On March 11, the World Women's Snooker Championship 2024 (WWS) opened its curtains at the Changping Sports Center in Dongguan, China.

This marks the first time the World Women's Snooker Championship is held in China, attracting 46 players from 8 countries and regions. Among them, 5 players from Dongguan's local club academy participated. 

The champion of this competition not only secures a substantial prize but also earns a two-year qualification for the World Snooker Tour, a dream for snooker players worldwide, starting from the 2024/25 season.

The competition witnessed the participation of top-ranked players such as the world's number one ranked player Nutcharut Wongharuthai from Thailand, defending champion Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan from Thailand, 12-time WWS winner Reanne Evans from England, Hong Kong's Ng On Yee, and the reigning runner-up of the last world championship, Bai Yulu, trained by Dongguan Youth Snooker Association and Li Jianbing Snooker Academy. 

As a standout snooker player who grew up in Dongguan, 21-year-old Chinese athlete Bai Yulu is considered a strong contender in this championship and expressed excitement about competing in Dongguan, her training ground for the past 10 years. 

"This tournament is being held in China for the first time, and it's in Dongguan! I've been training in Dongguan for 10 years. The snooker atmosphere here is excellent, and many skilled players have emerged from this city. Participating in the tournament in Dongguan does bring some pressure, but I'm also looking forward to the competition. I hope to turn this pressure into motivation." 

Dongguan and the Snooker

In the late 1980s and 1990s, Dongguan experienced economic growth, triggering a surge in the popularity of snooker. Over the years, many top-tier players, including the likes of Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, Xiao Guodong, and Tian Pengfei, honed their skills in Dongguan before making a mark on the international stage. The city has consistently produced a cadre of talented professionals and is rightly hailed as the "Cradle of Snooker Champions."

Today, Dongguan boasts 500 snooker clubs, making snooker a featured sport in Dongguan.

The recent surge in young talents like Liu Hongyu, Ma Hailong, Bai Yulu, and Deng Haohui underscores Dongguan's commitment to fostering a promising future for snooker. As Dongguan accelerates its journey toward becoming a sports powerhouse, the sport of snooker is equally charging towards a more hopeful future, with young players making significant strides in various snooker competitions.