The 2026 Shenzhen Open arrives in China from September 28 to October 4, bringing top-tier professional snooker and an £850,000 prize fund to the World Snooker Tour.
A £177,000 Top Prize Awaits in Shenzhen
Sanctioned by the World Snooker Tour, the tournament offers a substantial financial incentive for the world’s best cueists. The eventual champion is set to walk away with £177,000 from the total purse.
SHENZHEN OPEN 2026Qualifiers19-22 July 2026Leicester, EnglandMattioli Arena Leicester City is hosting a series of qualifiers, the first of which is already underway !Watch live on:🌐, 🇪🇺, 🇬🇧: WST Play, HBO Max🇨🇳: Huya, Migu, Douyin, WeChat#ShenzhenOpen #Snooker pic.twitter.com/k9pLdkoE1k
While the main tournament plays out on tables in Shenzhen, the grueling road to the final stages began far from southern China. A total of 56 qualifying matches were completed in England prior to the final stages, narrowing the field.
Tiered Frame Structure Tests the Field
The competition utilizes a tiered frame structure designed to test stamina and shot-making under pressure.
Matches are played in a straightforward best-of-9-frames format all the way through the quarter-finals. The intensity sharpens significantly for the weekend rounds. The semi-finals shift to a best-of-11 battle, while the championship final is contested as an arduous best-of-19 match.
Relocating the Tour from Xi’an
The tournament represents a direct change in venue and branding for this specific slot on the calendar. Until 2025, the event was hosted as the Xi’an Grand Prix in the city of Xi’an, located in central China.
The World Snooker Tour's coming to Shenzhen! 🇨🇳The Shenzhen Open will replace the Xi’an Grand Prix on the calendar, taking place from 28 Sept to 4 Oct 2026.Home to around 17 million people – and 2025 World Champion Zhao Xintong – Shenzhen is ready to welcome the world’s best. pic.twitter.com/MEdbnRbhnC
Tournament Details at a Glance
Where was this tournament held before 2026?
Until 2025, the tournament was held in the city of Xi’an, where it was known as the Xi’an Grand Prix.
How many frames are played in the championship match?
The final match of the Shenzhen Open is played in a best-of-19-frames format.
When does the final stage of the tournament conclude?
The tournament concludes on October 4, 2026, following a week of competition that begins on September 28.
More on Shenzhen Open
The tactical chaos at the Shenzhen Open is why short-format snooker is unmissable. 🎱🔥Jiang Jun closing out Ronnie O'Sullivan with a ruthless final frame century, while Judd Trump glides through with a 5-0 whitewash.#ShenzhenOpen #Snooker #CueSports
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