On the evening of February 6, the Bank of Qinhuangdao · Golden Duya Table Duya Legends Golden Nine Masters Qinhuangdao Station grandly kicked off at the Blue Gem Arena of Qinhuangdao Olympic Sports Center in the beautiful coastal city – Qinhuangdao! A total of 384 athletes from 28 countries and regions around the world gathered in this blessed land near the national capital to attend this world billiards Spring Festival grand ceremony that combines cultural heritage with international vision, competing for a top prize of 2 million RMB (USD285,714) in the Golden Nine event. This event writes a brilliant chapter for the global promotion of Chinese billiards, a national sports IP of China.
A Glorious Start: From Qinhuangdao to the World
As the birthplace of Chinese billiards, Qinhuangdao is making every effort to build a famous billiards city with tournaments as the link, enabling this sport to carry China’s cultural confidence to step from its hometown to the center of the world stage.
Hosted by the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau and the People’s Government of Qinhuangdao City, and ratified by the World Pool-Billiard Association and the China Association for Small & Medium Commercial Enterprises Billiards Industry Branch, the tournament is undertaken by the Small Ball Sports Center of Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau, Qinhuangdao Municipal Sports Bureau, the People’s Government of Haigang District of Qinhuangdao City and Qinhuangdao Duya Billiards Sports Promotion Co., Ltd., and co-organized by the Hebei Billiards Association and Qinhuangdao Tourism Holding Group Co., Ltd.. It brings together the top talents in the billiards field.
Leaders and distinguished guests from the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau, the CPC Qinhuangdao Municipal Committee, Qinhuangdao Municipal People’s Congress, Qinhuangdao Municipal People’s Government and Qinhuangdao Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference attended the opening ceremony. Also present were Dong Shukui, Honorary President of China Association for Small and Medium Commercial Enterprises and former Supervisor of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council; Jorgen Sandman, Sports Director of the World Pool-Billiard Association; Li Haoran, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Qinhuangdao Bank; Li Pengliang, General Manager of Hebei Handan Congtai Liquor Industry Co., Ltd.; Guo Tiewei, Director and Deputy General Manager of Qinhuangdao Gangcheng Development Group Co., Ltd.. In addition, government and enterprise personalities and guests from the People’s Government of Shinan District of Qingdao City, Qingdao Sports Development Center, Bureau of Education and Sports of Shinan District of Qingdao City, Cultural Tourism Industry Development Center of Shinan District of Qingdao City, Qingdao Haiming Urban Development Co., Ltd., the People’s Government of Guangyang District of Langfang City, Bureau of Commerce of Guangyang District of Langfang City, the CPC Jinping County Committee, Management Committee of Jinping Economic Development Zone, Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism of Jinping County, Investment Promotion Bureau of Jinping County, Guizhou Zhuotu Sports Tourism Industry Development Co., Ltd., Kaili Sports Industry Investment and Development Co., Ltd., Guizhou Jinping Ruida Stone Co., Ltd., Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism of Qianwei County, Qianwei Juncheng Culture and Tourism Group Co., Ltd., Qianwei Junteng Culture Media Co., Ltd. and Congtai Liquor Industry Group, as well as representatives of domestic and foreign media and billiards fans witnessed this grand billiards event, which demonstrated the high attention and strong support from all walks of life for the development of Chinese billiards.
A Star-Studded Event: One Cue to Seal the Fate, Nine Balls to Connect the World
The opening ceremony featured brilliant highlights and a warm atmosphere. The Blue Gem Arena was lit up with a stunning combination of light show and laser engraving, where technological sense and sports aesthetics were perfectly integrated, instantly igniting the enthusiasm of the whole audience. Audio-visual works with strong regional characteristics, such as Magnificent Qinhuangdao and Hello Qinhuangdao, were staged one after another, accompanied by a warm Chinese New Year Greeting Video, making guests and players from all over the world deeply feel the inclusiveness and warmth of Qinhuangdao. Renowned hosts Liu Jianhong and Qiao Xi took the stage together and officially kicked off the opening ceremony with the lofty declaration of “One Cue to Seal the Fate, Nine Balls to Connect the World”, sending sincere Spring Festival wishes to billiards fans around the world.
The subsequent athlete entry ceremony became the focus of the whole audience. Billiards elites from 28 countries across five continents arrived in high spirits, forming moving scenes on the field. The Blue Gem Arena was adorned with a sea of national flags, demonstrating the ever-increasing international influence of Golden Nine.
After the solemn athlete entry ceremony, Lv Jinsong, the champion of the last tournament, made a glorious appearance with the Crown Trophy, a symbol of top honor. The trophy was paraded around the field, and cheers erupted wherever it went. The glory and pride belonging to Golden Nine infected every audience present and also inspired all participating athletes to strive for excellence and pursue their dreams.
