To say that I am not exactly knowledgeable about sports would be an understatement –– I can't name many famous sports stars and have no idea what the famous offside rule is all about.

So it was with some trepidation that I agreed to attend the 2019 Beverly World Cup in Wuxi, Jiangsu province on behalf of my employer, China Daily. During the biennial snooker event, I am given the task of making a vlog about my experience as someone who is not a fan of the sport.

Now for me, snooker is a beer-fuelled game played in British pubs; one that I have occasionally encountered while flicking through television channels –– quickly moving to something more entertaining as soon as I catch sight of the dark-green table.

But I decide to attend the competition with an open mind and learn as much as I can about the players, the sport, and the fans that spend their money attending games across the world.

Before attending any matches, I hit the streets of Wuxi to ask some locals what they know about the sport –– not much, it turns out.

Hanging around some of the city's main landmarks, including its stunning butterfly-shaped theater, I film a few pieces for my vlog and ask a few people to talk to me on camera about the upcoming snooker games. Luckily, there is little reluctance to talk, even if most know only as much as I do.

But a competitor named Ding Junhui is repeatedly mentioned. Even I have heard of Wuxi-born Ding –– China's top-ranked player and something of a local legend. He is playing in one of the two Chinese teams taking part in the event, and I expect to see him in action during the competition.

With my initial pre-tournament attempts to learn the rules of snooker proving largely a failure, I head down to the venue for the first day of the competition, with a vague plan to film a quick piece to camera before I go in.

The gymnasium where the tournament is being held appears deserted, save for a well-equipped media room. It is the media room where I decide to base myself for the time being, unsure of where to go and what matches to see.

I spend time familiarizing myself with some of the key players and the organization of the competition. As it begins to make sense, I start to wonder about some of the countries taking part. It becomes clear that this is a sport that has been dominated by British players for much of its history, but with Chinese players breaking through and winning the last few World Cup events.

A few days later I decide that I am knowledgeable enough to witness my first match and join a small crowd of spectators watching Northern Ireland play Iran. I am instantly struck by the seriousness and professionalism of the referee, who is quick to reprimand anyone in the crowd that distracts the players from their game.

As I watch Iran start to take the lead, I begin to understand some of the language of the game, finally understanding a "break" and recognizing when a player is using a "spider". To my surprise, I even start to enjoy it.

As the matches roll by, it becomes clear that the two Chinese teams are strong contenders; and it is their matches that are the most exciting to attend, with large crowds of local fans coming to support them.

And it appears the enthusiasm of fans in the Middle Kingdom is somewhat unique.

It is very rare for a player to be mobbed on their way to the venue back home, whereas here they are sometimes swamped by fans as they make their way inside, says Sam Fletcher, a representative of organizing body World Snooker.

Fans at this year's event can watch players from all walks of life –– from 14-year-old Ben Mertens playing for Belgium, to Marks Williams, the world number three playing for Wales.

As the week starts to draw to a close, I witness a succession of teams knocked out in the run up to the final, including England, China A, Thailand and Wales. The stage is now set for the last match –– China B will play Scotland.

The night of the final feels so different. It looks different; sounds different. There are a few thousand people in the venue and the atmosphere is electric. Outside, desperate fans try to snap up tickets from touts at inflated prices.

I film some final pieces for my vlog before entering the venue, which is filled with the sounds of excited spectators waiting for the players to come out.

Of course, the crowd goes wild as the Chinese players Zhou Yuelong and Liang Wenbo walk out, but there is also an enthusiastic reception for Scotland's John Higgins and Stephen Maguire, with a large number of foreign fans dotted around the venue.

As the match gets underway, I mentally prepare myself for a long seven-frame game, but Higgins and Maguire win four frames in quick succession, making it impossible for the Chinese team to come back. And with that, it is over. It all feels too quick!

While the Scottish victors are honored by the organizers, I film a rather incoherent final piece for the vlog and speak to a couple of fans.

Being English, I never thought I'd be happy to watch Scotland win a world cup, but for me snooker doesn't have any country rivalries. It was great to see two normal looking blokes who I used to watch on TV having a laugh and playing a game that I find almost impossible, says Adam Rothwell, 33.

As I walk out into the night surrounded by crowds of fans, I realize I have actually learnt quite a bit over the past week. I can explain the rules; I know some of the top players’ rankings, and I understand the game's terminology.

Overall, it's been a great experience and I've met some really interesting people –– I would definitely go again. Whether or not I will be picking up a snooker cue myself any time soon is another matter!