The Huanghe Beer · 2025 CBSA Snooker Changsha Masters Challenge concluded triumphantly on June 2 after three days of intense competition in the "Star City" of Changsha. In the final day's matches, China's Xiao Guodong secured a 5-3 victory over Neil Robertson, highlighted by a superb break of 121 points. Mark Allen followed with an even more dominant performance, defeating Mark Williams 5-1 and achieving the tournament's highest single-break score of 135 points.
Mark Allen competes during a match on June 2. (Photo/Huang Qiqing, Changsha Evening News)
Across six thrilling matches, six of the world's top snooker players delivered captivating displays of world-class skill for global fans.
Mark Williams competes during a match on June 2. (Photo/Huang Qiqing, Changsha Evening News)
Gathering of Elite Players Elevates Tournament Standard
Over the three-day event, six top-ranked players – Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Xiao Guodong – showcased their exceptional talent.
Xiao Guodong competes during a match on June 2. (Photo/Huang Qiqing, Changsha Evening News)
The players collectively achieved seven century breaks (100+ points in a single visit), featuring remarkable moments including Allen's tournament-high 135, Wilson's 132, Xiao's 121, Robertson's precise long pots, and Williams' stunning flukes, thrilling the live audience.
Neil Robertson competes during a match on June 2. (Photo/Huang Qiqing, Changsha Evening News)
Following Zhao Xintong's World Championship victory, this tournament has ignited a new wave of national enthusiasm for snooker in China. The tournament generated immense online engagement, with total topic views exceeding 1.8 billion. Over 100 self-media accounts actively participated in coverage. Provincial and municipal media outlets published nearly 100 reports across platforms, garnering over 10 million views. Live broadcasts on various platforms attracted over 30,000 paid viewers.
Sports IP Fuels Urban Development
The Huanghe Beer · 2025 CBSA Snooker Changsha Masters Challenge proved to be a powerful driver for the local economy. It attracted over 7,000 spectators, with approximately 40% (around 3,000) traveling from outside Changsha.
Crucially, this influx of visitors translated into extended stays and deeper city exploration. A fan from Sichuan shared, "I came to Changsha on the first day of the holiday to watch Xiao Guodong play and spent the rest of my time exploring the city. I'm thrilled this snooker event brought me here to enjoy top-level matches and experience Changsha's rich history and culture."
A Guangzhou-based fan added, "As a long-time snooker enthusiast, I recently attended an invitational in Guangzhou. Traveling to Changsha was convenient, the venue and facilities were excellent, and the atmosphere was electric."
During breaks in the intense competition, the players embraced the Dragon Boat Festival holiday to experience Changsha's unique charm. They visited iconic landmarks like Qia Tongxue Shaonian Square, Orange Isle, Huogongdian (Fire Palace), and Super Wenheyou, savoring local delicacies such as crayfish, stinky tofu, and sticky rice cakes ("tangyou baba"). A night cruise on the Xiangjiang River left them particularly impressed by the stunning "dual-shore" lighting show.
The players enthusiastically shared their experiences on social media, praising Changsha's scenery and cuisine, and expressing delight at contributing exciting snooker matches to the city's holiday festivities.
This snooker extravaganza not only showcased Changsha's natural beauty and cultural vibrancy to the world but also exemplified how "event-driven popularity enhances city reputation" through genuine service and innovative thinking. As a local snooker fan aptly put it: "With a bowl of hot rice noodles, a standard snooker table, and rounds of applause, Changsha is evolving from an 'internet-famous city' into an 'enduringly popular destination'."
Source: en.changsha.gov.cn
