Chinese snooker Ding Junhui Photo: Courtesy of organizers

Daqing in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province will again host snooker's International Championship from August 4 to 11, with world-level stars expected to compete for the total prize money of 800,000 pounds ($1 million).

Defending champion Mark Allen, who defeated Neil Robertson 10-5 in last year's final, will lead a star-studded list of players, including world ­champion Judd Trump and two-time event champion Mark Selby. 

Home favorites Ding Junhui and Yan Bingtao still have to qualify to get into the championship, while seven other ­Chinese players, including Liang Wenbo, have already qualified.

When it was introduced to the calendar in 2012, the International Championship was the richest snooker tournament ever staged outside the UK. ­

Trump won the inaugural title in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, before China's Ding claimed it in 2013, followed by Ricky Walden in 2014. 

In 2015, the event moved to Daqing and was won by multi-time world champion John Higgins. Higgins will join the 2019 tournament as a wild card.

Selby won the championship for the first time in 2016 by thrashing Ding 10-1 in the final. He retained the title in 2017 by beating Allen 10-7.

Tickets for the championship are on sale, with prices ranging from 50 yuan ($7.25) to 3,388 yuan.