Site News
Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2024

US OPEN 10-BALL & US OPEN 8-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP DATES CHANGED

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (April 5, 2016) – The 2016 US Open 10-Ball Championship and 2016 US Open 8-Ball Championship dates have been changed to July 20-25. The two events were previously scheduled for July 22-29 during the BCAPL National Championships in Las Vegas, NV. However, the World 9-Ball Championship in Qatar, previously scheduled for September 12-23, changed its dates to July 25 – August 4. This created a conflict for players wanting to compete in both.

For the benefit of the players and the betterment of all events, CSI has rescheduled the US Open 10-Ball and 8-Ball Championships. Stage I of the World 9-Ball Championships (July 25-28 ) is a qualification stage and will have little impact on US Open 10-Ball & US Open 8-Ball Championship participants. Stage II (July 29 – August 4) was the primary conflict. By rescheduling our events to end on July 25, players participating in Qatar will have ample time for travel.

For those players not traveling to Qatar, we have modified the schedule of three other events to provide 11 straight days of non-stop opportunity in Las Vegas. We are hopeful that these schedule changes will provide all players more opportunity while minimizing costs. The new schedule for unrestricted/open events is as follows:

US Open 10-Ball Championship (July 20-22)
US Open 8-Ball Championship (July 23-25)
9-Ball Challenge (July 25-26)
10-Ball Challenge (July 27-28 )
8-Ball Challenge (July 29-30)

We would like to thank Ian Anderson, President of the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) Board of Directors, for helping us quickly reach a solution that works for the players, sponsors, and promoters.

For more information on the 2016 US Open 10-Ball & 2016 US Open 8-Ball Championships, visit:
www.playcsipool.com/2016-us-open-championships

For more information on the 9-Ball Challenge, 10-Ball Challenge, 8-Ball Challenge, or any other 2016 BCAPL National Championship division, visit:
www.playcsipool.com/2016-bcapl-national-championships

For more information on the WPA or its sanctioned events, visit: www.wpa-pool.com

Record Entries For Q School

A record 174 players have entered World Snooker's 2016 Q School, all bidding for the chance to join the professional tour.

They will all head to the Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton from May 11 to compete for places on the World Snooker Tour. There are eight two-year tour cards up for grabs, to be awarded to the semi-finalists in each of two tournaments.

Those eight players will then compete in snooker's biggest tournaments around the globe on the pro circuit, for total prize money which will top £9million for the first time next season.

The 174 competitors are from 19 different countries including China, India, Israel, Pakistan and the USA. Last year there were 166 entries, and the previous year 145.

They will be joined by any current professional players who drop off the tour at the end of this season and decide to attempt to bounce straight back via Q School.

Top female players Reanne Evans and Ng On Yee, American pool specialist Corey Deuel, Germany's promising Lukas Kleckers and former Crucible semi-finalist Andy Hicks are among those in the field.

Players who don't earn one of the eight tour cards will be placed on a Q School Order of Merit and the best of those could still gain entry to ranking events next season where the draws are not filled by tour players.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "I'm delighted to see record numbers at Q School. What this shows above anything is that there has never been a better time to be a snooker player. Our tour is growing fast, with new major ranking events added to the calendar next season. Prize money is at record levels and is still increasing year by year. The opportunities are incredible.

"These 174 men and women are determined to seize that opportunity and earn a place on the tour. The standard at Q School will be very high and the competition for those coveted eight tour cards will be fierce. No doubt they will all be practising hard for the next five weeks to make sure they are ready. I look forward to seeing which of them make it through."

For a full list of Q School entrants see www.worldsnookerqschool.com/order-of-merit

2016 Tornado Open    

Event: The Tornado Open
Date: September 28 - October 2, 2016
Location: Hollywood, FL
Venue: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
Event Website: TheTornadoOpen.com

Entry:
- Men: $500
- Women: $500

Number of Players:
- Men: 128 Players (BCA Ranking, and Mosconi Cup Points Event)
- Women: 64 Players (WPA Partial-point Event)

Prize Money:
- Men: $25K Added Guaranteed
- Women: $25K Added Guaranteed

Format:
- Men: 10-Ball, races to 8, alternate break, Texas Express Rules
- Women: 10-Ball, races to 7, alternate break, Texas Express Rules

For more Information: Questions should be directed to Vivian Villarreal or The Tornado Open Tournament Director Linda Garza at 210-291-8079.

