The HSBC Champions tournament is a new event which first took place in 2005. It marked the start of the 2006 European Tour season. It is staged in Shanghai, China on the Sheshan International golf course. It had a prize fund of $5 million, much more than any other event in Asia.

The tournament is an invitational event with limited field. Any player in the top 50 of the worlds rankings is eligible to play. Any golfer that has won a tournament on any of the main tours in the previous 12 months will also receive an invite.