Site News
Topic: *Industry News* 2015 - 2024

CSI Events Calendar

The updated CSI Events Calendar is below.

ADDITIONS THIS MONTH:
4th Annual Chinook Winds Open 10-Ball Championships
19th Annual Western BCA Regional 9-Ball Championships
The Texas Challenge
2016 Colorado Regional Championships
2016 Florida Regional Championships
2016 CSI Arizona State 8-Ball Championships
2016 BCAPL Wisconsin State Championships

** 10/07 – 09/2016
4th Annual Chinook Winds Open 10-Ball Championships
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
1777 NW 44th Street
Lincoln City, Oregon 97367
Contact: Mike Jenson (360) 703-4081
tr@westernbca.org
www.westernbca.org

** 10/10 – 16/2016
19th Annual Western BCA Regional 9-Ball Championships
(Must be BCAPL and WBCA member to play)
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
1777 NW 44th Street
Lincoln City, Oregon 97367
tr@westernbca.org
www.westernbca.org

** 10/31 – 11/06/2016
The Texas Challenge
Mayborn Convention Center
3303 North 3rd Street
Temple, TX
www.badboysbp.com

** 11/04 – 06/2016
2016 Colorado Regional Championships
Greenfields Pool & Sports Bar
3355 South Yarrow Street
Lakewood, CO 80227
Online Registration: www.playcsipool.com/2016-co-regional (coming soon)
(702) 719-7665

** 11/18 – 20/2016
2016 Florida Regional Championships
Trick Shots Metro West
6620 Old Winter Garden Road
Orlando, FL 32835
Online Registration: www.playcsipool.com/2016-fl-regional (coming soon)
(702) 719-7665

**01/04 – 08/2017
2017 CSI Arizona State 8-Ball Championships
Casino Del Sol Resort
5655 West Valencia Road
Tucson, AZ 85757
Contact: CueSports International
Online Registration: www.playcsipool.com/2017-az-state-championships
(702) 719-7665

**05/25 – 29/2017
2017 BCAPL Wisconsin State Championships
Chula Vista Resort
2501 River Road
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Contact: CueSports International
Online Registration: www.playcsipool.com/2017-wi-state-championships
(702) 719-7665

Selby First In Fürth

Mark Selby won his first title of the season by beating Tom Ford 4-2 in the final of the Paul Hunter Classic in Germany.

Selby got the better of an all-Leicester final to cement his position as world number one and collect his first trophy since winning the World Championship in May.

It’s an eighth career ranking title for 33-year-old Selby, who earned the top prize of 25,000 Euros at the tournament in Fürth.

Selby failed to get beyond the last 32 of his first two events of the season but went all the way this time by winning seven consecutive matches.

In the final, he took the opening frame with a break of 85 then world number 40 Ford, who was aiming for his first ranking title, won the second. Frame three came down to the colours and Selby nicked it by potting pink and black.

Ford’s run of 67 made it 2-2, but Selby regained the lead with a break of 72 before clinching victory in frame six with a run of 58.

“It’s always great to win a tournament and I can take a lot of confidence from it,” said Selby, who also won the Paul Hunter Classic in 2011 and 2012. “It wasn’t a good final, Tom missed a few balls. But it’s always a great tournament here in Germany with fantastic crowds.”

Ford added: “I’m disappointed by the way I played in the final because I had been scoring heavily all week but it wasn’t there today.”

In the semi-finals, Ford beat Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-2 while Selby saw off Dominic Dale by the same scoreline.

Other highlights of the tournament included Thailand’s Un-Nooh making a 147 on Saturday, the first maximum of his career and worth a £40,000 bonus, as well as veteran Jimmy White reaching the quarter-finals of a ranking event for the first time in 12 years before his run was ended by Dale.

