The 2026 Huacai Billiards World Open kicked off on May 29 at the Deqing International Conference Center in Deqing county, Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province.

The event brought together snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan and World Snooker Championship winner Wu Yize, a 22-year-old from China, alongside top players from around the globe. They joined guests and spectators in watching this billiards extravaganza.

The tournament runs from May 22 to June 8, boasting a total prize pool of over 10.78 million yuan ($1.59 million), with the champion receiving 5 million yuan. This sets a new benchmark for prize money in Chinese billiards competitions, attracting participants from nearly 30 countries and regions.

Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan. [Photo/Tide News]

During the opening ceremony, O'Sullivan praised Deqing's beautiful environment, professional organization, and enthusiastic audience. He expressed excitement about showcasing his skills in Chinese billiards and competing with international players.

Wu recently made history by defeating England's Shaun Murphy 18-17 during the World Snooker Championship 2026 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, the United Kingdom.

After the ceremony, O'Sullivan faced off against top Chinese billiards players Zheng Yubo, Chu Bingjie, and Zhang Kunpeng. Their precise positioning and dynamic play elicited cheers from the audience.

Deqing has hosted this top-tier billiards event for three consecutive years, establishing itself as a billiards hub in China.