China’s Snooker Revolution: Bai Yulu Aims for Historic Third Title as Mega-Arena Ushers in a New Era
China’s passion for snooker is showing no signs of slowing down, exemplified by the newly unveiled Snooker Sports Arena in Changping, Dongguan. This impressive venue is hosting the World Women’s Snooker Championship over the coming week, although for now, the facility is in a temporary setup. Despite that, the tournament is already operating on a grand scale, featuring eight match tables and eight practice tables. Plans for the future, however, are truly ambitious: by this time next year, organizers aim to expand to 350 tables, with the potential to reach a staggering 1,000 across the sprawling complex.
This expansion is part of a broader vision for Changping to establish itself as a “Snooker Strong Town,” providing extensive practice facilities and positioning the city as a regular host for major events. With the support of the local government, Dongguan hopes to remain the permanent home of the World Women’s Snooker Championship for many years. While this marks the third consecutive year that the championship has been held in Dongguan, it is the first time it will take place in the brand-new arena.
World Women’s Snooker president Mandy Fisher expressed her excitement ahead of the tournament, saying, “We are thrilled to return to Dongguan Changping for a third consecutive year, and even more delighted to experience the remarkable new Snooker Sports Arena. The event continues to attract an exceptionally strong field and promises to be the largest in WWS history, which spans almost 45 years.”
The spotlight will once again shine on Bai Yulu, the 22-year-old two-time defending world champion and a rising star in China. Bai, who moved to Dongguan as a child, has captured the nation’s attention with her back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025, defeating Thai player Mink Nutcharut in both finals. Her first world title sparked massive interest in the sport across Chinese streaming platforms, with cumulative viewing figures reaching 175.4 million and a peak audience of 300,000 on Huya, alongside over six million unique viewers on Douyin.
Bai embraces her role as an inspiration for aspiring female players, saying she aims to encourage more girls to discover snooker by performing at her best in competitions. Challengers for her crown this year include England’s Reanne Evans, Thai star Mink Nutcharut, and Hong Kong’s Ng On-Yee, all former champions themselves. The 2026 World Women’s Snooker Championship runs from May 12 to 19, with two tables available to stream live on the WPBSA’s YouTube channel.
