China to Host World Women’s Snooker Championship for First Time
World Women’s Snooker (WWS), the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) and Cantonese Snooker (Chang Ping) are delighted to announce that the World Women’s Snooker Championship will be staged at the Dongguan Snooker Academy, Chang Ping for the first time from 11-17 March 2024.
The 41st staging of the most prestigious tournament on the WWS calendar will once again offer direct qualification to the mixed gender World Snooker Tour with the winner guaranteed to earn a two-year professional tour card from the start of the 2024/25 season.
Won most recently by Thailand’s Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan, who lifted the Mandy Fisher Trophy in 2023, the historic tournament has seen huge growth in recent seasons and will continue its expansion with a significantly increased prize fund of over £35,000 to be contested across three tournaments during the week.
The Dongguan Snooker Academy is located in Dongguan Chang Ping, approximately one hour from major areas including Guangzhou and Hong Kong China, and is home to a stunning two-table arena, with several additional tables also situated within the building.
The tournament will be supported by snooker’s world governing body the WPBSA, in partnership with China’s national governing body the CBSA and Cantonese Snooker (Chang Ping), led by Bobby Lee.
Alongside the main World Women’s Snooker Championship, the event will also include the World Women’s Under-21 Snooker Championship and the World Women’s Seniors Championship, won by India’s Anupama Ramachandran and England’s Mary Talbot-Deegan respectively earlier this year.
Mandy Fisher, World Women’s Snooker President said: “On behalf of our team we are all hugely excited to be heading to China for the first time for our World Championship later this season and in particular I would like to thank Bobby Lee and the CBSA for their support of the event.
“The return of professional snooker to China in 2023 has underlined the importance of this market to our sport and we cannot wait to stage this iconic tournament in Dongguan Chang Ping. This tournament continues to become bigger and better with each year and the 2024 event represents a significant step forward for women’s snooker with an increased prize fund and a fantastic new venue to host the world’s best players.”
Bobby Lee, Cantonese Snooker (Chang Ping) said: “On behalf of Cantonese Snooker I am delighted to be able to work with WWS, the WPBSA and the CBSA on the hosting of this major international snooker event.
“Women’s snooker has seen fantastic growth in recent years – in particular in Asia with the emergence of Bai Yulu here in China – and together we are determined to make this the best staging of the tournament so far and give all of the players an experience to remember!”
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “Today’s announcement represents another major landmark for World Women’s Snooker and this iconic tournament which represents one of our official qualifying pathways to the World Snooker Tour.”
“As a sport, our relationship with China and the CBSA is stronger than ever and together with Bobby and his team at Cantonese Snooker we are looking forward to working together.”
Further information, including the entry pack and instructions will be released as soon as possible.
