30 May 2007
www.worldsnooker.com
World Snooker has announced the calendar for the 2007/08 professional Tour, which includes a new ranking event and increased prize money.
The 888.com World Snooker Championship will see £250,000 awarded to the winner as the prize fund for the tournament tops £1million.
This is part of an overall increase in prize funds of almost £250,000 that will also see a rise for the winners, runners-up and semi-finalists of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix, the Maplin UK Championship and the SAGA Insurance Masters.
The season opens with the Shanghai Masters in August and for the first time ever there will be two ranking events in China in the same season, reflecting the tremendous growth of the sport in that area.
The event should feature the world’s top 16 players, plus 16 qualifiers and eight Chinese wildcards. They will compete at the 8,000-seater Shanghai Grand Stage from August 6 to 12.
The calendar also includes the four major events televised by BBC Sport - the Royal London Watches Grand Prix, Maplin UK Championship, SAGA Insurance Masters and 888.com World Snooker Championship - as well as the Pot Black Cup, also televised by the BBC, the Northern Ireland Trophy, Welsh Open and Beijing China Open.
World Snooker Chairman Sir Rodney Walker said: "We have put in place sponsorship and broadcast deals that guarantee the continued growth of our sport but it is only the first step in the development of the Tour.
"This is yet more good news for snooker fans and players and demonstrates the growing popularity of the sport in different parts of the world."
888.com’s UK Sports Marketing Manager Rob Mitchell said: "I am delighted at the increase in prize money for the sport’s premier tournament. With the total prize money on offer at the 888.com World Snooker Championship now exceeding £1million this underlines the stature of the event."
World Snooker Tour 2007/08:
August
Shanghai Masters
Grand Stage, Shanghai
August 6-12, 2007
September
Premier League
Dolphin LC, Haywards Heath
September 6, 2007
Premier League
Malvern Theatre, Worcs
September 13, 2007
Premier League
Dorking Halls, Dorking
September 20, 2007
Premier League
Plymouth Pavilions
September 27, 2007
October
Premier League
Assembly Rooms, Derby
October 4, 2007
Pot Black Invitational
Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield
October 6, 2007
Premier League
Grimsby Auditorium
October 11, 2007
Royal London Watches Grand Prix
Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
October 13-21, 2007
November
Premier League
Barnsley Metrodome
November 1, 2007
Northern Ireland Trophy
Waterfront Hall, Belfast
November 4-11, 2007
Premier League
Glades Arena, Kidderminster
November 15, 2007
Premier League
Rothes Hall, Glenrothes
November 22, 2007
December
Premier League
AECC, Aberdeen
December 1, 2007
Premier League
AECC, Aberdeen
December 2, 2007
Maplin UK Championship
Telford International Centre, Telford
December 8-16, 2007
January
The SAGA Insurance Masters
Wembley Arena
January 13-20, 2008
February
Malta Cup
Hilton Conference Centre
4.-10.2.2008
Welsh Open
Newport Centre
February 11-17, 2008
March
Beijing China Open
Beijing Students University Stadium
March 23–30, 2008
April
888.com World Snooker Championship
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
April 19-5 May, 2008