Results (Last 16 onwards)

Last 16
Mark Davis 4-3 Liam Highfield
Mark Selby 4-2 Sam Baird
Jimmy White 4-2 Michael White
Dominic Dale 4-1 Yan Bingtao
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-3 Mark Allen
David Grace 4-0 Robbie Williams
Jamie Jones 4-0 Gerard Greene
Tom Ford 4-1 Zack Richardson

Quarter-finals
Selby 4-1 Davis
Dale 4-2 White
Un-Nooh 4-3 Grace
Ford 4-1 Jones

Semi-finals
Selby 4-2 Dale
Ford 4-2 Un-Nooh

Final
Selby 4-2 Ford

Wagner takes Women’s 8-Ball, 9-Ball and All-Around Titles at USBTC

CueSports International, Henderson, NV (Aug. 27, 2016) -- Rebecca Wagner of Las Vegas had the hometown advantage and made the most of it, earning the Women’s 8-Ball, Women’s 9-Ball and the All-Around Titles at the 2016 US Bar Table Championships at the Westgate Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Not bad for a woman who has only played one tournament since having her son, Lincoln, in October.

“The only tourney I played was an AWB stop and I won that,” she said.

In fact, Wagner was so unsure about playing the USBTC that she waited until the very last minute to enter. She was at work and asked a co-worker to cover for her so she could go to the bathroom and enter the tournament 18 minutes before entries closed.

“The (USBTC) is in my backyard, so I felt stupid not playing,” she said, even though she was not prepared and hadn’t been practicing.

In 2015, Wagner won the Chinook Winds Open 10-Ball tourney, beating world champion Allison Fisher twice in the finals to win. She also posted three first place wins in Arizona Women’s Billiard Tour stops throughout the year. In 2013, Wagner was the USBTC 9-Ball Champion and took second place in the 8-Ball Division.

Wagner, who is sponsored by Tony Hargain, owner of Hustlin USA Clothing Co., used her experience on the table to send opponent after opponent to the loser’s bracket. She beat Heather Cortez in the first round, 4-1, and followed that win up with wins over Bo Bowman, 4-1; Kimberly Whitman, 4-2; Tina Larsen, 4-1; and finally beating Jessica Frideres in the hot seat match, 4-1.

Frideres beat Juliana Goodman, 4-0; Sierra Reams, 4-0; and Melinda Huang, 4-0; in the winner’s bracket before losing to Wagner, 1-4. In the loser’s bracket, Frideres beat Tina Larsen, 4-1, to earn her way back to the final’s arena.

In the true double-elimination tournament format, Frideres had to beat Wagner twice and she knew it, jumping out to capture the first set quickly and decisively, 0-4. But in the second set, Wagner played smart and careful, keeping Frideres from the table and an opening shot as often as possible. The strategy worked and Wagner finished Frideres off in the second set by a score of 4-2.

Wagner said her only regret in the tournament was not playing better in the 10-Ball Division, where she placed second to Frideres.

“I did not capitalize on the opportunities given to me in the 10-Ball,” she said.

The $20,000-added 23rd Annual US Bar Table Championship concludes today with the finals of the Men’s 8-Ball Division. Sponsors include: OB Cues, the Official Cue; Kamui, the Official Tip; Diamond Billiard Products, Cyclop Balls, Simonis Cloth, BadBoys Billiard Productions, FargoRate, Magic Ball Rack and Matchroom Sport.

The 2016 US Bar Table Championships are produced by CueSports International, the parent company of the BCAPL and USAPL. CSI also produces independent events, such as the US Open 10-Ball Championship, the US Open 8-Ball Championship and much more. For more information, visit www.playcsipool.com or call 702-719-POOL.

CueSports International (CSI) ◊ 2041 Pabco Rd., Henderson, NV 89011 ◊ 702-719-7665 ◊ 866-USA-POOL

Ladbrokes Players Championship Tickets On Sale

Snooker’s elite stars will return to Venue Cymru in Llandudno in March for the Ladbrokes Players Championship.

The North Wales venue has hosted the World Grand Prix for each of the last two seasons and will now stage the Ladbrokes Players Championship for the first time.

The world ranking tournament runs from March 6th to 12th and will feature 16 of the best players on the planet.

Tickets are ON SALE NOW and Llandudno attracted excellent crowds for the snooker events in 2015 and 2016 so fans are strongly urged to book fast to make sure of their seats. They start at just £15 representing tremendous value to see live sport at the highest level.

For details call 01492 872000 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

The tournament will feature 16 players from a unique ranking list which runs from the start of the current season until the Gibraltar Open, which finishes on March 5th. The top 16 on that list will be eligible to compete for the massive £125,000 top prize in Llandudno.

Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby Stuart Bingham and John Higgins are currently among the star names inside that top 16. Mark Allen won the Ladbrokes Players Championship last season by beating Ricky Walden in the final.

The event will receive extensive free-to-air television coverage from ITV4.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Ladbrokes Players Championship to Venue Cymru in Llandudno for the first time. Having held the World Grand Prix there we are fully aware of the fantastic atmosphere that the fans generate inside the arena and what a superb location it is. Based on our previous sales we strongly urge supporters to get their tickets booked now.

“Over the next six months, players will be battling for every pound to try to gain one of those 16 spots in Llandudno. It promises to be an extremely strong field and it will be a week of the highest quality and most exciting action on the green baize.”

OPENING OFFER! For a limited period get £5 OFF all standard tickets from Monday 6th March – Thursday 9th March

World 14.1 TV Schedule Day 1

TV SCHEDULE Day 1! Watch on www.WorldStraightPool.com
Day 1: Race to 100 points

11:00 AM Danny Harriman vs Tom Gleich - TV table
11:00 AM Dennis Orcullo vs Bob Jewett - Secondary TV table
12:30 PM John Schmidt vs Holden Chin - Main TV.
12:30 PM Thorsten Hohmann vs Sean Morgan - Secondary TV table
2:00 PM Archer vs Scharbach - Main TV
2:00 PM Eckert vs Snodgrass- Secondary TV table
4:00 PM Strickland vs Levandaski- Main TV
4:00 PM S Morgan vs B Hunter- Secondary TV table
5:30 PM Appleton J Smith- Main TV
5:30 PM M Immonen vs G Ok - Secondary TV table
7:00 PM Shaw vs Barouty Main TV
7:00 PM D Harriman vs J. Rodriguez- Secondary TV table
8:30 PM T Hohmann vs B Hunter- Main TV
8:30 PM Strickland vs Orcullo - Secondary TV table

See Rocket Ronnie And Co At Preston Guild Hall

Top snooker stars including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson will be playing in the qualifying rounds of two world ranking events at the Guild Hall in Preston later this month.

The European Masters qualifiers run from September 26 to 28 with all 128 players aiming to get through to the final stages in Romania.

Then the International Championship qualifiers take place from September 29 to October 1, with players needing to win one match to make it to the final stages in China.

Five time World Champion O’Sullivan will be competing in professional tournaments in the UK for the first time since the World Championship last April.

In the European Masters he faces Chinese cueman Lyu Chenwei on Tuesday September 27 at 7pm. Then in the International Championship he takes on Blackpool's James Cahill on Thursday September 29 at 7.30pm. For the full draw and format see www.worldsnooker.com

The Guild Hall is one of snooker’s most iconic venues having hosted many tournaments including the UK Championship. And the multi-table set up gives fans the chance to watch several big matches during the same session.

Tickets cost just £5 per day – incredible value to see the best cue kings on the planet. BOOK NOW by calling 01772 80 44 44 or visit www.prestonguildhall.com/tickets

CSI Events Calendar

The updated CSI Events Calendar is below.

10/07 – 09/2016
4th Annual Chinook Winds Open 10-Ball Championships
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
1777 NW 44th Street
Lincoln City, Oregon 97367
Contact: Mike Jensen (360) 703-4081
tr@westernbca.org
www.westernbca.org

10/10 – 16/2016
19th Annual Western BCA Regional 9-Ball Championships
(Must be BCAPL and WBCA member to play)
Chinook Winds Casino Resort
1777 NW 44th Street
Lincoln City, Oregon 97367
tr@westernbca.org
www.westernbca.org

10/31 – 11/06/2016
The Texas Challenge
Mayborn Convention Center
3303 North 3rd Street
Temple, TX
www.badboysbp.com

11/04 – 06/2016
2016 Colorado Regional Championships
Greenfields Pool & Sports Bar
3355 South Yarrow Street
Lakewood, CO 80227
Online Registration: www.playcsipool.com/2016-co-regional (coming soon)
(702) 719-7665

11/11 – 13/2016
2016 Florida Regional Championships
Trick Shots Metro West
6620 Old Winter Garden Road
Orlando, FL 32835
Online Registration: www.playcsipool.com/2016-fl-regional (coming soon)
(702) 719-7665

