Wuxi's snooker future in doubt as World Cup gets underway

China's top snooker player Ding Junhui answers reporters' questions at a press conference in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on July 2.[Photo by Han Jingjing/China Daily]

Wuxi's future as a host city for top-level snooker tournaments may be in danger as the municipal government is still yet to agree a deal to extend its contract with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, officials revealed on July 2.

The city in Jiangsu province has been one of the keenest promoters of the sport in China and has hosted high-level snooker events since 2008.

But with the 2017 Snooker World Cup set to begin in Wuxi on Monday, the city still has not confirmed whether it will remain the venue for the tournament.

"We have been negotiating with … [China's] General Administration of Sport and the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association to continue holding the snooker event in Wuxi," said Yang Yuhua, deputy director of the Wuxi sports bureau, at a press conference for the tournament.

"We will continue talking about this issue during the 2017 World Cup … and we'll get a definite answer soon," he added.