After winning these tournaments, Fu turned professional for the 1998–99 snooker season. In his first season as a professional, he was ranked 377th in the world. He reached the final of the Grand Prix, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan 5–2 and then Peter Ebdon 5–3. Stephen Lee defeated him 2–9 in the final. During the rest of the 1998–99 season, Fu qualified for four more ranking tournaments, including the 1999 World Snooker Championship, winning four qualifying matches before losing to James Wattana 8–10 in the first round of the main draw. He was voted World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Newcomer of the Year and WSA Young Player of the Year in 1999.