1998年转入职业，新生代球员的代表人物。23岁时拿下世锦赛冠军。
技术全面，心理素质在年轻选手中也属于一流。但是在拿下世锦赛后并没有更近一步，面对强手时打法有些保守。
在2001年的B&H锦标赛中打出过单杆满分。
2007年在马耳他杯赛中夺取冠军，在世锦赛上闯入四强负于塞尔比。
主要成绩:
2次获得职业排名赛冠军
2005年 世锦赛冠军
2007年 马耳他杯冠军
2007年 世锦赛四强
2002: Makes his Crucible debut, losing to Stephen Hendry
2005: Wins the World Championship as a 125/1 outsider, becoming the first qualifier since Terry Griffiths to lift the trophy. Beats the likes of John Higgins, Steve Davis and Peter Ebdon to reach the final then seals his glory with an 18-16 final victory over Matthew Stevens. At the age of 22, becomes the youngest Crucible king since Stephen Hendry in 1990.
2007: Wins the Malta Cup
2008: Becomes UK Champion with a thrilling 10-9 victory over Marco Fu
2009: Reaches his second Crucible final, but loses 18-9 to John Higgins
2011: Wins the Players Tour Championship Grand Final
2014: Wins fifth ranking title at the World Open, and becomes the first player to make three 147s in a calendar year
2015: Completes snooker’s Triple Crown by winning the Masters at Alexandra Palace, thrashing Neil Robertson 10-2 in the final. Loses 18-15 to Stuart Bingham in the World Championship final.
2016: Wins the World Grand Prix, edging out Stuart Bingham 10-9.
2017: Claims a seventh ranking title victory at the Gibraltar Open and wins the invitational Champion of Champions. Runner-up at the UK Championship.
2018: Runner-up at the Players Championship and Scottish Open.
2019: Becomes the second player to whitewash an opponent at the Crucible by beating Luo Honghao 10-0 in the first round. Wins his eighth ranking title and first for 30 months, beating Mark Williams 10-9 in an epic China Championship final.