BEIJING - Twelve of the world's top 16 snooker players will gather in Hainan next weekend for the China Life-Xingpai Hainan Classic, organizers announced on Monday.

The tournament will take place in the township of Boao on Hainan Island - a famous spot known for its golden beach, blue sea and tropical climate. It has also hosted the Miss World competition five of the past seven years.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry of Scotland, now the world 14, world No 2 and current Crucible king Neil Robertson of Australia, UK champion and world No 1 John Higgins and China's snooker sensation, world No 4 and the winner of this year's Masters, Ding Junhui, will travel to Hainan for the March 10-13 event.

Also competing for a share of the tournament's 100,000 pounds (US$163,196) of prize money will be world No 5 Shaun Murphy of England, No 7 Ali Carter of England, No 10 Graeme Dott of Scotland, No 11 Mark Allen of Northern Ireland, No 12 Peter Ebdon of England, No 13 Jamie Cope of England, No 15 Ricky Walden of Scotland and No 18 Marco Fu of Hong Kong. Top local players, including Tian Pengfei, Yu Delu, Jin Long and Li Yan, will also take part.

Zhao Xiaoning, director of the Small Ball Sports Administrative Center, said it will be the fifth biggest snooker event China has hosted since the sport was officially introduced to the country in 2005.

"Since then, China has produced a group of talented snooker players, like Ding, who have become idols," Zhang said.

"But the fact remains people watch snooker more on TV. This event in Hainan will help draw fans closer to the tables."

The first China Life-Xingpai Classic will feature four groups of four players with each playing three best-of three matches. The player who tops his group will progress to the semifinals.

Before the final on March 13, a charity challenge between Chinese stars and world stars will be staged. Six Chinese will be pitted against six overseas players. All proceeds from that showdown will be donated to the flooded-affected areas of Qionghai.

The tournament's champion will pocket 40,000 pounds, the runner-up 18,000 pounds and the beaten semifinalists 7,000 pounds each. A perfect frame of 147 means an additional 5,000 pounds.

The event has been organized by the the Small Ball Sports Administrative Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; the Department of Culture Radio Television Publication and Sports of Hainan province; the People's Government of Qionghai City, Beijing Xingwei Sport Goods Co Ltd and China Life.

China Daily

(China Daily 03/02/2011 page23)