01/04 – 08/2017
2017 CSI Arizona State 8-Ball Championships
Casino Del Sol Resort
5655 West Valencia Road
Tucson, AZ 85757
Contact: CueSports International
Online Registration: www.playcsipool.com/2017-az-state-championships
(702) 719-7665

05/25 – 29/2017
2017 BCAPL Wisconsin State Championships
Chula Vista Resort
2501 River Road
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
Contact: CueSports International
Online Registration: www.playcsipool.com/2017-wi-state-championships
(702) 719-7665

Trump Becomes Ambassador For Jessie May

Snooker star Judd Trump has become an ambassador for Bristol-based charity Jessie May Children’s Hospice At Home.

Trump, currently ranked fourth in the world, is from Bristol and gratefully accepted an invitation to support a local charity.

Jessie May provides a hospice at home service for terminally ill children, offering care to families in Bristol, Bath, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

The charity is currently caring for over 100 terminally children throughout the area and a further 40 bereaved families. Jessie May Nurses provide respite care, end of life care, emotional support and bereavement support directly into the family home, completely free of charge.

Jessie May is also World Snooker’s official charity partner for the 2016/17 season and there will be various initiatives at snooker events throughout the season to raise much-needed funds.

Trump, age 27 from Keynsham, has won a host of major titles since turning pro 11 years ago, including the 2011 UK Championship and last season’s China Open.

He said: “With Jessie May’s links to snooker this season, and my roots in Bristol, I had no hesitation in accepting the chance to become an ambassador for the charity. I know they do so much amazing work to care for children and support families in the area. Hopefully snooker fans will get behind the fund-raising activities we have at tournaments this season and raise plenty of money.”

For more about Jessie May visit www.jessiemay.org.uk

New Event In China With Record Prize Money

Snooker's new Evergrande China Championship will have a top prize of £200,000, the biggest ever for a tournament outside the UK.

The event will run from November 1st to 5th and it will also be the first ever professional tournament in the city of Guangzhou in the Guangdong Province of South East China.

This year it will be a 16-man non-ranking invitation tournament, with the top ten in the world rankings invited, along with the next four-players from the separate one-year ranking list, and the field to be made up by two players nominated by the China Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA).
The total prize money will be £650,000, with first round losers to receive £15,000, and the winner to bank £200,000.

The winner will also earn a place in the Champion of Champions which runs the following week in Coventry.

For the following three years, it will become a world ranking event, contested by 128 players. Total prize money for the 2017 edition will be £700,000 with the winner's cheque at £150,000.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: "We are thrilled to be working with the promoter Evergrande and the CBSA on this brand new event. Our global calendar gets busier every season and this is a major addition.
"For the invited players this time it's an incredible opportunity to play a big tournament in a new city with the chance to earn a huge top prize - the biggest we've ever had in Asia. And from next year it's a full ranking event open to all tour players.

"Snooker in China goes from strength to strength, we now have five major tournaments there this season and we're thrilled to be going to Guangzhou for the first time. Alongside our partners in China we're creating a very bright future for our sport."

Full details on the list of players and television coverage will be announced shortly.

Stellar Field For New English Open

Snooker’s new English Open takes place in Manchester next month, featuring 128 players including ALL of the sport’s top 16 stars.

The world ranking tournament runs from October 10 to 16 at Event City and it’s the first of the new Home Nations series.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will be among the star names competing for the title and he will be playing his opening match on Tuesday October 11th. Tickets for that day are still available but selling fast.

And alongside the Rocket, the very best green baize kings on the planet have also entered the tournament, including World Champion Mark Selby, potting ace Judd Trump, legend John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy and crowd favourite Jimmy White.

The English Open will be followed by events in Belfast, Glasgow and Cardiff in the Home Nations series, all televised by Eurosport. Any player winning all four events would bank a massive £1 million bonus.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: “We’re delighted that all of the top players have committed to the English Open as it’s a new event and we were keen to see the strongest field possible. It’s going to be a week of the highest quality snooker in Manchester.

“There will be eight tables in the venue for the early rounds so it’s an incredible chance for fans to see a multitude of the top stars for the price of a single ticket. Seats are going fast though so supporters must get them booked or risk missing out.”

