World Open snooker: How many titles has Ronnie O’Sullivan won in China? Who has the best record in country?

Ronnie O’Sullivan begins his quest for a second major title of the season in China against Michael White in the last 64 of the World Open on Tuesday in Yushan, but how many trophies has the snooker GOAT won in the country since he turned professional in 1992?

O’Sullivan also reached the semi-finals of the International Championship in Tianjin in November, losing 9-6 to winner Zhang Anda, and the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open in October where he was defeated 5-1 by Lyu Haotian.

Four of O’Sullivan’s record haul of 41 ranking event titles have been won in China with another four non-ranking tournaments, including his final three wins in Shanghai, and a 10-8 defeat to Ricky Walden in the 2008 Shanghai Masters final.

• 1999 China Open Stephen Lee (Eng) – won 9-2 Shanghai
• 2000 China Open Mark Williams (Wal) – won 9-3 Shenzhen
• 2009 Shanghai Masters Liang Wenbo (Chn) – won 10-5 Shanghai
• 2017 Shanghai Masters Judd Trump (Eng) – won 10-3 Shanghai

• 1997 Superstar International Jimmy White (Eng) – won 5-3 Guangzhou
• 2018 Shanghai Masters Barry Hawkins (Eng) – won 11-9 Shanghai
• 2019 Shanghai Masters Shaun Murphy (Eng) – won 11-9 Shanghai
• 2023 Shanghai Masters Luca Brecel (Bel) – won 11-9 Shanghai

Mark Selby holds the most impressive record in China with seven of his 22 ranking tournament wins consisting of three China Opens, two International Championships, the Shanghai Masters and China Championship.

27-time ranking event winner Judd Trump claimed the first of his six ranking titles in China with a 10-8 win over Selby in the 2011 China Open final, progressing to claim two China Opens, two International Championships, the World Open and this season’s Wuhan Open.

China’s most successful player Ding Junhui has also won four ranking titles in his home country alongside Australia’s greatest break-builder Neil Robertson and three-time world champion Mark Williams.

There will be further opportunities to add to those numbers next season with the Xi’an Grand Prix, Shanghai Masters, Wuhan Open, International Championship and World Open all pencilled in so far.