For up-to-date information on player invites, current news about WPA tournaments, or latest pro-player rankings please like the BCA Pro-Player Facebook page.

2016 PACIFIC 8-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

**06/08 – 12/2016
Pacific 8 Ball Championship
Cue’s Gamesroom & Grill
342 Main Street
Penticton, BC
Canada
Contact: Lance – bcbsa.info@gmail.com
Flyer: Pacific 8 Ball Championship flyer
www.playcsipool.com/uploads/7/3/5/9/7359673/2016_canada_flyer.pdf

Kaspersky Riga Masters To Take Place In Latvia For The Third Time

The Kaspersky Riga Masters 2016 will take place in June for the third time in a row – this year with a significantly increased prize fund.

The total prize money for the tournament will increase from €125,000 to €200,000. The winner’s prize for next season’s Kaspersky Riga Masters will be doubled to €50,000.

In 2016, the tournament will start with 128 players competing in a qualifying round on June 3-4 at the Guild Hall in Preston. The 64 qualifiers will then head to Riga for the final stages from June 22 to June 24. All matches will be best of seven frames until the semi-finals and the final, which will be best of nine with no interval.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “Snooker is definitely developing throughout Europe as we now have three events on the continent with at least €200,000 prize money on offer. The tournament will be broadcast on Eurosport and then nine further broadcasts in Asia will be made.

“Riga has proved to be an extremely popular location for the players as it is a beautiful city. Support for snooker in this area of the world is clearly strong. With the increased prize fund I’m expecting to see a strong field of the world’s leading players.”

Eugene Kaspersky, chairman and CEO of Kaspersky Lab, said: “I’ve always loved the game of snooker – both its spirit and intensity; I could watch it all day. I’m really happy we’re supporting this amazing event. I’m still undecided as to who to support during the tournament, but no matter - I’m still looking forward to all the action and drama of every frame played.”

In 2014, the Kaspersky Riga Open was the first ever professional snooker tournament to be staged in Latvia and was won by Mark Selby. The event was held again in 2015 with Barry Hawkins lifting the trophy.

Tickets for the Kaspersky Riga Masters are ON SALE NOW. To book, go to www.bilesuserviss.lv. Fans can see many of their snooker heroes on the same day and watch several matches at the same time.

About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.kaspersky.com

Betfred To Donate To Bluebell Wood

World Championship title sponsor Betfred will donate £200 to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice for every century break made during the 17 days of this year’s tournament.

And if the century tally reaches 70, the donation will be rounded up to £25,000.

The Betfred World Championship runs from April 16 to May 2 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, with 32 of the world’s best players competing for the title.

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice in North Anston, Sheffield has been World Snooker’s official charity since 2012.

Disability Day at Sheffield Winter Garden

The WPBSA will stage the annual World Disability Day in Sheffield on Thursday 21st April 2016 during the Betfred World Snooker Championship.

To be held at the Cue Zone in the Winter Garden close to the Crucible Theatre, the initiative looks to encourage people with disabilities to participate in snooker and support the ongoing work of World Disability Billiards and Snooker (WDBS).

Formed in 2015, the WDBS has already hosted disability events in Gloucester and Manchester, with further events to be held in Woking and Gloucester in 2016.

Players who have competed in WDBS events so far will be present during the morning of Disability Day to play doubles matches with members of the public. Later in the day, children with disabilities from Sheffield Wednesday Football Club have been invited to take part in a snooker challenge.

“We are delighted to bring world disability day to the World Snooker Championship,” said WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson. “We are proud to be a sport for all. We are delighted to see the involvement of so many groups and we are pleased to see our players and coaches engaging with our new activities and the work of the WDBS.”

The day will also be supported by Leonard Cheshire Disability, a charity supporting disabled people in the UK and around the world to fulfil their potential and live the lives they choose.

During the day groups from Mickley Hall and Gloucestershire House will be visiting the Cue Zone to try snooker. There will also be collections for Leonard Cheshire in Tudor Square throughout the day.
Barney Cullum, external communications officer for Leonard Cheshire said: “Leonard Cheshire Disability is very happy to be supporting this important event at the prestigious World Snooker Championship.

“Research conducted by our charity earlier this year found that 57% of disabled people are currently doing no sport or physical activity, with a lack of suitable opportunities cited as the largest barrier to participation.

