SNOOKER WELCOMES MAYOR OF BEIJING

25 Mar 2008 12:56:00

The Mayor of Beijing, Mr Guo Jinlong, was at the Honghe Industrial 2008 World Snooker China Open tonight for the official opening of the tournament.

The Mayor (pic left) and the Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport, Mr Cui Dalin (pic right), came to the evening session at the Beijing Students University Stadium, and officially opened the tournament by striking two cue balls on the match table, before the start of the game between Joe Perry and home favourite Ding Junhui.

Traffic was stopped in the roads around the venue for the arrival of the dignitaries, and their presence marked the prestige which snooker holds in Beijing.

The Mayor and Deputy Director also met Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby, who took part in the official opening.