Editing Marco Fu (section)

===World Championship quarter-finalist (1999–2003)===
In the [[1999–2000 snooker season|1999–00 season]], with Fu now ranked 35th in the world,<ref>{{cite web|title=1999/2000 Embassy World Rankings|url=http://www.snooker.org/Rnk/9900/rk_9900.shtml|publisher=Snooker.org|access-date=4 January 2021|archive-date=4 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304024047/http://www.snooker.org/Rnk/9900/rk_9900.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> he received automatic entry into the main draw of most of the ranking tournaments. Although he failed to repeat the success of reaching the final of the Grand Prix, he made a run to the quarter-finals before losing to [[Ali Carter]]. Other achievements of note include reaching the semi-finals of the [[2000 Malta Grand Prix]] and the [[2000 Scottish Open|Scottish Open]].<ref name="9900Fu">{{cite web |url=http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?season=2000&player=4 |title=Marco Fu (Hong Kong): Stats from the 1999/00 ranking tournaments |access-date=8 September 2008 |publisher=WWW Snooker}}</ref> Following a dramatic rise, in the [[2000–01 snooker season|2000–01 season]] Fu was ranked 15th in the world, his first appearance in the top 16.<ref name="r0001">{{Cite web |url=http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0001/rk_20002001.shtml |title=2000/2001 Embassy World Rankings |access-date=8 September 2008 |publisher=WWW Snooker |archive-date=23 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523044614/http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0001/rk_20002001.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gsc">{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Players/Global_Asia/Hong_Kong/p_profile038.htm |title=Player Profile: Marco Fu |access-date=21 April 2007 |publisher=The Global Snooker Centre |year=2005 |author=Janie Watkins |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070419183939/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Players/Global_Asia/Hong_Kong/p_profile038.htm |archive-date=19 April 2007}}</ref> However, a succession of defeats and a first-round loss at the [[2001 World Snooker Championship]] to [[Chris Small]], saw him fall out of the top 16 for the next season.<ref name="r0102">{{cite web |url=http://www.snooker.org/Rnk/0102/rk_20012002.shtml |title=2001/2002 Embassy World Rankings |access-date=8 September 2008 |publisher=WWW Snooker |archive-date=23 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523044712/http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0102/rk_20012002.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2001–02 snooker season|2001–02 season]] Fu's best result was a last 16 appearance at the [[2001 LG Cup (snooker)|LG Cup]].<ref name="LG0102">{{Cite web |url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0102/lgcup2001_res.shtml |title=LG Cup 2001 |access-date=8 September 2008 |publisher=WWW Snooker |archive-date=7 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907072221/http://www.snooker.org/Trn/0102/lgcup2001_res.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> He failed to qualify for three ranking events, including the [[2002 World Snooker Championship]], and, as a result, his ranking fell to 27 for the following season.<ref name="r0203">{{Cite web |url=http://www.snooker.org/Rnk/0203/rk_20022003.shtml |title=2002/2003 Embassy World Rankings |access-date=8 September 2008 |publisher=WWW Snooker |archive-date=23 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523034621/http://www.snooker.org/rnk/0203/rk_20022003.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

Prior to the [[2003 Welsh Open (snooker)|2003 Welsh Open]], his best result of the [[2002–03 snooker season|2002–03 season]] was reaching the third round of the [[2002 UK Championship]] in December 2002.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BBC SPORT {{!}} Other Sports {{!}} Snooker {{!}} O'Sullivan struggles through |author=Slegg, Chris |author2=McIntyre, Dave |work=news.bbc.co.uk |date=10 December 2002 |access-date=1 December 2020 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/2563147.stm |archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104215627/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/2563147.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> However, at the Welsh Open in February, Fu defeated Stephen Lee 5–0 in the second round and beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 5–3 in the quarter-finals before losing his semi-final 4–6 to [[Stephen Hendry]], who went on to win the title.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0203/wo2003_res.shtml |title=WWW Snooker: Regal Welsh Open 2003 results |access-date=5 May 2008 |archive-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718203111/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0203/wo2003_res.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> Going into the [[2003 World Snooker Championship]] three months later, after first round losses at the [[2003 European Open (snooker)|European]] and [[2003 Scottish Open (snooker)|Scottish Open]]s,<ref name="eo2003">{{Cite web |url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0203/eo2003_res.shtml |title=European Open 2003 |access-date=8 September 2008 |publisher=WWW Snooker |archive-date=18 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718203616/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0203/eo2003_res.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="so2003">{{Cite web |url=http://www.snooker.org/trn/0203/so2003_res.shtml |title=Regal Scottish Open 2003 |access-date=8 September 2008 |publisher=WWW Snooker |archive-date=7 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107120237/http://www.snooker.org/trn/0203/so2003_res.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> he drew world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan in the first round.<ref name="wc2003"/>

''[[Snooker Scene]]'' later described the match between O'Sullivan and Fu  as "one of the greatest upsets in the history of the game".<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=5 |title=World Championship first round|author=Everton, Clive |date=May 2003}}</ref> Fu held a 6–3 overnight lead and, despite O'Sullivan making a [[maximum break]], Fu won 10–6.<ref name="wc2003">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/2968471.stm |title=O'Sullivan stunned by qualifier |access-date=5 May 2008 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |author=Phil Harlow |date=23 April 2003 |location=London |archive-date=10 July 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040710170105/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/2968471.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Fu subsequently eliminated [[Alan McManus]] 13–7 in the second round,<ref name="wc2003-2">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/2978893.stm |title=Fu charges into quarters |access-date=5 May 2008 |work=BBC Sport |author=Dan Warren |date=28 April 2003 |location=London |archive-date=10 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110233550/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/2978893.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> before losing 7–13 to Stephen Lee in his quarter-final match.<ref name="wc2003-3">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/2986607.stm |title=Lee brushes past Fu |access-date=5 May 2008 |work=BBC Sport |author=Dan Warren |date=30 April 2003 |location=London |archive-date=1 May 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040501150242/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/2986607.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Later that year, Fu won his first professional title at the invitational [[2003 Premier League Snooker|Premier League]], beating [[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]] 9–5 in the final.<ref name="prem">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/league.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216154905/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/league.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |title=Premier / Matchroom League |access-date=21 April 2007 |year=2006 |author=Chris Turner}}</ref>