Wuhan to Play Host as World Snooker Returns to China

China's Ding Junhui in action at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. AFP
China's Ding Junhui in action at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. AFP
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Wuhan to Play Host as World Snooker Returns to China

China's Ding Junhui in action at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. AFP
China's Ding Junhui in action at the 2018 Shanghai Masters. AFP

The World Snooker Tour hailed the "momentous announcement" of three tournaments in China this year, including one in Wuhan, as the return of international sport to the country gathers pace.

Almost all international sports events were cancelled in China after Covid emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, and they are only just returning after travel curbs were lifted.

The World Snooker Tour will stage the first professional snooker tournament in mainland China in four years with the showpiece Shanghai Masters on September 11-17, the WST said.

That will be followed by the Wuhan Open on October 9-15 and the International Championship in November at a Chinese city yet to be confirmed, AFP reported.

Total prize money for three events combined will be more than £2 million ($2.5 million).

"This is a momentous announcement for our sport as we ramp up our return to staging events in Asia," said WST chairman Steve Dawson.

"Throughout the pandemic we have maintained dialogue and relationships with the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association as well as our key partners and promoters across China.

"This has allowed us to make a fast return to staging key events now that travel restrictions have lifted."

In a nod to snooker's popularity in the world's most populous country, Dawson added: "We will continue to explore opportunities to stage further events in China and beyond."



Liverpool Players to Wear ‘Forever 20’ Patches in Jota’s Memory

A picture of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota stands next to flower tributes, after Jota died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, outside Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, Britain, July 3, 2025. (Reuters)
A picture of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota stands next to flower tributes, after Jota died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, outside Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, Britain, July 3, 2025. (Reuters)
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Liverpool Players to Wear ‘Forever 20’ Patches in Jota’s Memory

A picture of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota stands next to flower tributes, after Jota died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, outside Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, Britain, July 3, 2025. (Reuters)
A picture of Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota stands next to flower tributes, after Jota died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, outside Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, Britain, July 3, 2025. (Reuters)

Liverpool players will wear a "Forever 20" emblem on their shirts and stadium jackets this Premier League season in memory of their former forward Diogo Jota who died in a car crash in Spain three weeks ago.

The club also announced on Saturday a special commemoration including a fan mosaic and a minute's silence ahead of Liverpool's opening game of the season against Bournemouth on August 15.

Thousands of flowers, scarves, banners and other tributes have been laid outside Anfield since Jota and his brother Andre Silva died.

The club said they have been removed over the past week and stored, while the floral tributes will be composted and used in flower beds across club sites, including Anfield, the AXA Training Center and AXA Melwood Training Center.

The remaining artifacts will be recycled and used to create a permanent memorial sculpture that will become a focal point of remembrance at Anfield.

Liverpool had already announced after consultation with Jota's family that his number 20 shirt will be retired across all levels of the club, including the women's and academy teams.

Supporters can have "Diogo J. 20" printed on shirts in club stores, with profits going to LFC Foundation, the club's official charity. The Foundation has committed to creating a grassroots football program in Jota's name.

A floral tribute will be also laid before kickoff at pre-season games in Hong Kong, Tokyo and at Anfield.