[Video/Tide News]

The Chinese player Liu Junyan clinched the championship of the 2026 Huacai Billiards World Open on June 8, defeating Sheng Yichen with a score of 23:19.

The event, which was held at the Deqing International Conference Center in Deqing county, Huzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, spanned 18 days from May 22, attracting nearly 600 players from around 30 countries and regions, with a total prize pool of over 10.78 million yuan ($1.59 million). The champion received 5 million yuan.

In addition to the substantial prize money, the event featured a number of other notable highlights. Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan made his competitive Chinese-style billiards debut, while World Snooker Championship winner Wu Yize, a 22-year-old from China, attended the opening ceremony.

After the competition, Liu lauded the event's professional facilities and enthusiastic audience, while O'Sullivan described his experience in Deqing as unforgettable, acknowledging the skill of Chinese players.

The tournament significantly boosted Deqing's economic growth, with online views exceeding 10 billion, sales of billiards-related products surpassing 68 million yuan, and ticket sales exceeding 550,000 yuan. The influx of visitors also stimulated local consumption in accommodation, dining, and tourism.