Over the last few days and week a number of news/announcements have emerged about players and events in Asia.
Top players participating in a CBSA event early August…
The most surprising of those announcements is this one…
And it was suggested that more top players could be there too. Since this was shared, it has been confirmed that Ryan Day will be involved as well. Regarding the prize money, this was shared by Sinosport.
Victoria Shi, who is assisting CBSA with the event, added this
Now why am I so surprised? Well, in the past, any suggestion about players playing on an “alternative” tour has been met with a prompt, negative and even threatening reaction from Barry Hearn.
Of course Barry Hearn is no more at the elm… at least not officially, but he’s certainly still involved. Of course, this ia the CBSA, and China has injected loads of money in the sport pre-covid. They are vital partners, now more than ever. But still …
And Ding is not involved???
The World Champion in Hong Kong…
Indeed, Luca Brecel is – or was – in Hong Kong with his manager Django Fung, doing exhibition stuff and meeting fans … Those pictures where shared by Patsy Cheung, who, in the past, was also involved in the organisation of the “General Cup”
News – not good news – about Luo Honghao
After an extraordinary first season where he qualified for the Crucible, Luo Honghao’s career tailed off. At the end of his third year as a pro he was relegated. He had entered the 2023 Asian Q-School but never made it to Bangkog, apparently not authorised to travel by the Chines authorities. in 2022, he played in the UK Q-Schools, but din’t progress past the last 32.
Now this appeared …
Harvey Chandler embracing Joy …
Harvey has also been involved in developing snooker in North-Africa… but he seems to be looking for something else now. Others may well follow if he succeeds.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
The draw for Huangguoshu is now out. The most notable matches are Judd Trump-Bai Yulu (Tuesday 7pm, local time), John Higgins-Gong Chenzhi and Ryan Day-Xiao Guodong.
If Judd Trump is as jetlagged as he looks (it’s a very demanding journey to such a remote place), we might be in for an interesting match!
If one of the 8 British players (or 10 if you count Eden Sharav and Barry Vestey) don’t win, then Zhou Yuelong, Cao Yupeng, Xiao Guodong, Yuan Sijun, Zhang Anda, Ma Hailong and Liu Hongyu will hope to take advantage. Former professionals include Lei Peifan, Gao Yang, Chen Feilong , Jin Long and Li Yan.
Maybe there’s an answer (from a week ago):
https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/17/snooker-promoter-barry-hearn-wants-new-crucible-teases-new-tournaments-19141929/?
So, I’d surmise, if Hearn / Matchroom / WST get to make money off the tournament(s) in China, and they’re off to even more sports-washing in the Middle East, there aren’t going to be objections, obviously. I haven’t found anything from Ding on his involvement (or lack thereof), but I would guess he’ll probably keep his mouth shut in case he disagrees with the strategy, and does’t wish to participate. At least, I can’t see how speaking out would do him any good with either side.
I didn’t expect Ding to say anything, I was just surprised that he’s not in the draw. And I still want to hope that the Saudi thing will never happen.
Initially, I didn’t know what to expect, quite frankly.
Can you even imagine they set up a nice tournament in China, invite a crowd of high-profile players, and Ding isn’t on their list of invitees? For I cannot. Assuming that Ding really won’t be there, there has to be a reason for that. It may be something as trivial as a scheduling conflict, or there’s something more afoot. Anyway, just speculating here…
I agree with you, wholeheartedly, on the “Saudi thing”. I am frowning at the “China thing”, and for pretty much the same reason. The rapprochement between the House of Saud and China during the last decade or so doesn’t make things better – in my book. Certainly, the Chinese must have watched closely how the fate of golf unfolded under the rule of gobs of cash, no?
Agreed but at least snooker IS played in China, by millions, and by both genders. In Saudi Arabia??? I doubt it. It’s purely a commercial endeavour.
Luo’s case is strange. Should be given chance to compete Q-school first. (Even if the allegation is valid, I suspect the penalty will be over six months.)
The Pro-Am in Huangguoshu will be a great event, marking the return of foreign players to China. Guizhou is a very beautiful province, and as far as I know, there haven’t been any strong players from there, so it is taking snooker to a new place.
Directly after that event, from August 6-10, is a China City Teams event in Xi’an, which is held anually – even during the pandemic. It comprises teams of 3 players, with group matches and a knockout phase. Each team represents a city/province in China, although usually the players are sponsored to ‘represent’ their team. The winners last year were the Sha’anxi Team, consisting of Ding Junhui (from Jiangsu), Fan Zhengyi (Heilongjiang) and Mei Xiwen (Hubei) who were ‘representing’ the host province. This year, remarkably, amongst the 40 teams will be teams representing Hong Kong and Taiwan. Fan Zhengyi, Pang Junxu, Xiao Guodong, Yuan Sijun, Wu Yize and Zhang Anda are already signed up to play. Expect Bai Yulu, Mei Xiwen, Lei Peifan, Gao Yang, etc., but possibly not Luo Honghao.
What this means is that quite a few players will be spending a couple of weeks in China before returning for the British Open qualifiers, if they decide to come back.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzI0ODcyODEwMw==&mid=2247521056&idx=1&sn=a172669c6f047d209c290e7707f2003c