The third edition of the Nansha Snooker Open (Dongling Cup) wrapped up successfully on May 8th at the Nansha Huanyu City in Guangzhou, following six days of intense competition. Liang Xiaolong, a domestic professional player who has participated in all three editions of the tournament, emerged as the ultimate dark horse. He staged a remarkable comeback, defeating the first edition champion Jiang Jun in the quarterfinals and overcoming the second edition champion Yao Pengcheng in the final to claim the championship trophy and a prize of 50,000 yuan. On the same day, the Guangzhou Nansha Billiard Association held its inauguration ceremony, marking a new phase of standardized, professional, and systematic development for billiard sports in the Nansha district.
This year’s Open saw a staggering 300% increase in public attention. The tournament, now in its third consecutive year, has solidified its position as an influential snooker brand in the Greater Bay Area. It attracted 101 snooker elites from over 20 provinces across China, setting new records in both scale and player caliber. The competition format strictly adhered to international professional standards, featuring elimination rounds (best of 5), round of 16 (best of 7), quarterfinals (best of 7), semifinals (best of 9), and finals (best of 9). A total of 127 matches were played, ensuring a highly competitive and standardized event.
The decisive final frame’s dramatic final black ball had the audience on the edge of their seats. “Making that last black ball was extremely difficult. I started with a defensive approach, waited for the opportunity, and then held my nerve to pot it. I’m still incredibly excited!” said champion Liang Xiaolong.
The overall skill level of this year’s participants was significantly higher, bringing together top national professionals and promising newcomers. The age range spanned from the 1970s to the 2010s, with a broader geographical distribution and much higher competitive quality. The venue setup, referee team, and live-streaming technology all met professional tournament standards, further enhancing the event’s professionalism and IP value. Many players praised the event’s organization, venue layout, environment, and crowd atmosphere. “The tables were perfectly leveled, the referees were professional, and the audience was enthusiastic and respectful. I was deeply impressed. I noticed that fans of all ages showed great passion for snooker and applauded every crucial shot,” said Yao Dongcheng.
Coinciding with the May 4th victory of China’s “post-00s” player Wu Yize, who became the first “post-00s” player to win the Snooker World Championship, the Nansha Open received a massive boost in popularity. Event interest surged over 300% compared to previous editions. During the tournament, more than 50,000 spectators visited Huanyu City, and live-streaming on Huya hit a record of 5 million views in the Greater Bay Area, while WeChat video channel broadcasts reached over 1.45 million views.
Records were also shattered on the field, with five century breaks achieved in a single day. Yao Dongcheng delivered an impressive 143 break, setting a new tournament record for the highest single break and also breaking his own career high, earning the tournament’s highest break award. The Best Newcomer award went to 11-year-old George Yichen.
A single tournament ignited a city. The event coincided with the May Day Golden Week, with the slogan “Dreams Come True in Nansha.” Top players competed fiercely, activating commercial vitality and strengthening the snooker IP. This fully supported Nansha’s goal of becoming a city of sports and vitality, achieving a win-win integration of sports and cultural tourism. Data showed that the daily average foot traffic at the Nansha Huanyu City venue increased by over 50% year-on-year, with opening day seeing the highest peak. Across six major commercial complexes in Nansha, the total number of visitors during the May Day holiday approached 1.5 million, a year-on-year increase of over 110%.
The tournament innovatively created an integrated “sports + commerce + lifestyle” consumption scene, using mechanisms like live match interactions, point exchanges, and consumption vouchers to efficiently convert spectator traffic into consumption. As a key independently developed boutique event in Nansha, this edition of the Snooker Open continued to strengthen the Nansha Snooker IP, elevating the tournament from a regional activity to an influential sports landmark in the Greater Bay Area. Through professional operation, branding, and market mechanisms, the event has enhanced its recognition and influence, allowing billiard sports to take root and thrive in Nansha, enriching the region’s sports culture supply and promoting the coordinated development of national fitness and competitive sports.
In the future, Guangzhou Nansha will continue to expand and strengthen the snooker tournament IP, enrich the event’s content, expand integration scenarios, and unleash the multiplier effect of “sports +.” By leveraging sports vitality to stimulate city charm, Nansha aims to inject stronger cultural and sports momentum into its high-quality development, encouraging more people to connect with Nansha through sports and fall in love with the city through the tournament.
Reporting by Zheng Yunan, N Video, Southern Metropolis Daily; Contributing by Mu Ye, Nan Cultural Tourism
