**The 41st Golden Mountain Bay Area Chinese Sports Convention, Nine-ball Pool Invitational Tournament**
The 41st Golden Mountain Bay Area Chinese Sports Convention, Nine-ball Pool Invitational Tournament, held its opening ceremony on May 30th (Friday) at Miao Bidamei. This year’s event saw a significant increase in scale compared to previous years, attracting 28 amateur players from various Bay Area regions. The event also featured special exhibitions and technical guidance from Taiwanese professional players Jiang Shuijing, Wang Wanling, and the sixth-ranked Korean player Seo Seoa, adding an international flair to the competition.
Dignitaries present at the opening ceremony included Deputy Consul General of San Francisco Zhu Yongchang, Director of the Golden Mountain Bay Area Overseas Chinese Education Center Zhuang Yashu, Overseas Chinese Affairs Commissioners Wu Yiming and Li Yuanlin, Overseas Chinese Affairs Advisory Commissioners Lu Yuzhen, Li Wenxiong, and National Day Committee Chairwoman Lin Xiuchun, who jointly inaugurated the event with Zhu Yongchang and Wu Yiming.
According to the event organizer Yang Zhichao, this year’s pool tournament has been opened up to the entire Bay Area community for the first time, with participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds such as Chinese, Hispanic, Caucasian, Indian, and second-generation Chinese Americans, promoting cross-ethnic sports exchange and showcasing the event’s move towards mainstream society. He mentioned that several players had excelled in the BCA amateur competition in February, reflecting the high level of competition in this tournament.
Yang Zhichao also introduced the three world-class professional players who were invited to the event, including Taiwanese players Jiang Shuijing, Wang Wanling, and the Korean player Seo Seoa, known as the “King of Popularity.” Seo Seoa, a player under LG, has long been involved in organizing her participation in this U.S. event, which took eight months to plan and is considered a breakthrough in the history of Bay Area pool tournaments.
He also revealed that the cue sticks used at the opening ceremony were intricately crafted, with the first section made by a Japanese master and the second section by a Caucasian master, symbolizing cultural integration. There are plans to collaborate with a Taiwanese master for the production of “Made in Taiwan” handmade cue sticks, facilitated by Jiang Shuijing, with an anticipated completion time of six to eight months, including a product launch event to promote Taiwanese craftsmanship.
In his speech, the chairman of the Chinese Sports Convention, Chen Ligong, expressed gratitude to the guests for their participation on a workday and praised Yang Zhichao for his dedication. He mentioned that this year’s tournament not only enhances international player exchanges but also includes participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds, making the event more community-oriented and appealing to mainstream society. Chen announced that the championship and runner-up matches will take place on June 7th, welcoming the public to attend and watch.
Deputy Consul General Zhu Yongchang highlighted that the Chinese Sports Convention pool tournament has evolved from a showcase to an invitational competition, becoming increasingly popular. He emphasized that pool combines physical and intellectual challenges, making it highly entertaining, and hoped to attract more attention from mainstream society while acknowledging the positive impact the convention has in uniting the overseas community and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Director Zhuang Yashu of the Overseas Chinese Education Center also emphasized how the Chinese Sports Convention has been uniting the overseas community through various sports activities over the years. With the support of the Taiwan-America Pool Billiard Association, this tournament combines world-class players with locals, contributing to the popularity of pool sports in the Bay Area and enhancing the overall competitive level.
The three professional players shared their experiences at the event. Wang Wanling mentioned her 15-year experience in playing pool and thanked Yang Zhichao for the invitation, expressing how the trip to the Bay Area has broadened her horizons and exposed her to the region’s technological and cultural charms.
Jiang Shuijing said, “This is my third time participating in the Bay Area competition. I’m delighted to meet my local friends again and look forward to promoting pool culture.”
For the first time visiting America, Seo Seoa expressed excitement, stating, “It is my first time in the Bay Area, and I am grateful for the invitation to compete. It has been an unforgettable experience.”
One of the amateur players, Walter Robertson, who was invited to the event, also shared his thoughts. He mentioned his previous experience competing against a Japanese player and expressed how this tournament, despite not usually playing on a seven-foot table, would be a memorable experience for him.
With a decade’s worth of experience playing pool, he looks forward to competing with players from diverse backgrounds in what promises to be an unforgettable event.