Useful information ahead of the 2024 International Championship, including the draw for the venue stages, the prize money on offer, and how to watch.
The International Championship takes place from November 3rd to 10th in Nanjing, with defending champion Zhang Anda heading a star-studded draw.
World numbers one and two Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson, fresh off contesting the final of the recent Northern Ireland Open, are among the big title favourites again.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is in the lineup as things stand, but the Rocket has withdrawn from the last three events on the calendar so his presence these days can’t be guaranteed.
The International Championship is the eighth ranking event of the 2024/25 snooker season, and there is a champion’s cheque worth ยฃ175,000 on offer.
A qualifying round was already staged in Sheffield a few weeks ago with several interestingย snooker scoresย and results, whittling down the field to its final 73 contenders.
2024 International Championship prize money
Champion: ยฃ175,000
Runner-up: ยฃ75,000
Semi-Final: ยฃ33,000
Quarter-Final: ยฃ22,000
Last 16: ยฃ14,000
Last 32: ยฃ9,000
Last 64: ยฃ5,000
Highest Break: ยฃ5,000
TOTAL: ยฃ825,000
Who are the former champions?
All seven former International Championship winners are in the 2024 draw, including Zhang Anda who emerged with his maiden ranking crown a year ago.
Judd Trump triumphed at the inaugural edition back in 2012 and he repeated that success seven years later – the last time the event was held until 2023 as a result of the global pandemic.
Mark Selby is another two-time former winner, recording back-to-back glories in 2016 and 2017, while Mark Allen won in 2018.
Prior to that, home favourite Ding Junhui got his name etched onto the trophy in 2013 before Ricky Walden and John Higgins did the same in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Race to the UK Championship
The International Championship is the last opportunity to safeguard a seeding position for the upcoming UK Championship in York.
As has been the case in recent years, the top 16 from the official world rankings list will be automatically seeded through to the last 32 and the venue stages at the Barbican Centre.
Tom Ford is currently ranked at number 16, but last year’s International Championship runner-up hasn’t qualified for the tournament this season and will definitely drop outside the elite bracket of the standings.
That provisionally puts Neil Robertson into 16th, just behind Jak Jones who will also be looking over his shoulder somewhat.
With a huge prize fund available, the likes of Wuhan Open winner Xiao Guodong, Barry Hawkins, and Jack Lisowski will be looking for deep runs that will help them come into contention for an automatic spot at the season’s opening Triple Crown event.
Any player down to Lyu Haotian in 35th could still mathematically leapfrog their way into the top 16 in time for the campaign’s first traditional major.
Race to the Champion of Champions
Similarly, the International Championship is the last counting tournament before the full lineup is finalised for the Champion of Champions invitational.
Fifteen of the 16 spots in the draw have been confirmed, with reigning champion Mark Allen and world number one Judd Trump among the heavy hitters set to be involved.
The International Championship winner will also feature in Bolton if not already qualified. If it’s a repeat winner, the position will be filled through the world rankings.
Despite not being champions of counting events over the last year, Luca Brecel and Shaun Murphy have both already qualified through the rankings.
As things stand, Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, Si Jiahui, and John Higgins are the star names who are set to miss out on the Champion of Champions action.
2024 International Championship draw
Round of 128 (bo11)
Held-over matches
Zhang Anda vs Ishpreet Singh Chadha
David Gilbert vs Wildcard
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Mink Nutcharut
Ali Carter vs Wildcard
Si Jiahui vs Andrew Pagett
Noppon Saengkham vs Wildcard
Ding Junhui vs Reanne Evans
Hossein Vafaei vs Wildcard
Kyren Wilson vs Mitchell Mann
Round of 64 (bo11)
Zhang/Chadha vs Grace/Wildcard
Haydon Pinhey vs Lyu Haotian
Simon Blackwell vs Matthew Stevens
John Higgins vs Ben Woollaston
Zak Surety vs Chris Wakelin
Anthony Hamilton vs Shaun Murphy
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh vs Stuart Bingham
Mark Davis vs Mark Williams
O’Sullivan/Mink vs He Guoqiang
Pang Junxu vs Elliot Slessor
Carter/Wildcard vs Ross Muir
David Gilbert vs Jackson Page
Gong Chenzhi vs Jack Lisowski
Ben Mertens vs Si/Pagett
Ricky Walden vs Xiao Guodong
Aaron Hill vs Mark Allen
Judd Trump vs Sanderson Lam
Joe O’Connor vs Anthony McGill
Stan Moody vs Xu Si
Ryan Day vs Daniel Womersly
Robbie Williams vs Stuart Carrington
Dean Young vs Gary Wilson
Jimmy Robertson vs Saengkham/Wildcard
Jamie Clarke vs Mark Selby
Jiang Jun vs Amir Sarkhosh
Michael Holt vs Yuan Sijun
Ding/Evans vs Martin O’Donnell
Vafaei/Wildcard vs Dylan Emery
Joe Perry vs Barry Hawkins
Fan Zhengyi vs Neil Robertson
Andrew Higginson vs Wu Yize
Liu Hongyu vs K. Wilson/Mann
Click here to view the full International Championship draw
(snooker.org)
How to watch
There are several viewing options depending on where you are located in the world. A full list of global broadcasters is below.
Europe
Eurosport
discovery+
China
CCTV5
Huya.com
CBSA-WPBSA Academy WeChat Channel
CBSA-WPBSA Academy Douyin
Hong Kong China
Now TV
Malaysia and Brunei
Astro
Philippines
Tap
Taiwan
Sportcast
Thailand
True Sport
All other territories
Matchroom.live
Featured photo credit: WST
O’Sullivan could open up another place by not playing in Bolton. I’d say it’s more likely he turns up in Nanjing than Bolton.
Hope I can watch the tournament.ent in Bolton as I love snooker