Eight of the world's top 12 players will compete in the Guolian Securities World Snooker Jiangsu Classic in China next month.

The tournament is part of World Snooker's strategy to develop the Chinese market and will take place in two venues, with the group stages and semi-finals in Nanjing from June 4-6 and the final in Wuxi City on June 8.

Local hero Ding Junhui and World Championship runner-up Ali Carter are among the players making the journey to the Far East, along with former world champions Peter Ebdon and Shaun Murphy plus Mark Selby, Ryan Day, Neil Robertson and Joe Perry.

The field will be completed by four Asian wild cards.

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