Biggest snooker event in Asia to be staged in China

 　　SHEFFIELD, England, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The newly¹ launched² World Snooker International Championship will be staged for the first time later this year, with the biggest top prize ever and top competitive³ level for a snooker event in Asia.

　　The world ranking event will run from October 28 to November 4 with 600,000 pounds (972,000 dollars) in total prize money and the winner to collect 125,000 pounds (202,000 dollars).

　　It will have the same level of ranking points as the UK Championship, which is traditionally tipped as one of the "big three" events in a season along with the ongoing⁴ World Championship and the Masters.

　　The tournament will feature 32 of the world's top professional players, plus eight Asian wild cards.

　　The event will be staged for the next five seasons following an agreement between World Snooker and CCTV Sports & Entertainment Co Ltd.

　　The host city will be confirmed shortly.

　　World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "We are absolutely delighted to announce this fantastic new event, alongside⁵ CCTV Sports & Entertainment Co Ltd, a great partner with vast experience in television broadcast and events."

　　"The International Championship will be an outstanding addition to the calendar and will take snooker into a city which has never staged a professional event before, which will help the sport continue to grow in China.

　　"The prize money for this event is the highest ever seen in China, and the incentive⁶ for all snooker players to climb to the top of the sport and reap⁷ the awards has never been greater.

　　"Last season there were two ranking events in China, next season there will be five.

　　"That shows the level of growth in the region⁸ and the hunger of the Chinese fans for more snooker. This tournament will really be something special."

　　China's top player Ding Junhui added: "It's great news for the players and the Chinese fans that we will have a new ranking tournament in China next season.

　　"It's another chance for our supporters there to watch the best players. I'm really excited about playing in the International Championship and I'm sure it will be a great success."

1 newly   

adv.新近，最近；重新，再度；以新的方式

参考例句：

• Have you reviewed for this newly published novel?你给这本新出版的小说写书评了吗？
• It is a newly planted tree and it has not established yet.这是一颗新栽的树，还没有扎下根来。

2 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

3 competitive   

adj.竞争的，比赛的，好竞争的，有竞争力的

参考例句：

• Some kinds of business are competitive.有些商业是要竞争的。
• These businessmen are both competitive and honourable.这些商人既有竞争性又很诚实。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 alongside   

adv.在旁边；prep.和...在一起，在...旁边

参考例句：

• There was a butcher's shop alongside the theatre.剧院旁边有一家肉店。
• Alongside of him stood his uncle.他的身旁站着他叔叔。

6 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

7 reap   

v.得到，获得（报酬、成果等），收割，收获

参考例句：

• It is not easy to reap the harvest of my hard work.获得自己辛勤工作的成果是不容易的。
• As a man sows,so he shall reap.种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆。

8 region   

n.地区，地带，区域；范围，幅度

参考例句：

• The students went to study the geology of that region.学生们去研究那个地区的地质情况。
• It is unusual to see snow in this region.这个地区难得见到雪。