“In light of these findings, and to mark the Paralympic year, Leonard Cheshire Disability is working hard to create a great many more opportunities for participation.”

For more information about the WDBS please visit www.wdbs.info

You can also read more about Leonard Cheshire Disability at their official website www.leonardcheshire.org

The Pocket Billiards Coach

ZeroInsoft LLC is proud to release its first Pocket Billiards Coaching app for iOS devices, specifically iPhone and iPad. The Coach is long time touring professional Pocket Billiard player and world renowned coach, Paul Potier from Canada.

Our app is designed to assist any level of player to reach their potential. It is a coaching app, not merely a teaching app.

SEATTLE – January, 2016 The Pocket Billiards Coach app is our first product. It was released on the App Store on August, 2015. This app’s primary focus is to coach the player through its unique format, split into 5 sections, each section assists the other sections to pave the way for the student to effectively plan their personal development. This app is mainly for the pool league player due to their regular playing habits. However this app can definitely help any player at any skill level. Our goal is to guide the student to reach whatever level of expertise in pocket billiards that they wish to attain.

This app is simple in design and format. It has five sections: Three scenario based sections (Words of Wisdom, Pre- Game, and In-Game), a Drill section, and a More section for everything else. The Words of Wisdom section is designed to help you plan your development by understanding where you are currently and how you can reach your goals. The Pre-Game scenarios help you prepare to be the best you can be every time you play or practice. The In-Game scenarios can assist you during a match or practice session. The scenarios found in Words of Wisdom, Pre-game and In-game are from situations that all of us experience when we play pool. The entire app is designed to help you avoid bad situations. It also gives insight on how to solve issues that you can’t avoid. The Drill/Practice section has drills, games, and tests that Paul has found very useful in helping many of his students and himself over the years. The In-game section includes topics like what to do after you've missed an easy shot, how to deal with it mentally and how to prepare yourself for your next shot. The App is filled with these kinds of anecdotes, everything in the App is available in text form as well as in voice recorded form. There are also many videos to visually help explain concepts and a glossary to define the meaning of some of our sports terminology. The student can and should repeat the use of all the features and information as often as possible to get the most out of this app.

A quote from the Coach: “We designed this app to help pool players develop strong mental, physical, and emotional habits to overcome any and all obstacles that could interfere with their performance. An important lesson to learn is that being a champion is not just about winning, it’s about a way of thinking and behaving. Allow me to guide you to become the champion you can be proud of.”

This app is available now and it is free to download. iOS version 8.1 or higher and WiFi connection are required. Although all the information that is available on the free version can help you reach your potential we highly recommend that you purchase the extended features. We have included an in-app feature bundle for purchase for $2.99 US for a limited time. The current features include voice recordings for all scenarios, many video recordings, and a scoring system for one of the drills. Our app is available in any country where iOS products are offered, but currently only in English. We hope to make it available in Japanese in the near future, and potentially in other smartphone platforms.

Please visit www.zeroinsoft.com for more information about The Pocket Billiards Coach app, our company and products. To find out more about the coach visit www.paulpotier.com

Zeroinsoft LLC is a software development company based out of Seattle, Washington. Our mission is to empower every person to become the best pocket billiards player they can be.

If you would like more information about the app or have some pocket billiards related questions. You can reach us at pr@zeroinsoft.com, or Paul Potier at paul@paulpotier.com

UK Snooker Returns To York

The York Barbican will once again host snooker’s top stars at the Betway UK Championship later this year.

General admission tickets are now on sale, and tickets for the semi-finals and final will go on sale week commencing May 2.

The Betway UK Championship is one of snooker’s most important and prestigious tournaments, with a history dating back to 1977. All 128 players compete at the venue over 12 days, battling for the famous trophy.

The BBC-televised tournament runs from November 22 to December 4.

The event has been staged in York since 2011 and last year it was won by Neil Robertson who beat Liang Wenbo in the final and made a sensational 147 maximum break. In recent years the title has also been won by Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and Judd Trump.

Crowds have hit record levels year on year in York and once again tickets are expected to sell rapidly so fans are strongly urged to book fast.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The Betway UK Championship has a fabulous history and each year we are treated to top class snooker from the best players in the world. Since we changed the format of the event to start with all 128 players in the first round, we have seen great stories and incredible drama.

