International Championship Snooker: Prize Money, TV & Draw
The International Championship is a prestigious snooker tournament held annually in Daqing, China. This event has gained immense popularity since its inception in 2012, attracting top players from around the globe. Let's delve into the tournament's prize money, television coverage, and draw format.
Prize Money: A Lucrative Event
The International Championship boasts a substantial prize fund, making it a highly attractive tournament for snooker professionals. The total prize money for the event is $775,000, a significant sum that motivates players to perform at their best.
Here's a breakdown of the prize money distribution:
- Champion: $150,000
- Runner-up: $70,000
- Semi-finalists: $35,000
- Quarter-finalists: $17,500
- Last 16: $12,500
- Last 32: $7,500
- Highest Break: $5,000
The attractive prize money reflects the tournament's status as a major event on the snooker calendar.
Television Coverage: A Global Audience
The International Championship enjoys extensive television coverage, reaching a global audience of snooker enthusiasts. CCTV, the Chinese state broadcaster, holds the rights to televise the tournament in China. Eurosport also provides coverage for viewers in Europe. The tournament's online streaming platform, Matchroom Live, allows fans worldwide to watch the action live. This wide-reaching coverage helps to increase the tournament's popularity and solidify its position as a key event in the snooker calendar.
Draw Format: A Challenging Road to the Title
The International Championship features a single-elimination format, meaning players are eliminated after a single loss. The draw is typically structured as follows:
- Qualifying Rounds: Players ranked outside the top 16 compete in qualifying rounds to secure a place in the main draw.
- Main Draw: The top 16 ranked players receive a bye into the last 32, where they face the winners from the qualifying rounds.
The tournament's draw format is renowned for its challenging nature. Players must maintain a high level of consistency throughout the tournament, as a single slip-up can end their campaign prematurely.
Key Highlights
- The International Championship is held in Daqing, China.
- The tournament features a total prize money of $775,000.
- CCTV (China) and Eurosport (Europe) provide television coverage.
- The event uses a single-elimination format, with qualifying rounds leading into the main draw.
Conclusion
The International Championship is an esteemed snooker tournament with substantial prize money, global television coverage, and a challenging draw format. These elements contribute to the event's high profile and status as a major event in the world of snooker.