All-day tickets start at just £20 and there’s also a special student offer with tickets priced at just £7.50. For details see www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Home Nations events
English Open – Event City, Manchester, October 10-16
Northern Ireland Open – Titanic Exhibition Centre Belfast, November 14-20
Scottish Open – Emirates Arena, December 12-18
Welsh Open – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, February 13-19

English Open Snooker Trophy Named After Steve Davis

The winner of snooker’s new English Open next month will receive the Steve Davis Trophy, in tribute to one of the sport’s all-time greats who retired this year.

Six-time World Champion Davis was given a standing ovation in April when he announced his farewell to the professional game at the scene of his greatest victories, the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The English Open has been introduced as part of the brand new Home Nations Series and will see the best in the world battling it out at Event City in Manchester from 10-16 October 2016.

Along with the £70,000 first prize, the players will be fighting it out to be the first ever name on the Steve Davis Trophy.

Davis, winner of 28 ranking titles, said: “It will be a proud moment when I see the trophy being handed out for the first time and it’s very flattering to have been given this honour. It’s fantastic to have a new tournament in England and having the trophy in my name will make it special for me.”

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn added: “Steve has given so much to snooker over the years. He is a great ambassador for the sport and a fantastic champion.”

The English Open, televised by Eurosport, will feature 128 players including top stars like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Selby. Tickets are still available but are selling fast – for details see www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Any player winning all four Home Nations events will earn a massive £1 million bonus.

Home Nations events
English Open – Event City, Manchester, October 10-16
Northern Ireland Open – Titanic Exhibition Centre Belfast, November 14-20
Scottish Open – Emirates Arena, December 12-18
Welsh Open – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, February 13-19

Northern Ireland Open Trophy To Be Named After Alex Higgins

The trophy for the new Northern Ireland Open snooker event will be named after Alex Higgins in tribute to one of the country’s greatest ever sportsmen.

Two-time World Champion Higgins was revered in his native Northern Ireland, and thousands lined the streets of Belfast for his funeral, after he passed away in 2010.

The new Northern Ireland Open is part of the new Home Nations series of events and will take place from November 14 to 20 at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast. Along with the £70,000 first prize, the players will be fighting it out to be the first ever name on the Alex Higgins Trophy.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “Alex was an extraordinary talent and we are delighted to remember him in this way. It is a fitting tribute to one of snooker’s all-time greats.”

Yesterday World Snooker announced that the English Open trophy would be named after Steve Davis.

The Northern Ireland Open, televised by Eurosport, will feature 128 players including top stars like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Selby. Tickets are still available but are selling fast – for details visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Any player winning all four Home Nations events will earn a massive £1 million bonus.

Home Nations events
English Open – Event City, Manchester, October 10-16
Northern Ireland Open – Titanic Exhibition Centre Belfast, November 14-20
Scottish Open – Emirates Arena, December 12-18
Welsh Open – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, February 13-19

Eurotour LIVE: Dynamic Dutch Open

Don't miss the next stop on the Eurotour calendar. 11 tables will be Live streamed this week starting on Thursday, so join us to see who will win the Dynamic Dutch Open!

Welsh Open Trophy Honour For Reardon

The trophy for this season’s Welsh Open snooker tournament has been named after six-time World Champion Ray Reardon.

This follows the announcements earlier this week that the English Open and Northern Ireland Open trophies have been named after Steve Davis and Alex Higgins respectively.

The Welsh Open is a firm fixture on the World Snooker Tour, ever present as a ranking event since 1992. This season it is joined by the new English, Northern Ireland and Scottish Open to create the Home Nations series.

The 2017 running of the event will see 128 players battle it out at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff from 13th-19th February. Ronnie O’Sullivan won the title last season.

Reardon, now age 83, dominated snooker for much of the 1970s, winning his sixth world title at the Crucible in 1978. He said: “It’s quite something to have the Welsh Open trophy named after me. I’m ecstatic about it. It’s a real honour.”

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn added: “Ray was a pioneer for snooker and played a key role in its development as a major television sport. He was a tremendous player and remains a fine ambassador.”

