For the first time in world snooker history of 35 years, a Chinese table the Star will make its debut at the World Snooker China Open to be held from March 26 to April 1 in Beijing, China, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and China Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) announced on Monday.

Simon Leach, WPBSA representative in China, said the Star table have past through three phases of testing and become an official table supplier for the WPBSA and World Snooker China Open.

"It's a significant change in the sport as we enter a new era and provide for the first time, the opportunity for a non-UK supplier to become our official table partner."

"World Snooker and the WPBSA are excited and proud that we have provided this platform, a showcase, that lets a Chinese manufacturer show the world that it can compete at the highest level."

"A Star is born, and the opportunities in the future are great," Leach said.

Wang Liwei, chairman of CBSA, said: "We hope not only the Star enter the world level, but also more Chinese players."

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2007)