The 2014 General Cup gets under way in Hong Kong on Sunday as the snooker season enjoys another mini leg in China.
First contested in 2004, The General Cup has been an almost permanent fixture on the calendar since 2009.
For one reason or another, there never seems to be that much information circulated about this invitation tournament but some top players have got their hands on the trophy down through the years.
After Thailand’s Issara Kachaiwong won the inaugural title, Ricky Walden, who has contested three finals in all, landed glory in 2009 before victories for Stephen Lee and Neil Robertson.
The defending champion is Mark Davis after the Englishman overcame Australia’s Robertson 7-2 in last year’s final.
The competition comprises of eight players divided into two groups of four, where a round-robin stage initially takes place.
The top two from each group advance to the semi-finals before a winner is crowned for a small, but tidy, sum of £9,600.
Walden and Davis find themselves paired in Group A alongside Joe Perry and Jimmy White.
Group B will, hopefully at least, see the return of Ali Carter to the baize following his latest battle with cancer off the table.
The ‘Captain’ will be joined by home favourite Marco Fu, last week’s Bulgarian Open champion Shaun Murphy and either Liang Wenbo or a local amateur who will first contest a wildcard round.
So not a tournament that will set the world alight with many headlines but nonetheless one in which each player involved will hope to emerge successful in.
