As has been feared for a few weeks now, the Malta Cup will now not be returning to the calendar as a ranking event this season. Click below for more…
As reported by Dave Hendon on the Snooker Scene blog here, despite previous suggestions that the Malta Cup might be returning to the ranking event calendar after a one year absence, it would seem that World Snooker has written to all of the players to inform them that this will not be happening. I had heard rumours that they were struggling for a sponsor, though I can only speculate as to the exact reasons for this decision because as ever, information is pretty limited.
It is a shame because another ranking event could only be a good thing for the calendar and I know from friends who visit the tournament on an annual basis that the venue is one of the most popular on the tour. Hopefully an arrangement can be found where it will continue for another year as a ranking event and we will be able to see if Shaun Murphy can defend the title that he has won for the past two years once again…