China Open 9-Ball Championship 2026 Returns to Shanghai with New Format and Prize Pool Exceeding $350,000

Core answer: The 15th China Open 9-Ball Championship returns to Shanghai with a hybrid double-elimination to single-elimination structure and prize pool exceeding $350,000, featuring WPA #1 Wojciech Szewczyk as defending men's champion. Key facts: - Format: Race-to-9 until 32 players then race-to-11 (men's); race-to-7 until 16 then race-to-9 (women's) - Venue: Tangzhen Cultural and Sports Centre, Shanghai - Prize fund: >$350,000 - Defending champions: Szewczyk (Poland), Kawahara (women) - Top players: Filler (3x winner), Ouschan (2x world champion), Sanchez Ruiz (fresh US Open winner) - Chinese representation: Dang Jinhu, Liu Shasha, Fu Xiaofang - Broadcast: Kozoom Pool YouTube and Chinese platforms Source attribution: Analysis based on public WPA event information and tournament previews; published September 2024 | Cross-checked: VuaBong.vn Related Q&A: Q: Who is the favorite for the men's title? A: WPA world number one Wojciech Szewczyk, defending champion. Q: What is the prize structure? A: Total prize fund exceeds $350,000 with top-heavy distribution. Q: How does the format differ from standard WPA 9-ball? A: Hybrid double-to-single elimination with escalating race-to frames.