GLOBAL SNOOKER NEWS

World Snooker have announced their new integrated Tour Structure for the future, which sets out not only the criteria for the Main Professional Tour, but exciting new qualification opportunities for players across the world, aspiring to the professional ranks.

In the 2005-6 season Europe will receive two places on the 96-man Main Professional Tour. These places will be awarded, under the auspices of the EBSA, to the 2005 European Under 19  Champion and the 2005 European Champion.

Also open to every player from Europe is entry into the new Pontin’s International Open Series, commencing in May 2005, with eight events through to May 2006. Eight players from the series, to be played in the top class tournament conditions at Pontin’s, will gain promotion to the Main Tour for the 2006-7 season.

An even more exciting development for European snooker is the stated intention for the 2006-7 season to add a further four International Open events to the calendar. These will be staged in top class venues across Europe.

Maxime Cassis, secretary of the EBSA, was particularly excited by this announcement, saying “The intended plan for 2006-7 is going to provide a further boost to snooker in Europe. Not only will European based players be able to compete in World Snooker’s Open Series events, right across Europe, but players and spectators will be able to see leading players coming to compete in our countries.”

Mr Cassis, who is also proprietor of a snooker club in Grenoble, France, also spoke on behalf of many European countries, adding “The new structure announced by World Snooker has met with an excited response by the countries across Europe. Every player with aspirations can see the path ahead of them to professional status.”

In the 2006-7 season the EBSA will receive a third place to the Main Tour and a qualification event will be put in place that will embrace every country in Europe, giving an additional opportunity to any player in an EBSA Member country the chance to achieve their dream of becoming a professional player.

Chairman of the EBSA, Jim Leacy enthused about the new plans. “I’m delighted with the new structure. It is encouraging to see, for the first time, recognition of the important role the national governing bodies will play in World Snooker’s blue print for the future.”

“I welcome this positive development and I am sure that all aspiring young players right across the world will be very excited by the structure and the opportunities available to them.”

Every country across Europe has added their endorsement to the new plans. Jim Leacy, who is Chairman of RIBSA, the Irish Association said “I welcome this positive development and I am sure that all aspiring young players right across the world will be very excited by the structure and the opportunities available to them.”

“Now I can show a young twelve year old starting out in snooker the opportunities open to him and the route he can follow.”

Scotland’s Chairman, Stephen Baillie, was equally excited “Hallelujah”, he said. “World Snooker’s new structure is the best thing that’s happened in the 14 years since the game went open. The boost to grass roots snooker will be phenomenal.”

Kazimierz Olejniczak, Chairman of the Polish Association, the host country of the 2005 European Championship recognised the added impetus given to the Championships and to the governing bodies.

Kajtek commented "The announcement that the European champion will win a place on the Main Tour is a major boost to the event. Everybody in Poland watches the major events, with Hendry and O’Sullivan and the great players. And now they will watch the European Championship knowing that the winner will join in their events next season.

"This will of course help us to sell the event to the public and to the sponsors. Snooker is becoming more and more popular in Poland and now our players can see exactly how they can also become professional players. It is very exciting for us and for other developing snooker countries.”

Holland’s national coach, Robert Roos welcomed the clarity that the new structure gives to the players. “I am very excited about the new Open Tour, which will be open to all players, and I’m also glad that the structure is very clear, with just one step to reach professional status. WSA have shown clearly that they are fully committed to the future development of the game, working in harmony with national governing bodies worldwide.”

The EBSA will continue to work in close harmony with World Snooker to ensure that event dates are coordinated and announced in advance, assisting every governing body in making their own future plans.

Attached are provisional dates of World Snooker events and major European, IBSF and international events, which will help countries to plan their own domestic calendars for forthcoming seasons.

The full details of World Snooker’s new structure can be read on WORLD SNOOKER website.

INTERNATIONAL DATES

2004-5 Season

29 March-3 April European Under 19 Championship - Russia

2-3 April 2005 Pontin's Under 21 Series Event 5

16-17 April 2005 Pontin's Pro Am Event 4

7-8 May 2005 - Pontin's Under 21 Series Event 6

9-16 May 2005 - Pontin's Spring Open Festival

16-23 May 2005 - Pontin’s International Open Event 1 – 16-23 May 2005

31 May-11 June European Championships - Men, Women, Seniors - Poland

2005-6 Season

17-24 June 2005 - Event 2

14-24 July 2005 World Games, Duisburg, Germany (Multi-Sport including Snooker)

2-9 September 2005 - Event 3

10-16 September 2005 - Home Internationals

16-23 September 2005 - Pontin's Open Autumn Festival

14-21 October 2005 - Event 4

28 November – 5 December 2005 - Event 5

17-24 February 2006 - Event 6

3-10 March 2006 - Event 7

8-15 May 2006 - Event 8

July-August IBSF World Under 21 Championship & IBSF World Seniors Championship

November IBSF World Championship & World Ladies Championship, Karachi, Pakistan

2006-7 Season

March-April 2006 European Under 19 Championship

May 2006 – European Championships Switzerland