“This year’s event promises to be even better than ever, with the standard of play rising year upon year, and the established stars facing a persistent challenge from a new generation of fearless and exciting young potters.

“As ever my message to fans is to get tickets booked as soon as possible as many sessions will sell out within days. York is an exceptional venue and a wonderful city, the players are all looking forward to going back and I expect to see bigger crowds than ever.”

Tickets start at just £6 (plus booking fees) and are available by calling 0844 854 2757 or visiting www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Special Half Price Offer

Purchase tickets before the end of June and get half price tickets on session and all-day tickets between Saturday 26 November and Thursday 1 December

International Billiard Festival-Kielce 2016 !!! 230 participants !!!!!!

Dear Friends,

I’m very glad that many players would like to play in our

International Billiard Festival -Kielce 2016
29.04- 5.05.2016 - Grand Hotel -Kielce

List of participants
86 players - Dynamic Best of the East -Polish 9-Ball,
90 players - Polish Youth Championships,
36 players - EEBC Pyramid Championships
18 players - WPA World Championships for Wheelchair Athletes

Total: 230 participants from 19 countries !!!!!!!!!!
Referees from: Poland, Czech, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Romania.

Info – live-scoring – www.ebc-billiard.com
Matches on-line: www.tvsports.pl

Marcin Krzeminski
President of East European Billiard Council
www.ebc-billiard.com
E-mail: ebc@ebc-billiard.com
Ul. Zagnanska 84a,
25-528 Kielce , Polska

Toronto World 8-Ball Championship Canceled

In our desire to be good stewards of the game the organizing committee for the 2016 Toronto World 8-Ball Tournament are announcing the cancellation of that event. After awarding the event to Toronto for 2016 the WPA received an offer from a promoter in China to hold a World 8-Ball Tournament for both men and women with a prize fund for each division of $300,000 per event. While the timing of this offer could be viewed as unfortunate, this new promoter has offered to invest $3,000,000 over the next 5 years and we do not wish to hamper anyone who will make that long-term commitment to Professional Pool. We will move on and soon announce new plans for events in North America as our prize fund is still intact due to the loyalty and understanding of our sponsors.

While we had hoped to bring a major World Championship Title to the Western Hemisphere it is unreasonable for us to take a selfish world view. This new development will offer international players a handsome reward, includes both genders, and takes place in a large venue in China. Toronto will still have a major event coming out of The Corner Bank. It has always been our intention to begin a new and exciting tradition with an annual event that will be a cornerstone of every major players’ calendar. We still intend to do just that. We are now making plans for the best avenue of competition available to us and look forward to making an announcement on our developments soon.

Eurosport signs new 10-year agreement with World Snooker and IMG

•     Eurosport, the Discovery-owned broadcaster, underlines its position as the Home of Snooker across Europe through coverage of all major snooker tournaments, including the World Snooker Championship, for the 2016/17 to 2025/26 seasons inclusive.
•     The agreement is an extension of its exclusive European rights to 18 tournaments of the World Snooker Tour, in addition to World Ranking Event qualifiers including the World Snooker Championship Qualifiers in Sheffield.
•     The deal includes exclusive TV and digital rights to the ‘Home Nations Series’ in Europe*
•     Eurosport has also secured the rights for the Indian Open, Paul Hunter Classic, 6 Reds World Championship and the Shoot Out (excluding the UK)

Eurosport, World Snooker and IMG have today announced a 10-year extension of the TV and digital rights to show 18 tournaments of the World Snooker Tour on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, its live and on-demand digital service. The agreement strengthens Eurosport’s position as the home of snooker across Europe, allowing fans to follow the sport’s biggest and most exciting moments live.

The events will be shown exclusively on Eurosport in 54 markets across Europe*. In addition to the live action, fans will be able to enjoy insight from leading players and personalities within the game on special programming. There will also be enhanced match coverage on Eurosport Player, where fans will be able to choose which matches to watch from cameras covering multiple tables.

Speaking at a press conference at the World Snooker Championship, Peter Hutton, Chief Executive Officer at Eurosport said: “Snooker has some of sport’s most ardent fans and has been a major part of Eurosport’s programming since it was first broadcast on the channel in 2003. Eurosport has since been a strong partner to help grow the popularity of the sport across Europe, showcasing the best competitions, providing insightful expert commentary and exceptional new programming such as ‘The Ronnie O’Sullivan Show’.

