HK snookers a rare first

Ayra Wang

The World Grand Prix 2025 will make its grand debut in Hong Kong at Kai Tak Sports Park from March 4 to 9.

This highly anticipated event will see the world's top 32 snooker players compete for a championship with a record top prize of 180,000 (HK$1.72 million).

Co-organized by the World Snooker Tour, F-Sports Promotion and Hong Kong Billiard Sports Control Council, the six-day tournament will take place at Kai Tak Arena, which can seat 5,000.

Among the 32 will be world No 1 Judd Trump and seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, both of whom became Hong Kong residents through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme last year.

Council chairman Vincent Law Wing-chung said the tournament will mark the first ranking event to be held here in 35 years and the largest live audience for a ranking tournament in snooker history.

F-Sports Promotion said this is the first time the event will be held outside the United Kingdom, with the total prize money nearly doubling from 380,000 last year to 700,000, and the top prize increasing from 100,000 to 180,000.

Tickets costing HK$80 to HK$2,580 will go on sale at Hong Kong Ticketing and Damai from 8.18 am on January 27.