7 New Tournaments
Starts late July 2009
Open to all 96 Pro Circuit Players
Includes 3 Super Sixes events
www.worldsnooker.com
30 June 2009
New Pro Challenge Series!
Seven new tournaments will be staged in the coming season as part of World Snooker's innovative Pro Challenge Series.
The series, which starts in late July, will be open to all 96 players on the professional circuit, giving extra opportunities to play competitive matches and compete for prize money.
The series will supplement the Tour of world ranking and invitation tournaments run by World Snooker.
Four of the seven events in the Pro Challenge Series will use the standard 15-red format, while the other three will use the Super Sixes format, which was first trialled at the recent Betfred.com World Snooker Championship.
"Read More..." for the full draw.
Former Asian Open champion Dave Harold and world No 24 Michael Holt are both player representatives on World Snooker's Players' Forum and were involved in initial discussions on the new series.
"It's a great idea because it keeps players bubbling under and gives them vital match practice," said Harold. "The events will be played at decent venues with decent prize money so that's an incentive for all players to take part. Using the six-red format for some of the events will be interesting because it's quick-fire snooker, although it's still the best players who come through."
Holt added: "Any chance to play more snooker is a good thing. It's what all of us professionals want, to play competitive matches with the chance to earn prize money. It will help keep us sharp in between ranking events."
Certain tournaments will also give fans the chance to watch their heroes in action for reduced ticket prices.
Further details for the first tournament, at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, will be released shortly on www.worldsnooker.com
WORLD SNOOKER |
PRO CHALLENGE SERIES DATES |
2009 |
Pro Challenge 1 |
Pro Challenge 2 - Super Sixes |
Pro Challenge 3 |
2010 |
Pro Challenge 4 |
Pro Challenge 5 |
Pro Challenge 5 |
Pro Challenge 6 - Super Sixes |
Pro Challenge 7 - Super Sixes |