Mark Selby jokes snooker players will ‘probably all get a hazmat suit’ in Wuhan after a new tournament in the Chinese city – said to be the epicentre of the Covid pandemic – is announced
- Mark Selby joked players will ‘get hazmat suits’ for the World Snooker Tour
- The circuit will return to China in the autumn, including for the first time Wuhan
- Wuhan was claimed to be the epicentre of the Covid pandemic three years ago
Mark Selby has joked snooker players will ‘get a hazmat suit’ after the announcement of a new tournament in Wuhan, the city claimed to the epicentre of the Covid pandemic.
The World Snooker Tour is returning to China in the autumn for the first time since November 2019, with a minimum of three events planned.
The Wuhan Open will take place in October, along with the Shanghai Masters in September and International Championship in November.
Four-time world champion Selby said: ‘I know (Wuhan) is where apparently it all started out – so we will probably all get a hazmat suit when we turn up.
‘We have not been to China for a few years now. I am looking forward to going back there. Wherever it is in China, I will enjoy it.
Mark Selby has joked about being handed ‘a hazmat suit’ to prepare for the World Snooker Tour
The circuit is set to visit Wuhan in October, the city where the Covid pandemic originated
‘It is great for snooker. We need China back on the map. It is big financially for our tour and we have a lot of Chinese players on the tour as well.’
The loss of tournaments in China in recent years has resulted in a reduction in prize money across the World Snooker Tour season, from £15million before the pandemic to around £11m now. The three events announced are set to add more than £2m to the overall prize pot.
World Snooker Tour chair Steve Dawson said: ‘This is a momentous announcement for our sport. It is fantastic for the players and fans.
‘We are excited to host a tournament for the first time in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province and a vibrant city of 11 million people.’
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