Right on cue, Yushan chasing pot of gold

Welcome to Yushan county in Shangrao, Jiangxi province - a cute little tourist resort that harbors a big dream.

Throughout the area, the ubiquity of billboards and banners featuring the world's top snooker players and an unusually high concentration of billiards clubs provide obvious clues to that dream - to become a global center for all things cue-related.

This week that vision comes into sharp focus with a star-studded cast in town for the third edition of the Yushan Snooker World Open.

Ding Junhui faces a stern test to retain his title, with world champions Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Mark Williams also chasing the winner's check of 150,000 pounds ($196,000).

This year's tournament, officially known as the Hong Rui Ma Cup Snooker World Open, is the first ranking event staged in China this season and boasts a total prize pool of 735,000 pounds.

"The county is known around the world as the home of the beautiful Sanqing Mountain, but Yushan has also become known as a billiards sports city and home of World Snooker's World Open," said Jason Ferguson, chairman of World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.

"We know we always receive a very warm welcome from all of our friends whenever we visit China, and enthusiasm of the fans in Yushan county is wonderful to see.

"This season there are 24 Chinese players on the World Snooker Tour, more than ever before. Snooker continues to grow throughout Asia in terms of its popularity as a televised sport and a participation sport."

Eighteen-year-old Chinese hot potter Yan Bingtao, who last year became the youngest-ever ranking-event finalist at the Northern Ireland Open, is liking what he sees in Yushan, where temperatures have been pushing the mercury into the 40s.

"It's my first trip to Yushan and I'm very satisfied with the tournament's environment - the venue, facilities and enthusiastic fans," Yan said after beating England's Ashley Carty 5-3 in the first round on Monday.

"It's very hot out there, but thanks to the comprehensive support of the tournament, everything's good."

Last year, Yushan unveiled a 2 billion yuan ($291 million) plan to build Snooker Bay, a Billiard Sports Museum, a Billiards Sports Academy, an Athletes Village and a customized venue to host major events.

The initiative is supported by long-term partner Xing Pai Star, which has helped stage the World Open since its inception.

The company has played a key role in the development of billiard sports in Asia, with its tables widely used on tour by the pros.

"For the past 30 years, Star has been sharing the common destiny of Chinese billiard sports. Making the country's billiard sports more and more competitive on the world stage is always our dream," said Gan Liantong, vice-chairman of both Xing Pai Star and the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association.

"We have organized and sponsored thousands of tournaments over the past decades. Together with Yushan's local government, we aim to make this county a world snooker center and to present a better image of China's billiards to the world."

The arrival of major international snooker events, including the World Open and the Chinese Billiards Championship, all jointly hosted by Xing Pai Star, has played a key role in developing the area's sporting and touristic ambitions.

"Yushan county has held four successful Chinese Pool international events since 2015 and two Snooker World Open events," said Hu Jianfei, Party chief of Yushan county committee.

"People who have come for the events have all been impressed with the county's long history, unique culture, picturesque environment and enthusiastic people.

"We will make Yushan a world-renowned snooker center step by step."

The dream, it seems, is being realized.