Ding Junhui of China attends a press conference of the Hainan Snooker Classic in Boao, South China's Hainan province, March 9, 2011. The Hainan Snooker Classic will take place in Baoao from March 10, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]

BOAO, South China - World No 1 John Higgins of Scotland and Chinese ace Ding Junhui will spearhead a star-studded International Snooker Classic to be held Thursday in Boao, a county of south China's Hainan province.

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A total of 16 top players compete in the four-day event, among whom 10 players rank top 16 in the world, including world champion Neil Robertson, former world champion Graeme Dott, the Englishman trio of Peter Ebdon, Allister Carter and Shaun Murphy.

The 16 players will be divided into four round-robin groups with the winner of each group advancing to the semifinals.