Subsequently, all attendees stood up to pay their respects, and the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China was played. In the stirring melody, the rise of Chinese billiards is closely linked to the strong support of the motherland, highlighting the profound patriotic feelings of this national sport. The screening of the short film Chinese Billiards, Come Home for the Chinese New Year, vividly showed the grand reunion of top players from 28 countries and regions in Qinhuangdao, conveying the important role of Chinese billiards as a universal sports language in promoting cultural exchanges and gathering spiritual strength.
Heartfelt Speech: Taking Billiards as a Medium, Gather for a Reunion
After the screening of the short film, Mr. Qiao Bing, Founding President of the International Chinese Billiards Federation, founder of the international tournament system for Chinese billiards, and also a citizen of Qinhuangdao City, took the stage to deliver a speech. He extended a sincere invitation to Chinese billiards lovers and athletes around the world: every Spring Festival, across thousands of mountains and rivers, regardless of nationality and race, let us return to the land of Qinhuangdao in the name of Chinese billiards, enjoy the top-level tournament, admire the scenery of mountains and seas, taste seafood delicacies, and build up sincere friendship. Let the warmth of home fuel the motivation for the new journey, and let the glory of the Crown Trophy draw the world’s attention to our hometown, Qinhuangdao. He firmly stated, “No matter how far we travel, our roots are always in this port city. Chinese Billiards, Come Home for the Chinese New Year.” His sincere words, full of love for Chinese billiards and deep affection for his hometown, resonated with the whole audience.
City Promotion: Embracing Mountains and Seas, Encountering the Romantic Port City
Immediately after the on-site city brand promotion, This is Qinhuangdao led everyone to experience the unique charm of Qinhuangdao, a famous coastal city, in an immersive way. The Great Wall meets the sea here, and history interweaves with the future here. Every tide tells a story, and every wisp of sea breeze carries a comforting warmth. Through the vivid city promotion, the audience on site and in front of the screen fully appreciated the romance and healing power of this city, felt its unique charm as the birthplace of Chinese billiards, and made billiards fans from all over the world yearn for this city of mountains and seas.
The Kick-off Break: One Stroke to Start the Journey
The opening ceremony reached one climax after another. Jorgen Sandman, Sports Director of the World Pool-Billiard Association, solemnly announced the opening of the tournament in Chinese, and the audience burst into thunderous applause. At the highly anticipated opening break launching ceremony, Mr. Cai Yalin, Member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau; Mr. Dong Shukui, Honorary President of China Association of Small and Medium Commercial Enterprises and former Supervisor of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council; Mr. Jorgen Sandman, Sports Director of the World Pool-Billiard Association; Mr. Li Guoqiang, Vice Mayor of Qinhuangdao Municipal People’s Government; Mr. Li Haoran, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Qinhuangdao Bank; Mr. Li Pengliang, General Manager of Hebei Handan Congtai Liquor Industry Co., Ltd.; and Mr. Qiao Bing, Vice President of China Association for Small and Medium Commercial Enterprises, President of the CASMCE Billiards Industry Branch and Chairman of Duya Billiards Holding Group, jointly break for the opening, kicking off the exciting competition of this masters tournament. Later, the leaders and distinguished guests took a group photo with the golden No.9 ball, freezing this historic moment.
Professional Support: Top Partners Jointly Build a Benchmark
As a major event of the 2025-2026 season, the Duya Legend Golden Nine Tour firmly practices cultural confidence, disseminates Chinese culture to the world with Chinese expressions and scenarios, and is committed to becoming a benchmark event in China’s sports competition and performance industry with global influence. The tournament has received strong support from many partners! The title sponsor Bank of Qinhuangdao, as the only municipal state-controlled local legal person city commercial bank, escorts the tournament with its strong strength and high-quality services. Another title brand, Duya Billiards, has brought a new generation of all-alloy billiard tables. As the WCBS Sponsor and THE WORLD GAMES 2025 Chengdu World Games official Heyball table Supplier and endorsed by the renowned snooker player Ding Junhui, these tables support the successful holding of the tournament with professional quality. In addition, the participation of more than 40 well-known brands such as Congtai Liquor Industry, Liberwin Billiard Cloth and O’Min Cues has provided a solid guarantee for the high-quality presentation of the tournament.
The Competition Begins: 384 Global Athletes Chase Dreams at the Blue Gem
With the successful conclusion of the opening ceremony, the Bank of Qinhuangdao · Golden Duya Table Duya Legends Golden Nine Masters Qinhuangdao Station officially started. The opening match on the first day was led by the famous Chinese billiards player Zhao Ruliang. In the following schedule, 384 top players from around the world will compete fiercely at the Blue Gem, interpreting the sports spirit with exquisite skills and writing a new legend of Chinese billiards with a striving attitude.
Chinese Billiards, Come Home for the Chinese New Year! Duya Legend, Create a New Legend! This international event integrating sports competition, cultural exchange and city display is not only a billiards feast, but also a vivid practice of Chinese cultural confidence. When billiards masters from all over the world swing their cues and compete in Qinhuangdao, a famous historical city, Chinese billiards is telling Chinese stories to the world with its unique charm, showing the openness, inclusiveness and cultural confidence of China in the new era.
