China has launched a new snooker team league as part of its ambition to become a leading powerhouse in the sport. The Chinese Billiards Club Professional League (CBL) was announced following the country's recent success in snooker, including back-to-back World Championship wins by Zhao Xintong and Wu Yize.
Details of the New League
The CBL will feature eight teams competing from May to December in home and away fixtures across China, starting next week. Matches will include both snooker and pool contests, with singles and doubles formats. A league table will determine the draw for the quarter-finals in October, leading to a grand final in December.
Player Pool and Participation
Teams will be drawn from a "100+N" talent pool comprising 100 domestic players, foreign players registered for the league, and the 128 professionals on the World Snooker Tour. While top professional players may be unlikely to participate due to a busy WST schedule, involvement during the summer break is possible. The league primarily aims to identify and nurture young talent, preparing them to turn professional and compete globally.
Official Statements
Jiang Shicai, president of the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA), stated: "Chinese billiard sports has entered a golden age of high-quality development. With Zhao Xintong and Wu Yize winning World Championships one after another, that gave us the confidence to launch the new league. The association shall continue to optimise and improve league operations, and work together with the entire industry to help China move from a major billiards nation to a leading powerhouse."
Growing Popularity
An estimated 50 to 60 million people play snooker in China, with around 300,000 clubs nationwide. The popularity of pool variant Heyball has also risen, but snooker's profile has surged following Zhao and Wu's Crucible victories. With 432 matches scheduled for the CBL, the production line of Chinese snooker talent is expected to become even more fruitful.
