季首冠 中式台球涌现17岁新星[[Billiards] Liu Shasha wins her first title of the season; a 17-year-old rising star emerges in Chinese billiards]. China Network Television (in Chinese).
↑"Liu Sha-Sha". Billiard Walker. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
12"【有远见 选璟点】璟点战队一姐回归赛场！刘莎莎确认参加璟点超级大奖赛山海关站"[Jingdian's star player returns to the arena! Liu Shasha confirmed to participate in the Jingdian Super Grand Prix Shanhaiguan Station]. Jingdian (in Chinese). May 9, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
12Liu Hui (September 11, 2023). "浦东唐城9球中国公开赛收官，韩雨收获中国女子第九冠德国选手摘得男子组冠军"[The Pudong Tangcheng 9-Ball China Open concluded, with Han Yu winning China's ninth women's title and a German player taking the men's championship]. Eastday (in Chinese).
↑"刘莎莎10日举行婚礼 9球中国公开赛成婚前最后一战"[Liu Shasha held her wedding on the 10th; the 9-ball China Open became her last match before the wedding.]. 手机新浪网 (in Chinese). September 5, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
↑"【喜报】九球女子运动员刘莎莎今日大婚！_中国体育直播TV"[Nine-ball female athlete Liu Shasha is getting married today!]. Zhibo (in Chinese). October 9, 2019.
↑"不负热爱 再度启程！刘莎莎出战2025年WPA浦东唐城9球中国公开赛！"[Driven by passion, Liu Shasha embarks on a new journey! She will compete in the 2025 WPA Pudong Tangcheng 9-Ball China Open!]. Jianding (in Chinese). August 29, 2025. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
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