New women's nine-ball world champion Liu Shasha (left) poses with her championship trophy and Fu Xiaofang. [China Daily]

Up until a week ago, the Lankao county in Henan province was best known for Jiao Yulu, a famous governor in the 1960s. Now, the county has turned into the most productive place for women's nine-ball players.

At last week's World Championships in Shenyang, Liaoning province, 16-year-old Liu Shasha became the youngest player to win the title while compatriot Fu Xiaofang, who also hails from Bailou village in Lankao, finished fourth.

Both were born into peasant families. Fu, at the age of 15, went to her uncle's pool club to learn the game in Heilongjiang province in 2002. She then went to Beijing in 2004 to further improve her skills under the guidance of Zhang Shuchung.

A year later, Fu won her first national title, which encouraged Liu to follow the same path.

"Xiaofang's mother came to my family one morning and asked me if I would like to play pool like her daughter. To be frank, I knew nothing about the sport. But I heard she (Fu) was doing well, so I said 'yes'."

Liu told China Daily at the Fuxiaofang Billiard Club in Beijing on Tuesday that her destiny changed at the age of 12 and that the sky was the limit now.

Fu said she was happier to see the title won by her 'younger sister' than gripped by herself.

"It was a pity that I failed to make the final with 'Shasha'; but I'm extremely excited to witness her success. You know, I still have a sore throat due to screaming during the final," the 22-year-old said.

"The title is important for everyone but more so for her as she is very young and it is the first major victory of her career. "

Before last week's championships, Liu's greatest achievement was a third-place finish at the National Championships.

"I was planning to win a national title before I turned 18 but it turned out to be a world title and it was two years in advance. It's amazing and incredible," Liu said, while shaking her head and twisting her hands.

"But I'm still that common girl. I still enjoy talking with the waiters in the club and share the same apartment with my sisters," she said.

The victory has created changes in her life including the "loss of right" to make money by playing amateurs. She used to charge 30 yuan (US$4.3) an hour for practise sessions in a club and earned as much as 2,000 yuan (US$493) a month.

"Coach Zhang told me I am no longer allowed to do that." She said. "I know it's not because I'm a so-called star but I'm still far from perfect and must focus on honing my skills.

"I want to prove my ability with more titles rather than be a mere darkhorse."

Meanwhile, Fu has joined compatriot Pan Xiaoting on the World Women's Professional Billiards Association (WPBA) tour, which features the world's top 9-ball players.

Pan defeated Fu to finish third in Shenyang and won the title in 2007. She became the first Chinese player to compete in WPBA in 2006 and finished third this year.

"Every women's 9-ball player looks forward to playing in the WPBA," she said.

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