China's snooker prodigy Ding Junhui will return to defend his China Open title next month and is expected to ignite another round of snooker frenzy for this popular sport.

However, World Snooker, the sport's governing body said Ding, last year's surprise winner, was not their sole focus.

"We are not 100 per cent focused on Ding, we are interested in the Chinese market and would like to see more Chinese playing in the game," said Simon Leach, China tournament director of World Snooker.

The eighteen-year old Ding landed a historic victory at the 2005 China Open by trumping Stephen Hendry of Scotland 9-5 in the final. The victory made Ding the first ever Chinese player to win a Main Tour title and the second youngest title holder in snooker history, just nine days older than Ronnie O'Sullivan when he won the 1993 UK Championship.

His other major success includes a UK Championship title at the end of last year. He is seen as one of the most promising players in the tour.

"Certainly, Ding is very big and we will use his image to popularize snooker in China.

"But I believe there are more talents in the country because the sport has a certain popularity here," Leach said.

Defending champion Ding enters as the top-seed player, a far cry from last year when he entered as a wild card. He will be joined by eight Chinese wild cards in the tournament running from March 20-26 at the Beijing University Students Stadium.

Leach further confirmed that last year's absentee, world No 1 O'Sullivan, would come to China this time, making Ding's chances of repeating last year's glory that much more difficult.

(China Daily February 24, 2006)