TheyoungChinesefans rushed the barriers in the hope of an autograph from Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggsor even Chris Eagles, but the signaturethey allwanted was that of Ronaldo.
Ding Junhui, who won the crown in 2005, will play either Ryan Day or fellow Chinese player Liu Song in the second round, when he enters the competition along with the rest of the top 16.
Ryan Swift, editor of Asia-Pacific Boating magazine, says that Chinese yacht builders are a "mixed bag" but some, such as Kingship's steel and aluminum hulled vessels, are beginning to gain recognition.