China will host a fourth tournament in the 2023/24 snooker season with the World Open set to return to Yushan in March.
Masters champion Judd Trump will aim to defend his title after an enforced four-year absence of professional snooker from the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the last tournament staged by mainland China before lockdown, Trump defeated Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 10-5 in November 2019.
Yushan had previously hosted the tournament since 2016 with Ali Carter, Ding Junhui and Mark Williams all claiming the elite title in the Jiangxi Province.
It will be held between March 111-17, breaking off two days after the Six Red World Championship concludes in Thailand.
China will also stage three events in the first half of the season with the Shanghai Masters – a 24-player invitational event between September 11-17 – the Wuhan Open (October9-15) and the International Championship (November 5-12) marking the country’s long-awaited return to the main professional circuit.
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“To have four major Chinese events in our first full season back in the Far East underlines the huge appetite for snooker in China and the fact that we have built lasting relationships with our key partners.
“Snooker’s future in China is bright and this is just the beginning. The World Open is a fantastic tournament in an outstanding location which has particular significance for snooker as it is the home of Star Xing Pai and the world’s first Billiard Sports City.
“This title was won by four greats of our sport – Ali Carter, Ding Junhui, Mark Williams and Judd Trump – between 2016 and 2019. I have no doubt that all of the biggest stars will keenly anticipate the chance to return to Yushan in 2024.”
