The O’MIN CUELEES CUP DUYA LEGENDS GOLDEN NINE was successfully held from June 28 to July 6, boasting a prize fund of $700,000. Gareth Potts from the United Kingdom won the $250,000 top prize, with Xu Xiaocong of China as the runner-up.

We had the chance to interview Mr. Sun Tao, Deputy General Manager of Qinhuangdao Duya Billiards Sports Promotion Co, to discuss the recent tournament and what the future holds for the Duya Legends Tour.

INTERVIEW:

Q: First of all, congratulations on the recent Duya Legends Tour! Do you already have plans for the next few months regarding the tour? Are there any plans to hold the event in other countries?

A: Duya Legends Tour (DLT) consists of a series of international pool events. It includes many international events and a final every year. Between major events, there are also some tours, team competitions, star exhibitions, and other tournaments. During the 2024 to 2025 season, starting from the end of June 2024 to the end of June 2025, besides the Golden Nine Masters Linhai station, we will host another two international Golden Nine events, five Golden Nine Tours, one Golden Nine team competition, and a global Final. Some of our partners have contacted us to organize some international tournaments in Saudi Arabia and the UK in addition to our events system.

Q: Many international players are still adjusting to the Chinese 9-ball rules. How do you plan to address this in upcoming events?

A: Our idea is to solve the problem for professional players first. We’ll send them the English version of the regulations and rules, and some video materials like VCDs. At the same time, we will also release more videos on Duya Legends Tour events on social media so that more players and fans get familiar with the rules and understand the charm of this game.

Q: It appears that your company and partners are investing heavily in this sport. What were the reasons behind this decision?

A: We think Golden Nine is a fascinating and enjoyable cue sport, as it combines the accuracy of Snooker and the technical requirements of the American pool. At the same time, it also combines the requirements of shot routes and the strategy of Heyball, Chinese billiards. Therefore, it is a fascinating sport that we hope to promote and develop vigorously.

In addition, it is also the appeal of fans and players. There are tens of millions of billiards fans at home and abroad, so we decided to promote it for them. On the one hand, we promote this sport; on the other hand, we promote our company’s products and brand. Of course, for all our partners, it is also a global promotion of all their brands.

Q: How do you envision the future of your tournaments?

A: Our vision is that the prize money of the event and the number of countries that players come from will be higher. More importantly, Golden Nine events such as professional events, exhibitions, and amateurs’ tournaments can be held across the globe. Our vision for this event is actually our vision to develop the sport. We hope that Golden Nine can be an influential and famous cue sport by this event.

Q: If you have any messages to the fans of the sport?

A: The next major international event, the Duya Legends Tour Championship, is scheduled to be held in a city in China at the time from October to November 2024. We hope whoever is interested can follow our Facebook page, Duya Legends Tour, and other official social media for more information. And we also hope they can participate in the events, and help us to promote it as well.

As cue sports continue to rise in popularity in recent years, it is encouraging to see that more promoters and organizers are stepping up to introduce innovative tournaments for fans to enjoy. This surge in creativity and commitment is a positive development for the sport, promising a more dynamic and engaging viewing experience.

We are particularly excited about the upcoming Duya Legends Tour, which is set to feature a different play style from the 9-ball game we’ve grown accustomed to. With bigger events on the horizon, fans can look forward to more competitive games and new champions rising to the challenge.

For more updates regarding the Duya Legends Tour, you can follow them on their Facebook Page.