The 2025 Optics Valley of China World Snooker Wuhan Open will take place from Aug 24 to 30 at the Optics Valley Gymnasium (Huazhong University of Science and Technology) in Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC).

As the first ranking event of the new season, the Wuhan Open will bring together nearly all globally leading snooker players, including defending champion Xiao Guodong, newly crowned World Snooker Championship winner Zhao Xintong, and all top ten-ranked players, promising an outstanding competition for snooker enthusiasts worldwide.

Xiao Guodong clinches his first ranking tournament championship at last year's final. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China]

The open’s qualifying stage concluded in late June in the UK, with all top 16-ranked players registering for the event. Notable stars like Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, and John Higgins advanced to the main event.

Among the 28 Chinese players who competed in the qualifiers, 13 have secured spots in the main event. Alongside well-known players like Zhang Anda and Si Jiahui, several highly anticipated "post-2,000s" rising stars will make their debut on the Wuhan Open stage.

The main event of the 2025 Wuhan Open will follow a classic format, with matches from the first round to the quarterfinals being the best of 9 frames, semifinals being the best of 11 frames, and the final being the best of 19 frames (split into two sessions).

The open’s total prize money is £700,000 ($928,690), with the champion receiving £140,000 in prize money, the runner-up earning £63,000, and a £5,000 high break prize also up for grabs, motivating players to push their limits and create exciting moments on the table.