| Snooker world qualifier returns to EIS-Sheffield |
Some of the world’s top snooker players will be dreaming of Crucible glory when the final qualifying round of the 888.com World Snooker Championship returns to Sheffield next month.
For the second year running, 32 leading players will head to the city for the last hurdle of qualifiers for snooker’s most prestigious tournament at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield (EISS).
Legends Jimmy White and John Parrott as well as Marco Fun and Matthew Stevens are just some of the stars set to compete in the qualifying event, which runs from 7-10 March.
The 16 winners will go through to the final stages at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, in April, to compete for the famous World trophy and a prize pot of over £1 million.
Qualifiers will take place in the Badminton Hall where four tables will be set up with seating for up to 300 spectators. The World Snooker Academy, based inside the EISS, will provide practice facilities for the players.
Chesterfield’s former Crucible finalist Nigel Bond will be in action, as well as two Chinese players based at the Academy, Liang Wenbo and Liu Chuang.
“It would mean everything to get through to play at the Crucible,” said Chuang.
Lorenzo Clark, Director of Operations for Sheffield International Venues (SIV), which manages the EISS, said: “We are delighted to be hosting this prestigious sporting event for the second year running. It strengthens our staging agreement with World Snooker and demonstrates Sheffield’s commitment to snooker and developing professional talent.”
World Snooker’s Ivan Hirschowitz added: “The qualifying round is a great chance for fans of the sport to see some of the world’s leading players in a superb setting and we hope that snooker supporters will take this chance to see the action.”
All-day tickets priced at £5 are available in person from the EISS reception, on Coleridge Road. The morning session starts at 10am while the evening’s play gets underway at 4pm.
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