THE NUMBERS GAME
The International Championship is the final ranking event before the UK Championship seeding cut-off. For Ding Junhui, Jak Jones and the chasing pack, every round carries a second prize beyond the £175,000 title.
The International Championship begins in Nanjing on 31 October with a consequential deadline attached: when the event ends on 7 November, the top 16 in the rankings earn automatic places at the UK Championship in York. The defending champion's return and the race for world number one will draw attention, but the cut-off turns the first week into a pressure test for players on the edge of the elite bracket.
Tournament and seeding facts ahead of the first match
Eight days of ranking snooker in Nanjing.
The post-event top 16 earn direct UK Championship places.
The champion's cheque is far larger than the reported gap around the cut-off.
A major ranking event with significant stakes across the draw.
His International Championship title points from 2024 are due off his rolling two-year total.