China Open 9-Ball 15: Szewczyk and Kawahara defend their crowns amid a young wave in Shanghai

The 15th China Open 9-Ball Championship returns to the Tangzhen Cultural and Sports Centre in Shanghai from September 9 to 13. The total prize fund exceeds $350,000, making it one of the richest ranking events on the WPA calendar. The most important signal lies not in the prize money but in the structure: double-elimination race-to-9 until 32 men remain, then single-elimination race-to-11. This format intentionally extends the early rounds to reduce the randomness often seen in short pool events. For Vietnamese billiards fans, this event is a useful measure of Asia's growing pool market. International events usually use the race-to format, while many domestic tournaments still rely on fixed frames or time limits. Watching World Cup snooker and other global events has taught me that data only matters when we understand the rules behind it. Before assessing each player's chances, one must read the WPA rules carefully: the nine-ball is spotted, there is no break box, and the three-point rule is enforced. These small details can turn a match in unexpected ways. The entry list shows a clear generational clash. Wojciech Szewczyk, the defending men's champion and world number one from Poland, leads the field. He will have to resist Joshua Filler, a three-time China Open winner, and Albin Ouschan, a two-time world champion. Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, the latest US Open winner, joins the draw along with Fedor Gorst and Naoyuki Hijikata, last year's runner-up. In the women's event, Chihiro Kawahara defends her title against Seo Seoa, the reigning world champion, and Wei Tzu-Chien, the women's world number one. China fields Dang Jinhu in the men's event, while Liu Shasha and Fu Xiaofang compete in the women's bracket. The bigger story is the tactical gap between double elimination and single elimination. A race-to-9 can end quickly if a player sustains his break rhythm, yet it remains long enough for a strong safety shot to change the match. Once the field is down to 32, race-to-11 demands far more stamina and concentration. My experience watching finals suggests that the closing racks rarely belong to the player with the prettiest shot; they belong to the player who makes fewer mistakes. The China Open champion must win twice in the double-elimination stage and then survive several long matches in single elimination. The total number of racks can exceed one hundred over five days. Anyone who cannot keep the intensity up will leave early regardless of reputation. The data shows that American and Japanese players have the best depth. Beyond Filler, the United States has Sanchez Ruiz, while Asia relies on Kawahara, Hijikata and Seo Seoa. China does not have many representatives, but it plays at home. Tangzhen has hosted several China Open editions, so local players know the cloth and lighting well. This edge is not huge in billiards, but in tight matches, sleeping well and avoiding long travel can make a small difference. Vietnamese fans should also watch how Asian players handle pressure, because that is a valuable lesson for players aiming to compete abroad. The three-point rule deserves special attention. In nine-ball, deliberate fouls are punished more severely than ordinary ones, and WPA uses this rule to discourage negative play. However, the line between a smart safety and a tactical foul is often thin. Referees at Tangzhen must make quick decisions under tension, and a single three-point call in a deciding rack can affect tens of thousands of dollars in prize money. The tournament needs consistent officiating more than any supporting technology. I still remember matches where the stands had gone dark and the referees stayed behind to review video and agree on the correct protocol for the next day. The contrarian view: do not put all expectations on the defending champion. Szewczyk is world number one, but Filler's three titles show that the ability to explode over a long tournament matters more than ranking at the time of the draw. Ouschan is more respected in slow, controlled matches. Sanchez Ruiz has momentum after the US Open, but a long flight to Asia may leave him unsettled for the first match. In other words, the contender list is broader than the familiar names, and the race-to-11 format allows a player to start slowly and still correct the course. At least three matches are needed to measure true form. The message from the 15th China Open is clear for the Vietnamese market: WPA rules, big prize money and international broadcasting are pulling nine-ball out of local obscurity. Domestic organizers who want to upgrade their tournaments should start with playing rules and referee procedures, not just prize funds. The question for fans is not who lifts the trophy, but whether Vietnamese players can learn how to manage long matches. I believe the answer will come from the racks in Shanghai next week.