Snooker set to return to China after four-year absence with Shanghai Masters, according to official media reports
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ByEurosport
Updated 19/01/2023 at 13:07 GMT
Snooker is set to make its long-awaited return to mainland China after a four-year absence with the Shanghai Masters pencilled in for September, according to media reports. World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan won the last edition of the event held in Shanghai with an 11-9 win over Shaun Murphy in 2019. Stream more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.
O’Sullivan and Fu get huge reception from record-breaking crowd at Hong Kong Masters
Professional snooker is set to make a return to mainland China for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020 with the Shanghai Masters scheduled for September, according to official media reports.
A statement provided by WST to Eurosport said that: "We have had very positive conversations with our partners in Shanghai and we are optimistic about the Shanghai Masters returning to our calendar in 2023.”
Mainland China has not staged a major event since Judd Trump won the World Open in Yushan in November 2019 with a 10-5 win over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed the last edition of the Shanghai Masters after defeating Shaun Murphy 11-9 two months earlier.
O'Sullivan lifted the Hong Kong Masters in October courtesy of a 6-4 victory against Marco Fu before a world-record snooker crowd of over 9,000 spectators.
Players were forced to adhere to strict restrictions on their movements between the hotel and venue at the invitational event.
Tournament organisers had gained approval for the eight players competing to travel between their hotel and the Hong Kong Coliseum during the four-day event with several arriving less than 72 hours before the action began.
Zhao Xintong was replaced by Mark Williams after testing positive for Covid-19 a day before the event began.
Hong Kong's official rules stated that visitors must adhere to three days of quarantine, but restrictions will be lifted as China welcomes several elite sporting events back to Shanghai.
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‘A special one!’ – O’Sullivan collects trophy after winning Hong Kong Masters
The return of the sport to China next season is a major boost to the World Snooker Tour circuit after the China Open – first held when O'Sullivan beat Stephen Lee 9-2 in 1999 – was postponed three years ago.
China had held several events which also included the World Cup, International Championship and China Championship due to the popularity of snooker in the country.
The Shanghai Masters tennis tournament is scheduled for October 2-15 with over 100 events planned as China returns to hosting major international sports events this year.
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Stream more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.
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