CBSA pool tour event opens in Zhangjiagang

The third stop of the 2026 CBSA China Pool 9-Ball Tour — the PERI · LAILI · Jiangnan Beautiful Phoenix Cup — hosted by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA), opens at the Zhangjiagang Sports Center on Aug 24.

The game also serves as a qualifying event for the 2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh and will run through Aug 31. More than 300 athletes have registered for the event.

As a flagship professional American pool tournament, upgraded and relaunched in China after a hiatus of several years, the event fills a gap in high-level domestic Pool 9-Ball competitions. Zhangjiagang is the third of four stops on the 2026 national tour.

The event features a complete competition system comprising four national tour stops and one annual national championship. Its competition standards strictly follow the general Pool 9-Ball rules of the World Pool Association (WPA). Results from all participating players will be directly included in the official CBSA men's and women's Pool rankings, serving as a key criterion for qualification for the annual national championship, selection to the national American pool training team and eligibility for international competitions.

"China had not held this event for many years. This year, we worked with Laili Sports Equipment Co, a well-known billiards equipment company, to bring it back," said Qian Yunhua, deputy general manager of Zhangjiagang Sports Culture Co. He said the company hopes to build a high-end sports event brand in Zhangjiagang and further boost consumption in accommodation, catering and cultural tourism through the tournament.