The agreement gives Rigour exclusive control of digital audio-visual rights in China for all World Snooker events until 2027.

Fans throughout China will be able to watch World Snooker tournaments using Rigour Media’s platform Superstar Online as well as other sub-licensed platforms.

The wide-reaching deal also includes e-gaming rights, e-community and social media rights, licensing and e-commerce and an official membership scheme in the country.

The sport’s world governing body recently announced an agreement with China’s national broadcaster CCTV to televise snooker events, which also runs until 2027.

CCTV currently broadcasts four ranking events in China plus the World Cup, UK Championship, Masters, Welsh Open and World Championship.

"We are delighted to sign this long-term agreement with Rigour and we look forward to working with their team for many years to come," said World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn during a press conference in Beijing.

“Snooker has grown in China at an astonishing rate in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down.

“We have capitalised on this expansion with more tournaments, more prize money for the players and more snooker to watch for fans, both on television and online.

“These 10-year deals with CCTV and Rigour Media will allow us to continue our long term strategy of developing and exploiting the vast popularity of snooker in China."

China currently has six players in the top 50 of the game’s world rankings.

Ding Junhui – who broke through to win the China Open and UK Championship aged 18 in 2005 and became the first Asian player to reach the World Championship final last year – is currently in fourth place.