The Welsh Open will be televised by BBC Wales and Eurosport. Tickets are still available but are selling fast – for details visit www.worlsnooker.com/tickets

Any player winning all four Home Nations events will earn a massive £1 million bonus.

Home Nations events
English Open – Event City, Manchester, October 10-16
Northern Ireland Open – Titanic Exhibition Centre Belfast, November 14-20
Scottish Open – Emirates Arena, December 12-18
Welsh Open – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, February 13-19

Scottish Open Trophy Named After Stephen Hendry

The trophy for snooker’s new Scottish Open has been named after Stephen Hendry, the sport’s most successful ever player.

Hendry dominated snooker throughout the 1990s, winning the World Championship a record seven times, and landed 36 ranking titles before retiring in 2012.

The Scottish Open will run from December 12 to 18 at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow and it will be the first world ranking event in Scotland since 2010.

It is part of the new Home Nations series of tournaments. It will feature 128 players all battling for the Stephen Hendry Trophy.

This follows announcements earlier this week that the trophies for the English Open, Northern Ireland Open and Welsh Open have been named after Steve Davis, Alex Higgins and Ray Reardon respectively.

Hendry, age 47, said: “It’s a real honour to have the trophy for this new tournament named after me. It has been a long time since we’ve had a ranking event in Scotland and it’s something the fans there deserve. I’m looking forward to seeing who can get their name on the trophy in Glasgow.”

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn added: “Stephen was a true champion. He is one of Scotland’s greatest ever sportsmen and has earned the right to have this new national snooker trophy in his name.”

The Scottish Open will be televised by Eurosport. Tickets are still available but are selling fast – for details visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Any player winning all four Home Nations events will earn a massive £1 million bonus.

Home Nations events
English Open – Event City, Manchester, October 10-16
Northern Ireland Open – Titanic Exhibition Centre Belfast, November 14-20
Scottish Open – Emirates Arena, December 12-18
Welsh Open – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, February 13-19

Watford To Host Snooker Shoot Out

Snooker’s Coral Shoot Out will be staged at the Watford Colosseum for the first time in 2017.

The Hertfordshire venue will host a professional snooker tournament for the first time when 128 of the best players on the planet converge for the world ranking event.

The Coral Shoot Out, one of snooker’s most exciting tournaments, will run from February 23 to 26.

Tickets are ON SALE NOW and fans are urged to book fast because the tournament has sold out rapidly in recent years. Tickets start at just £10, or watch every session of the tournament with our Season Ticket for just £99! For details see www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Since it was first staged in 2011, the Shoot Out has gained vast popularity among fans and TV audiences. It features a one-frame knock out format with all matches lasting a maximum of ten minutes, using a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes and ten seconds for the last five.

Rapid and dramatic action is guaranteed with many matches going down to the last few seconds. Top stars like Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Jimmy White and Judd Trump have competed in the event in previous years. Last season, Finland’s Robin Hull beat Luca Brecel in the final.

And this season the tournament will gain extra significance as it becomes a world ranking event for the first time, so every pound earned will count towards a player’s ranking tally. That means the event is extended from 64 players to 128 and will last four days instead of three. It will be televised by ITV4.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: “In recent years the Shoot Out has become one of the most keenly anticipated tournament on the calendar. Every match provides thrills and spills and the crowds are encouraged to get involved and support their heroes. This is a phenomenal chance to see many of the best players and enjoy the thrill of fast and furious snooker.

“We’re delighted to bring the event to Watford for the first time to the excellent Colosseum venue and to give supporters in the area the chance to see live snooker.”

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World Qualifiers Tickets On Sale

Tickets for the qualifying rounds of snooker’s 2017 Betfred World Championship, to be staged at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield, are now on sale.

The qualifying rounds for the sport’s biggest tournament can barely be matched for pressure and drama as all players outside the top 16 battle for a coveted place at the famous Crucible Theatre.

The qualifiers will run from April 5 to 12, with all players needing to win three matches to earn a spot at the Crucible.

Last season, China’s Ding Junhui came through the qualifying rounds and went on to reach the final before losing to Mark Selby.

