Chinese snooker star Zhang Anda has shared who is favourite player on the tour is and he’s cited him as a role model.
Anda enjoyed a sound 2023/24 campaign, breaking into the top 16 and heading to the Crucible as a seed for the first time.
It wasn’t a particularly good World Championships for Anda as he was beaten by Jak Jones in the first round.
Still, it was a season to remember for the player and he will take great confidence into next season.
Now, Anda has been quizzed during a recent interview on his favourite player and the identity might surprise some.
Zhang Anda names favourite player
Well, it might come as a bit of a surprise to some that Anda’s favourite player is actually John Higgins.
Many of the Chinese players would choose Ronnie O’Sullivan when picking out a player but not Anda.
Instead, he’s opted for Higgins and he’s suggested that he hopes the Scotland performer can continue winning titles.
He was also quizzed on the Scot’s famous win in the deciding frame of his last 16 match with Mark Allen at the Crucible earlier this year.
Anda told the World Snooker Tour website: “There’s no way to stop me watching that deciding frame live! I got very excited. It was an awesome moment and that’s why he’s my favourite player.
“Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan keep winning tournaments and I genuinely hope that John can do the same. It would be great if he can win titles again.
“He was in Chengdu last month and we did exhibitions together, I was very happy to be involved with his birthday celebration.
“He seemed to know that I idolized him and learned the game by watching videos of his matches.”
Anda can really kick on next season
At 32-years-old, Anda has started to unleash his true potential over the last 12 months.
He’s a quality player and last season he helped himself his first ranking title.
Naturally, that will get the juices flowing for more and having Higgins as someone to look up to certainly isn’t a bad thing.
As a member of the top 16, the player should now get more favourable draws at the big events and the hope will be that he can kick on.
Anda has come along way in recent months and whilst Higgins remains on the tour he can’t afford to get too emotional when he comes up against him.
The Chinese star is capable of winning more titles and he must continue to flex his ambition when the season gets back underway.