China Open

Early beginnings: 1980s and 1990s

The story of the China Open Snooker tournament is closely connected to the development of professional snooker in Asia. Before the modern ranking event became established, China had already hosted international competitions under different names. The China Masters was staged in 1985 and 1986, with Steve Davis defeating Dennis Taylor in the first edition and Terry Griffiths winning the following year. These early events demonstrated that China could provide a setting for professional snooker, although a consistent place on the international calendar would take longer to establish.

A tournament held in Beijing in 1996 was followed by the China International in 1997. The competition developed further in the late 1990s, when the China International became a ranking event in 1999. John Higgins won that edition, beating Billy Snaddon 9–3 in Shanghai. Later in the same calendar year, the event adopted the China Open name. This distinction matters when tracing the tournament’s record: the early China Masters, China International and China Open editions belong to the wider story of professional snooker in China, but they were not all held under the same title or status.

Ronnie O’Sullivan and the first China Open era

The first tournament under the China Open name in 1999 was won by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who defeated Stephen Lee 9–2. O’Sullivan returned to win the title again in 2000, beating Mark Williams 9–3. Those victories gave the event a high-profile start, with two of snooker’s most recognisable attacking players featuring in its early history. Williams later became a China Open champion in his own right, underlining how the competition would repeatedly attract major names from the sport.

The tournament’s early years did not follow an uninterrupted annual schedule. After the 2002 edition, the event was discontinued for a period. That gap reflected the challenges of establishing a stable international tournament calendar in a growing market. Nevertheless, the foundations had been laid: China had hosted major professionals, the event had attracted established champions, and the sport had begun building a stronger presence among Chinese audiences.

The 2005 revival and Ding Junhui’s breakthrough

The China Open returned in the 2004–05 season, and the revival produced one of the most important moments in its history. Chinese teenager Ding Junhui won the 2005 title by defeating Stephen Hendry 9–5 in the final in Beijing. His success was especially significant because he entered as a wild-card player. Under the rules then in place, the victory did not earn him the ranking points or prize money normally associated with winning a ranking event, but its sporting and cultural impact was considerable.

Ding’s triumph gave local audiences a home-grown champion capable of beating one of snooker’s great names. Hendry had won seven World Championship titles and was one of the most successful players of the modern era, making the final a formidable test for the young Chinese player. Ding’s victory became an important milestone in the expansion of snooker in China and helped inspire interest in the game among aspiring players. It also illustrated the value of giving local competitors opportunities to face established professionals on a major stage.

2006–2012: a growing international tournament

Following its revival, the China Open became a regular feature of the professional calendar. The tournament attracted leading players and offered ranking points that could influence their positions in the world rankings. Mark Williams won in 2006, defeating John Higgins 9–8 in a close final. Graeme Dott followed with victory in 2007, beating Jamie Cope 9–5. In 2008, Stephen Maguire edged Shaun Murphy 10–9, while Peter Ebdon defeated John Higgins 10–8 in 2009.

Mark Williams returned to the winners’ circle in 2010, beating Ding Junhui 10–6. Judd Trump then won the 2011 final against Mark Selby, 10–8. Ebdon secured a second China Open title in 2012, defeating Stephen Maguire 10–9. The repeated appearance of different champions showed that the event was becoming a competitive fixture rather than a tournament dominated by one player. The close finals also reinforced its appeal: in a sport built around precision and patience, a deciding frame can turn a quiet afternoon into a rather tense experience.

2013–2016: Robertson, Ding, Selby and Trump

Neil Robertson won the 2013 China Open, defeating Mark Selby 10–6. The Australian’s success added another international champion to the roll of honour and demonstrated the tournament’s growing importance among the sport’s leading players. Ding Junhui then captured the title in 2014, beating Robertson 10–5 in the final. It was another significant result for Chinese snooker, with Ding confirming his status as a leading professional rather than simply a promising young talent.

Mark Selby won the 2015 edition with a commanding 10–2 victory over Gary Wilson. Judd Trump followed in 2016, beating Ricky Walden 10–4. These seasons helped strengthen the China Open’s reputation as a major event in the latter part of the professional campaign. The competition frequently took place shortly before the World Snooker Championship, meaning players were not only chasing another trophy but also sharpening their games ahead of the season’s biggest test at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Mark Selby’s successful run: 2017 and 2018

Mark Selby won the China Open in 2017, overcoming Mark Williams 10–8 in the final. The match was a competitive contest between two players with substantial experience of major finals. Selby’s win was his second China Open title, following his success in 2015. The 2017 event also featured a maximum break from Judd Trump, who compiled a 147 during his match against Tian Pengfei. A maximum is one of snooker’s rarest achievements, requiring every red to be followed by the black before all six colours are cleared in sequence.

Selby retained the title in 2018, defeating Barry Hawkins 11–3 in the final at Beijing’s Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium. His victory made him a back-to-back champion and reinforced his standing as one of the era’s most consistent competitors. The 2018 tournament was notable for its extraordinary scoring moments: Ronnie O’Sullivan made a 147 against Elliot Slessor, and Stuart Bingham also compiled a maximum during the event. Two maximum breaks at the main stage of a professional ranking tournament were exceptionally unusual, adding a remarkable footnote to that year’s competition. Selby’s win also secured his position as world number one at the end of a seventh consecutive season, regardless of his result at the World Championship.

Neil Robertson’s 2019 victory

The 2019 China Open, officially known as the XingPai China Open, was staged from 1 to 7 April at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Beijing. It was the nineteenth and penultimate ranking event of the 2018–19 season. The tournament carried a total prize fund of £1 million, with £225,000 awarded to the champion, reflecting its standing among the sport’s major ranking competitions.

Neil Robertson won the final 11–4 against Jack Lisowski on 7 April 2019. It was Robertson’s second China Open title and the sixteenth ranking title of his career. Lisowski had reached the final after an impressive run, including a 10–1 semi-final victory over Scott Donaldson. Robertson, meanwhile, had survived a more demanding semi-final against Luca Brecel, winning 10–7. The final scoreline suggested a comfortable finish, but reaching the final had required both players to navigate a difficult field of professional opponents.

Another notable moment came from Stuart Bingham, who made a 147 break during his second-round match against Peter Ebdon. It was the fifth maximum of Bingham’s professional career and the 151st officially recorded 147 in snooker history at the time. The 2019 edition was the final China Open held before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the international sporting calendar. The event did not take place in 2020, and it did not return as a regular fixture in the same form in the following years.

Legacy and importance to snooker in China

The China Open’s legacy extends beyond the list of champions. It helped establish China as an important destination for professional snooker and gave local audiences opportunities to see leading international players compete live. Ding Junhui’s 2005 victory was especially influential, while the continued participation of Chinese professionals helped strengthen the connection between domestic talent and the global tour. The tournament also formed part of a wider expansion of professional snooker in Asia, alongside other Chinese events such as the Shanghai Masters and the World Open.

It is important not to confuse the China Open with other competitions held in China. The China Championship, Shanghai Masters and World Open have their own histories, venues and champions. Although all have contributed to the growth of snooker in the country, they are separate tournaments. The China Open is best remembered for its particular run from the late 1990s, its revival in 2005 and its established period as a ranking event through to 2019.

From O’Sullivan’s early victories to Ding Junhui’s breakthrough, Selby’s successful title defences and Robertson’s final triumph in 2019, the China Open produced a substantial collection of memorable results. Its history reflects the internationalisation of professional snooker and the emergence of China as a major part of the sport’s audience and talent base. Even without a continuous place on the current calendar, the China Open remains an important chapter in the story of modern snooker.