“We see excellent viewing figures for snooker and we are delighted to announce that we will continue to share the best moments from the sport with fans across the continent for the next 10 years.”

World Snooker Chairman, Barry Hearn added: “This long term deal with Eurosport is a very significant moment for our sport. Eurosport has played a crucial role in the rapid growth of snooker across the continent over the past 13 years, making it one of the most popular and highest-rating sports in the region. The players are now travelling to many corners of the continent and seeing a new-found passion among fans who might not have even heard of snooker until they saw it on Eurosport. We’re excited about continuing this growth over the coming decade, staging new events in the UK and around Europe, and working alongside the Eurosport team in building ever stronger foundations.”


Adam Kelly, Head of Sales EMEA & Global Business Development Worldwide, SVP IMG Media, concluded: “We are pleased to have achieved our aim of ensuring both continued growth and increased awareness of the World Snooker Tour, through securing distribution with Eurosport on behalf of World Snooker. This extension will enable the sport to continue to benefit from the expansive coverage they offer across the region, both on their TV channels and digitally."

The long-term, multiplatform agreement includes the exclusive coverage of the inaugural ‘Home Nations Series’ comprised of the Welsh Open, Scottish Open, Irish Open and English Open.

*In the UK, four of the tournaments will be shown, but not exclusively: the World Championship, Masters, UK Championship and Welsh Open. The rights to the Players Championship and the World Grand Prix do not include rights to the UK.

INTERNATIONAL BILLIARD FESTIVAL – KIELCE, POLAND 2016
29.04.- 5.05.2016

PARTICIPANTS – 232 , COUNTRIES – 20 !!!!!
BELARUS – BIAŁORUŚ
BELGIUM – BELGIA
BULGARIA – BUŁGARIA
CROATIA – CHORWACJA
CZECH REPUBLIC – CZECHY
ENGLAND – ANGLIA
FINLAND – FINLANDIA
GEORGIA – GRUZJA
GERMANY – NIEMCY
IRELAND – IRLANDIA
ITALY – WŁOCHY
LATVIA – ŁOTWA
LITHUANIA – LITWA
ROMANIA- RUMUNIA
RUSSIA – ROSJA
SLOVAKIA – SŁOWACJA
SWEDEN – SZWECJA
UKRAINE – UKRAINA
USA – STANY ZJEDNOCZONE AMERYKI
POLAND – POLSKA

Results: www.ebc-billiard.com

Masters Snooker Tickets On Sale

Snooker’s biggest stars will once again be at Alexandra Palace in London in January for the Dafabet Masters.

Tickets are on sale for snooker’s most important invitation tournament and fans are strongly urged to book fast, following record sales last season. The 2017 event will run from January 15-22.

The prestigious tournament brings together the top 16 players in the world rankings to battle for a famous trophy which has been contested every year since 1975.

The BBC-televised event was won last time by crowd favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan, who thrashed Barry Hawkins 10-1 in the final to win the title for the sixth time, equalling the record set by Stephen Hendry.

Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui and Mark Selby have also won the tournament in recent years.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “The Dafabet Masters is a unique and special event because it’s an elite field of the very best players. Every match is a clash of the sport’s titans.

“It’s one table in the arena from the start and that makes for a sensational atmosphere. The tournament has found a home at Alexandra Palace since we moved there in 2011, it is a venue much loved by fans and players alike, and that was proven last season when we saw record crowds and ticket sales.

“Anyone who wants to see the best players on the planet playing on the big stage must book tickets early or risk missing out.”

Tickets start at just £16, call 0871 620 7052 (calls cost 10p per minute) or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Special Half Price Offer

For a limited time only get tickets half price, from just £8, incredible value! The offer is for tickets from Monday, January 16 to Wednesday, January 18. Tickets are subject to availability.

Four More Tour Cards Available At Q School

Following a record level of entries to 2016 Q School, World Snooker has decided to increase the number of tour cards available from eight to 12.

A total of 182 players have entered Q School, which runs from May 11 to 22 at the Meadowside Leisure Centre in Burton.

The players who qualify from Q School will be handed a two-year card to play on the World Snooker Tour in 2016/17 and 2017/18, competing for millions of pounds of prize money against the best players, all around the globe.

