Shanghai, China
The 2017 China Open gets underway today here in Shanghai. Players are competing over the next two days in Stage 1 to try and gain a spot in the main draw. With so many good players trying to gain a last minute place, competition will be brutally fierce. Winning a spot in these qualifiers means you have played well enough to have won a regular tournament. On Wednesday, after the final spots have been decided, a draw will be conducted for Stage 2.
Defending champions, both Chinese, WU Jiaqing and HAN Yu are among the contestants in a field of 64 for men, and 48 for 
women. Wu is the number 1 player in China and ranked number 8 on world rankings. This remarkable player is a former dual world champion, having won both the 8-Ball and 9-Ball world championships at the tender age of 16. The defending ladies champion, Han is also the current 9-Ball world champion and the current world number 1 ranked player.
women. Wu is the number 1 player in China and ranked number 8 on world rankings. This remarkable player is a former dual world champion, having won both the 8-Ball and 9-Ball world championships at the tender age of 16. The defending ladies champion, Han is also the current 9-Ball world champion and the current world number 1 ranked player.Of course neither of these players will be getting any favours from their opposition as just about every top player from around the world is here in Shanghai to try and win this coveted major ranking event. More than 30 countries from every continent around the world are represented here this week.
