World Grand Prix 2025 Makes Its Debut in Hong Kong
Venue Scale and Prize Money Reach New Heights
Top Players Compete for the Championship at Kai Tak Arena
(HONG KONG, 21 January 2025) Hosted by World Snooker Tour (WST) and F-Sports Promotions Limited, and supported by the Billiard Sports Council of Hong Kong China Limited, the 2025 World Grand Prix will be held in Hong Kong for the first time, taking place from 4 to 9 March at Kai Tak Arena, Kai Tak Sports Park. The top 32 players on the one-year ranking list will compete for the championship.
The World Grand Prix has been held since 2015 and is one of the premier events on the World Snooker Tour and features the top 32 players ranked for the season, making it one of the pinnacle events in professional snooker.
This year marks the first time the tournament will be hosted outside of the UK, with a record-breaking venue size and prize money on offer. The event will take place in the brand-new Kai Tak Arena, which can accommodate 4,000 spectators, making it the largest audience for any current event on the World Snooker Tour. The total prize money has increased from £380,000 last year to £700,000 this year, with the champion's prize rising from £100,000 to £180,000, both setting new historic highs.
This will be the first ranking tournament held in Hong Kong in 35 years. Notably, Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan will be competing at home after becoming residents of Hong Kong. Other all-time greats on track to qualify include China’s top player Ding Junhui, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Masters champion Shaun Murphy and current World Champion Kyren Wilson.
Simon Brownell, CEO of World Snooker Tour, said: "This is a significant moment for our sport, as we stage one of our biggest tournaments in Hong Kong for the first time. The players are thrilled to have this opportunity to compete in one of the greatest locations on the planet. They will be desperate to become the first to lift the historic World Grand Prix trophy in Hong Kong, and to win the highest ever top prize for this event. For the local fans it will be incredible opportunity to watch the best players on the planet and marvel at their skills. We are sure the atmosphere will be electric and it will be a fabulous experience for everyone inside the arena."
Ms. Feng Huanhuan, CEO of F-Sports Promotions Limited, said: "As a new world-class venue, Kai Tak Arena, offers an outstanding venue for hosting this event and will undoubtedly provide audiences with an exceptional viewing experience. With Trump and O'Sullivan gracing the stage in their 'new home,' we are proud to promote Hong Kong on the world stage. Our goal is to bring top-tier snooker events that reflect the community's passion for the sport, while leveraging Hong Kong's position as the premier hub for Mega Events. We are committed to advancing the development of sports within the community, supporting elite sports, enhancing sports professionalism and developing sport as a thriving industry while promoting the city as a world-renowned centre for major international sports events."
During the event, there will be exhibition matches, featuring Hong Kong star Marco Fu, who will compete against other top players.
Public ticket sales commence on 27 January at 8:18am through HK Ticketing and Damai. Tickets are priced in ten tiers, ranging from HK$80 to HK$2,580. There is a special ‘roll-on roll-off’ format for this event, with two consecutive matches in both the afternoon and evening sessions, which means that fans buying a ticket for just one session can watch two matches.
