Mark Selby was the defending champion, having defeated John Higgins in the previous year's final 10–9.

Murphy reached his third consecutive final, having done so at the two prior events Shanghai Masters and the International Championship.

The highest break of the event was a 145 made by Mark Allen in the first round win over Anthony Hamilton.

[3][7] Defending champion Mark Selby won his opening first round match, defeating Chen Feilong.

[4] Three-time world champion Mark Williams defeated Kishan Hirani in an all Welsh opening round match 5–1.

[4] Former world champion Graeme Dott lost on a deciding frame to Norwegian Kurt Maflin during the first round 5–4.

[9] Maflin then defeated Jordan Brown to play four-time world champion John Higgins.

[10][11] Having amassed a 15-match winning streak, Judd Trump lost in the third round to Joe Perry 5–2.

[4] Barry Hawkins defeated Liam Highfield, Mitchell Mann and Zhao Xintong to reach the last-8.

[4] Iranian Hossein Vafaei defeated Tom Ford, Kyren Wilson and Anthony McGill to reach the quarter-finals.

[13] Mark Allen won his opening match against Anthony Hamilton 5–3, also making the highest break of the tournament, a 145.

Selby made match's highest break of 98 in the deciding frame to claim a 5–4 victory.

[14][18] The final was contested between Shaun Murphy (who had defeated Yuan Sijun, Ryan Day, Matthew Selt, Kurt Maflin and Mark Selby to reach the final), and Mark Williams (who defeated Kishan Hirani, Luo Honghao, Luca Brecel, David Gilbert, and Hossein Vafaei).

Murphy was the first player to get a chance in the frame, scoring 69, enough to force Williams to require a snooker.

[10] Murphy's last victory was over 18 months prior, and had struggled during the 2018/19 season, which he called the "worst run" of his career.

Matches involving four wildcard players, Mark Selby and Chen Feilong, Yan Bingtao and Mei Xiwen, Ding Junhui and Brandon Sargeant, Ken Doherty, Tom Ford, Judd Trump and James Wattana, were held over and played in Guangzhou.