China Open Returns to the Tour in Taiyuan After Seven-Year Absence

A Landmark Return for One of Snooker's Most Prestigious Ranking Events

The China Open makes its long-awaited return to the World Snooker Tour this August, with the city of Taiyuan in Shanxi province hosting the event for the first time in its history. Running from 8–16 August 2026, the tournament marks the first staging of the China Open since 2019 — a seven-year hiatus largely attributable to the global disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent travel restrictions affecting international sport in China. The winner will collect a top prize of £250,000, making it one of the more lucrative individual paydays on the current ranking calendar.

Historical Context: The China Open's Place on the Tour

First held in 1999, the China Open has grown into one of the most globally recognised events outside of the UK snooker circuit. Beijing's Worker's Gymnasium served as the tournament's spiritual home for much of its history, producing memorable moments across more than two decades of competition. Past champions include Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, and Ding Junhui, whose four titles at the event — according to CueTracker data — make him the most successful player in its history. The decision to stage the 2026 edition in Taiyuan rather than Beijing signals a broader effort by the WST and the CBSA-WPBSA partnership to expand snooker's footprint across China's vast regional cities, a strategy that has gained considerable momentum over the past decade.

Where and How to Watch

Coverage of the China Open is available across a wide range of broadcasters globally, ensuring fans from virtually every territory can follow the action live. Below is a full breakdown of broadcast arrangements by region.

UK and Ireland

Viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland can watch all sessions live via TNT Sports and HBO Max, which have become the primary homes of live snooker coverage in the UK following BT Sport's rebranding transition.

Mainland Europe and Selected Countries

Eurosport and HBO Max carry the tournament across mainland Europe and a number of additional territories. The full list of countries receiving this coverage includes: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, members of the C.I.S. (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan), Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Vatican State.

China

Domestic coverage in China is extensive and reflects snooker's remarkable popularity in the country. The event is available via CCTV5, Huya, Migu, the CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel (on a pay-per-view basis), CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyin.

Asia-Pacific and Other Territories

Fans in Hong Kong can watch via China Now Sports, while Malaysian viewers are served by Astro Supersport. Coverage in Thailand is available on True Sport, with Taiwan broadcast handled by Sportcast.

For fans in all other territories not listed above, WST Play provides a live and on-demand streaming option. A subscription to WST Play also carries additional benefits, including exclusive ticket priority access for UK-based events throughout the season.

Significance of the Taiyuan Venue

The choice of Taiyuan as host city is noteworthy. Shanxi province sits in northern China and is not traditionally associated with major international sporting events, making this a genuine first for the region. It fits a pattern of WST events rotating through Chinese cities — from Shanghai to Yushan to Haikou — as part of a concerted effort to broaden the game's appeal beyond its established metropolitan strongholds. Snooker's popularity in China has been well-documented in audience figures reported by CCTV over the years, with the sport consistently attracting viewing numbers that rival many established Chinese sports during major tournaments. Whether Taiyuan's infrastructure and local appetite can replicate the atmospheres seen in Beijing or Shanghai will be one of the more intriguing subplots of the week.

With the full match schedule available via the WST's official website, snooker.org, fans are encouraged to check session times ahead of the opening frames on 8 August. Given the time difference between China and the UK — Taiyuan operates on CST, which is UTC+8, placing it seven hours ahead of British Summer Time — UK viewers should expect a number of sessions to be broadcast in the early morning hours domestically.