Currently outside the world’s top 16 are the likes of Anthony McGill, Stephen Maguire, Liang Wenbo, Alan McManus, former World Champions Graeme Dott, Peter Ebdon and Ken Doherty, and crowd favourite Jimmy White, so it could be a star-studded field at Ponds Forge.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: “Tickets for the main event at the Crucible are nearly sold out – there are just a few left for the first and second rounds.

“But if you want to see many of the best players on the planet, with tickets at incredible value for money, then the qualifying event at Ponds Forge is a fantastic alternative.

“The pressure is intense as seasons are made and broken. Everyone wants to get to the Crucible, and when it comes down to the fine margins in the last qualifying round then the drama is extraordinary.

“Last time Ding proved that it’s possible to come from the first qualifying round all the way to the final, so can anyone do the same next year?”

Fans are urged to book tickets for the qualifiers quickly. They cost just £10 per day, or with this SPECIAL OFFER fans can buy tickets for any three days for just £20. For details see www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Please note that tickets are not available to purchase from the venue until April 3

Coral To Sponsor Snooker’s English Open

Snooker’s new Home Nations series starts next week with the Coral English Open.

Coral has signed up as title sponsor of the world ranking event which will run from October 10 to 16 at Event City in Manchester.

Top stars including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Shaun Murphy will be among the 128 players contesting the title and £70,000 top prize at the tournament which will be televised on Eurosport and Quest.

The Home Nations series will also include events in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and any player winning all four will receive a massive £1 million bonus.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to be working with Coral on the brand new English Open. They have already joined us as title sponsor of the Shoot Out so we’re delighted with the support they are showing for snooker. This event will attract a huge television audience on Eurosport and Quest, bringing tremendous exposure for the Coral brand.

“The Coral English Open will be an exciting moment for our sport as the new Home Nations series gets underway, bringing top class snooker to a string of venues across the UK. The potential £1 million bonus is a massive incentive for the players and whoever wins the first tournament will be chasing that dream.”

Nicola McGeady, Coral PR Manager, added: “We are absolutely thrilled to be title sponsors of the inaugural English Open, adding to our portfolio of World Snooker sponsorships. We have already sponsored the UK Championship in the past, we currently sponsor the exciting Shoot Out and this latest tournament is a perfect fit to our expanding portfolio, showing our continued commitment to the sport."

Tickets for the Coral English Open are on sale now and start at just £10 - incredible value for the chance to see the world’s top stars. For details see www.worldsnooker.com/tickets

Williams Joins China Championship Line-up

Mark Williams will join the world’s elite players next month, as they travel to Guangzhou for the inaugural Evergrande China Championship.

The tournament runs from November 1st to 5th and will have a top prize of £200,000, the biggest ever for a tournament outside of the UK.

Williams, who is a winner of 18 ranking events and two-time World Champion, has replaced Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has withdrawn from the 16-man event. The Welshman was next in line to qualify through his official world ranking and will directly replace O’Sullivan in the draw.

The star-studded field also includes the likes of Mark Selby, Judd Trump and newly crowned Shanghai Masters Champion Ding Junhui.

This year it will be a 16-man non-ranking invitation tournament, with the top ten players in the world rankings invited, along with the next four players from the separate one-year list. The line-up is completed by the two Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association nominees: Marco Fu and Liang Wenbo.

The total prize money will be £650,000, with first round losers to receive £15,000 and the winner to bank £200,000.

It will also be the final opportunity for players to earn a place in the Champion of Champions, which runs the following week in Coventry.

In the following three years prize money is set to increase even further and the tournament will become a full world ranking event, contested by 128 players.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “Mark Williams was next in line from the world rankings and deserves the opportunity to compete in this brilliant tournament. The event has gained a fitting replacement for O’Sullivan. Mark is one of the greatest players to have graced the baize and I’m sure he will put on a fantastic display.

“This is going to be an unmissable tournament and with the biggest prize ever we’ve ever had on offer in Asia it is sure to create great drama. And from next year it will be a full ranking event open to all tour players.”

The completed list of first round matches is as follows:

Mark Selby vs Anthony McGill
Mark Allen vs Ricky Walden
John Higgins vs Mark Williams
Judd Trump vs Allister Carter
Shaun Murphy vs Joe Perry
Ding Junhui vs Marco Fu
Neil Robertson vs Michael Holt
Stuart Bingham vs Liang Wenbo