And World Snooker has decided that given the high number of entries, an extra four tour cards will be awarded. The four semi-finalists in each of the two Q School events will all earn tour cards, as well as the next best four players on the Order of Merit.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "I was delighted to see record entries for Q School this year with players coming from as far afield as China, India, Israel, Pakistan and the USA. It shows how many players there are on the amateur scene who want to earn a place on the professional tour. The opportunities for players on the pro circuit have never been better than they are now, as our sport grows around the world and the number of events and level of prize money goes up year after year.

"Our decision to increase the number of tour cards available to 12 is a tremendous incentive for all 182 players to practise as hard as they can and be ready for the challenge, because every match will count and there is a huge potential reward."

Entry for fans to watch Q School will be FREE and they are encouraged to come and watch. There is no need for fans to book, they can come along on the day and watch high quality snooker.

The draws and formats are available on www.worldsnooker.com

World Snooker Extends Deal With BBC

The BBC will continue to broadcast three of snooker’s biggest tournaments until the end of the 2018/19 season.

Extending the current agreement by two years, the new deal sees the BBC continue as host TV broadcaster of the three events known collectively as the Triple Crown - World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "Our agreement with the BBC is one of the cornerstones of our sport and we are delighted to extend it for an extra two years. These three major tournaments are much loved by the public, they are part of the fabric of British sport.

“The BBC’s coverage of the World Championship last year alone was watched by over 15 million people, proving how popular our sport is.

“The BBC and their production company IMG do a tremendous job in their coverage of snooker and this new deal is fantastic news for the many millions of people throughout the UK who love watching it. Our Triple Crown tournaments are three of the highpoints of the sporting calendar so fans will be thrilled that they will remain on terrestrial television.”

Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, added: “With another exciting World Championship drawing to a close there is no better time to reinforce our commitment to one of our nation’s most treasured sports.

"This deal keeps the three biggest tournaments in the snooker calendar on the BBC until 2019 and we know there will be millions of snooker fans across the country celebrating the fact that they can continue to watch world class snooker on free-to-air television.”

World Championship Stays In Sheffield Until 2027

World Snooker and Sheffield City Council have agreed a momentous deal to keep the sport’s biggest tournament in the city for the next decade.

The World Championship will remain in Sheffield until at least 2027.

One of the great events in global sport, the World Championship is watched by over 350 million people across the planet in 89 different countries. This year’s tournament conclusion sees Mark Selby up against China’s Ding Junhui, the first Asian player to reach the final.

The event was first staged at the Crucible Theatre in 1977 so next year will mark its 40th anniversary in at the iconic venue.

Sheffield has fought off competition from a host of major international cities looking to take the blue riband event out of its traditional home.

Many of snooker’s great names have lifted the famous trophy at the Crucible, including Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The deal also includes an International Trade partnership which will see the city promoting itself to Investors and future International students at over 17 events on the World Snooker Tour held outside the UK.

Betfred Extend World Championship Sponsorship

World Snooker is delighted to announce that Betfred has extended its title sponsorship of the World Championship for an extra two years.

Snooker’s biggest tournament will continue to be called the Betfred World Championship until at least 2019.

This year’s event finished on Monday with Mark Selby beating Ding Junhui 18-14 in the final to round off a thrilling 17 days at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. A global audience of over 300 million watched the tournament on television, while tickets for the famous Crucible venue were sold out weeks in advance.

Betfred sponsored the World Championship from 2009 to 2012 and then signed a new three-year deal in 2015 which was due to run until 2017, but this has now been extended by two more years.

Fred Done, Boss of Betfred, said: “After a terrific tournament this year I am delighted to be extending our relationship with the World Snooker Championship for a further two years. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the Champion Mark Selby and runner-up Ding Junhui for a fantastic final. Our association with this blue riband event is now until at least 2019. I am already looking forward to next year’s Championship when we will be celebrating 40 years at the Crucible.”

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn added: “We are thrilled to have the support from Betfred until at least 2019, they are a fantastic sponsor and a great team to work with.

“This year’s Championship generated incredible viewing figures across the globe and set new records at the box office. And the event is already close to selling out for next year.

“This year we saw so many dramatic matches, exciting moments and a remarkable standard of play, with the record of 86 century breaks equalled. Our sport continues to grow and the Betfred World Championship is the flagship event.”

