The event was entered by 128 participants who were initially divided into 16 groups of 8 players, in which they competed against each other from December 14 to 16 in a double elimination tournament. Four players in each group qualified for the final round, which will be played from December 17 to 20. The event was played under "alternating break" format.[7]
In the initial double-elimination round, 2003 and 2013 champion Thorsten Hohmann was eliminated, having first lost 6–9 to Jason Theron,[8] and then to 2005 championWu Jiaqing also 6–9, despite being ahead 6–2.[9]
Later in the event, 9-ball world number one Klenti Kaci was defeated in the round of 32 – 10–11 to 17 year old Robbie Capito. Capito was at one stage 7–1, and 10–8 down in the match, but won the final three racks to win the match.[10][11]
The semi-finals and final were played on the December 20, 2018.[12] The reigning champion Carlo Biado defeated Shane Van Boening in the first semi-final, whilst Joshua Filler defeated Alexander Kazakis in a final rack decider. Filler would win the event; climbing to an 11–7 lead, and eventually winning 13–10.[6][13]