To say that I am not exactly knowledgeable about sports would be an understatement –– I can't name many famous sports stars and have no idea what the famous offside rule is all about.
So it was with some trepidation that I agreed to attend the 2019 Beverly World Cup in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on behalf of my employer, China Daily. During the biennial snooker event, I am given the task of making a vlog about my experience as someone who is not a fan of the sport.
Now for me, snooker is a beer-fuelled game played in British pubs; one that I have occasionally encountered while flicking through television channels –– quickly moving to something more entertaining as soon as I catch sight of the dark-green table.
But I decide to attend the competition with an open mind and learn as much as I can about the players, the sport, and the fans that spend their money attending games across the world.
Before attending any matches, I hit the streets of Wuxi to ask some locals what they know about the sport –– not much, it turns out.
Hanging around some of the city's main landmarks, including its stunning butterfly-shaped theater, I film a few pieces for my vlog and ask a few people to talk to me on camera about the upcoming snooker games. Luckily, there is little reluctance to talk, even if most know only as much as I do.
But a competitor named Ding Junhui is repeatedly mentioned. Even I have heard of Wuxi-born Ding –– China's top-ranked player and something of a local legend. He is playing in one of the two Chinese teams taking part in the event, and I expect to see him in action during the competition.
With my initial pre-tournament attempts to learn the rules of snooker proving largely a failure, I head down to the venue for the first day of the competition, with a vague plan to film a quick piece to camera before I go in.
The gymnasium where the tournament is being held appears deserted, save for a well-equipped media room. It is the media room where I decide to base myself for the time being, unsure of where to go and what matches to see.
I spend time familiarizing myself with some of the key players and the organization of the competition. As it begins to make sense, I start to wonder about some of the countries taking part. It becomes clear that this is a sport that has been dominated by British players for much of its history, but with Chinese players breaking through and winning the last few World Cup events.
A few days later I decide that I am knowledgeable enough to witness my first match and join a small crowd of spectators watching Northern Ireland play Iran. I am instantly struck by the seriousness and professionalism of the referee, who is quick to reprimand anyone in the crowd that distracts the players from their game.
As I watch Iran start to take the lead, I begin to understand some of the language of the game, finally understanding a “break” and recognizing when a player is using a “spider”. To my surprise, I even start to enjoy it.
As the matches roll by, it becomes clear that the two Chinese teams are strong contenders; and it is their matches that are the most exciting to attend, with large crowds of local fans coming to support them.
And it appears the enthusiasm of fans in the Middle Kingdom is somewhat unique.
It is very rare for a player to be mobbed on their way to the venue back home, whereas here they are sometimes swamped by fans as they make their way inside, says Sam Fletcher, a representative of organizing body World Snooker.