The Betfred World Championship is supported by Sheffield City Council. For ticket details for the 2017 event, which will run from April 15 to May 1, visit www.cruciblesnooker.com

World Rankings – The Biggest Movers

Kyren Wilson’s status as one of snooker’s most promising young talents was underlined by a rise of 40 places on the world ranking list during the 2015/16 season.

Analysis of movement up the list over the past year shows that Kettering’s 24-year-old Wilson made the most significant jump, climbing from 56th to 16th.

The player nicknamed the Warrior won his first ranking title at the Shanghai Masters, beating Judd Trump 10-9 in a dramatic final. He also reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship, and despite a 13-8 defeat against Mark Selby at the Crucible, Wilson vowed: “I will win this event in the future without a doubt. I completely believe in myself.”

Martin Gould also made an impressive leap from 26th to 15th, having won his first ranking title at the German Masters.

Within the top 16, the biggest climber was John Higgins, who rose from 13th to 6th. The Scot won two world ranking titles, at the Australian Goldfields Open and International Championship, as he regained a place in the top eight.

Mark Allen started the season in 12th spot and finished it 7th, thanks largely to victory at the Players Championship in March, his first ranking event triumph on British soil.

Judd Trump, winner of the China Open, climbed from 7th to 3rd, behind Stuart Bingham and World Champion Mark Selby, who finished the season at number one for the fifth consecutive year.

China’s Liang Wenbo started the 2015/16 campaign in 22nd place and moved into the top 16 after reaching the final of the UK Championship, though he finished in 17th spot. David Gilbert’s career-best run to the International Championship final helped him ascend 13 places to 22nd.

Belgium’s 21-year-old Luca Brecel is already well on his way to becoming the most successful ever player from continental Europe. He reached his first ranking final in February at the German Masters and although he lost to Martin Gould, he climbed 14 places during the season to 30th.

Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh may remember the 2015/16 season for twice missing the final black when set for a 147, but he also jumped 16 places to 33rd, thanks partly to a run to the semi-finals of the International Championship.

Other significant climbers were:

Jack Lisowski – reached the last 32 of four ranking events. Climbed from 53rd to 39th
Tom Ford – runner-up at the Riga Open. Climbed from 59th to 43rd.
Sam Baird – reached the last 16 of the World Championship. Climbed from 72nd to 46th
Tian Pengfei – runner-up at the Ruhr Open. Climbed from 82nd to 48th
Rory Mcleod – won the Ruhr Open. Climbed from 62nd to 49th
Zhou Yuelong – reached the last 16 of two events. Climbed from 75th to 54th
David Grace – reached the semi-finals of the UK Championship. Climbed from 111th to 60th
Oliver Lines – reached the last 16 of two events. Climbed from 78th to 61st
Ian Burns – Paul Hunter Classic quarter-finalist. Climbed from 89th to 62nd

Snooker Stars Set For Preston

Snooker’s leading players will be back at the iconic Guild Hall in Preston later this month for the qualifying rounds of major professional tournaments.

The Guild Hall is one of the sport’s most famous venues having staged the UK Championship from 1978 to 1997 and more recently the Players Championship and World Seniors Championship.

And the Lancashire venue will now be hosting the qualifying rounds of three world ranking events: the Indian Open (May 28-30) the World Open (May 31 to June 2) and the Kaspersky Riga Masters (June 3-4).

Each of these events will be open to the 128 players on the World Snooker Tour and many of the leading stars are expected to enter, with all players trying to qualify for the final stages of the three ranking events.

The full draws and formats will be published next week at www.worldsnooker.com

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW for fans who want to take this chance to see many of the best cue kings on the planet. Tickets cost just £5 for the morning plus afternoon session, and £5 for the evening session.

BOOK FAST by calling 01772 804444 or visiting www.prestonguildhall.co.uk

A spokesman for World Snooker said: “We are delighted to return to the Guild Hall as it is a fantastic venue steeped in snooker history, and one much loved by players and fans.

“The qualifying rounds for these three world ranking events come at the beginning of the 2016/17 season and it’s going to be fascinating to see who gets off to a fast start.

“This is an incredible opportunity for fans in Preston and the surrounding area to see the very best players in the world competing in professional tournaments. The atmosphere of live snooker is unique in sport and this is a chance not to be missed.”