Wu Jiaqing (simplified Chinese: 吴珈庆; traditional Chinese: 吳珈慶; pinyin: Wú Jiāqìng; born February 9, 1989) is a Taiwanese-born Chinese professional pool player. He is nicknamed the Taishan Shentong ("Little Genius from Taishan"). Since 2011, Wu switched from representing Chinese Taipei to representing the country of China.[1][2] Previously known as Wu Chia-ching, the spelling of his name was changed upon moving to mainland China.[3]
Career
Raised by his grandmother from the age of 2, Wu began playing eight-ball at the age of 10 at his family-run pool hall. When he became serious about pool, his grandmother would shuttle him from one competition venue to another on her scooter.[4]
In 2005, after only six years of playing, Wu became the youngest men's player ever to win the WPA World Nine-ball Championship at 16 years old. The next year, he was the top seed of the event, but lost in the quarter-final round to eventual winner Ronato Alcano of the Philippines.
In 2011 Wu applied for and obtained citizenship of the People's Republic of China. Ostensibly, Wu did this, to allow himself to compete in more international events. Wu stated the decision was made for sporting reasons and should not be regarded in a political light.[9] As of April, 2011, Wu has not given up his Republic of China nationality.[10] Republic of China Deputy Minister of the InteriorLin Tzu-ling stated that "An ROC national who wants to give up his or her citizenship must go through certain procedures. So far, I do not think we have received any application from him (Wu) to do so". The Minister noted that “As long as he is still an ROC national, he will be drafted into the military if he comes back to Taiwan.” The Republic of China's Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area stipulates that both the “Taiwan Area” and the “Mainland Area” are parts of the ROC, and the “Mainland Area” is legally defined as “ROC territory outside of the Taiwan Area.”[10] In addition, the law does not recognize PRC citizenship and defines PRC citizens as “people of the Mainland Area” who “have household registration in the Mainland Area.” Article 9-1 of the same law prohibits “the people of the Taiwan Area” from obtaining household registration in “the Mainland Area,” those who break the law are banned from voting and serving in office, while their household registration in “the Taiwan Area” is annulled.[10]
