While the qualifiers are determining the last available spots for the China Open, international players are now arriving into Shanghai ahead of the tournament start on Thursday. A total of 112 players will compete, 64 in the men’s division and 48 in the women’s. All the big names are entered and everyone of them is keen to become China Open champion for 2016.
The women’s division is sure to be hotly contested. They are very popular in China, and their own players are fierce competitors and currently hold the number 1 and 2 ranking positions with Chen Siming and Liu Sha Sha. Liu is also current world champion. Of course they will not have it their own way, defending champion Kim Ga Young (KOR) is ranked number 3 and her consistency makes her a definite threat in every tournament where she competes. She is also a former three-time world champion. Another of the main chances is Kelly Fisher (GBR) who is really playing well again after undergoing major surgery a short time back. Being a two-time world champion, she also has experience on her side and a will to win which makes her another of the major chances. Other notables who make up the top 8 are Yu Han (CHN), Chou Chieh Yu (TPE), Chen Ho-Yun (TPE), Jasmin Ouschan (AUT).
The men’s division is made up of the who’s who of the pool world. Recent winner of the world championship and defending champion Albin Ouschan (AUT) will be player many consider as the one to beat, but he will definitely not be getting it all his own way. Cheng Yu Hsuan (TPE) and world number 1 ranked is sure to prove most competitive. There are so many talented players entered it is impossible to predict a winner with any confidence, the title is wide open. China’s Liu Haitao is a very tough competitor and his consistency sees his ranking at number 3, young Filipino star Carlo Biado as number 4, and the dynamic duo from Chinese Taipei, brothers Ko Pin Yi and Ko Ping Chun at 5 and 6 respectively. In 2015 Ko Pin Yi won two world championships, 9-Ball and 10-Ball and was the WPA Player of the Year. He is an awesome force in any event where he competes. Others to make up the top 10 are Chu Bing Jie (CHN), Chang Jung Lin (TPE) Darren Appleton (GBR), and John Morra (CAN) who was runner-up in this event in 2015.
Live-streaming and live-scoring will be available soon and the details will be announced as soon as we have them.
