Zhao Xintong (left) is the defending world champion while Ding Junhui was China's trailblazer on the green baize
Over the next few days, a World Championship match might break the record for snooker's biggest-ever television audience.
But it is not the last-16 encounter between Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins, nor does it feature world number one Judd Trump, or three-time winner Mark Williams.
Such has been the rapid growth of the game in China, the match between Ding Junhui and Zhao Xintong is the tie in question, as the country's first ranking event winner and trailblazer goes up against its first world champion - and the defending champion in Sheffield.
"It's a big clash and it could surpass all records, it could be hundreds of millions [watching] in China," said Jason Ferguson, the chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), who has been a key figure in the growth of the sport there.
