Summer of Snooker 2010

Just over a year ago today I blogged about the upcoming series of snooker tournaments to be staged during the summer so with an even greater number of tournaments scheduled for this summer I bring you the 2010 version…

Sangsom 6-Red World Championship – 18th-25th July 2010

First up, the event formerly known as the 6-Red World Grand Prix which has in the past been won by both Ricky Walden and most recently Jimmy White begins today over in Bangkok, Thailand.

Confusingly rebranded as the 6-Red World Championship, despite the fact that there was a Six Red World Championship staged in Killarney last December as won by Mark Davis, the event is back for 2010 and again sees a strong field battling it out for the trophy.

Stand out names include both previous winners Walden and White as well as Mark Williams and Mark Selby, winners of the first two events of the Players Tour Championship this season. Former world champions Ken Doherty and Peter Ebdon will also be involved as well as out of form Welshman Ryan Day who will see this as an ideal way to gain some much-needed confidence.

You can view the draw for the event over here at Global Snooker.

BTV International – 19th-25th July 2010

Meanwhile over in Beijing, the 110sport backed BTV International tournament won last year by Liang Wenbo returns to the calendar and will see the likes of Stephen Hendry and Mark Allen in competitive action for the first time this season, whilst Ali Carter, Ryan Day and Liang will also be involved.

To read an interview with Hendry over at 110sport.tv please click here.

Vienna Snooker Open 2010 – 23rd-25th July 2010

As brought to my attention by Eric in the comments below, the inaugural Vienna Snooker Open is to begin on the 23rd July and will see the likes of Stephen Lee, Robert Milkins, Dominic Dale, Andy Hicks, Björn Haneveer, Matt Couch, Daniel Wells and Luca Brecel involved.

For more information on the tournament please click here to visit the official website.

2010 Lucan Racing Irish Classic – 24th-25th July 2010

Back for the fourth successive year is the Irish Classic which will see Ken Doherty, Fergal O’Brien, David Morris, Joe Delaney, Michael Judge and three amateur players battle it out for the title.

Having finished as runner up in each of the last three years, Fergal will be hoping to finally break his duck and go one better this time around and with the three players to have beaten him so far in the opposite half of the draw, he may well fancy his chances of doing so.

To view the draw please click here.

IBSF World Under-21 Championship – 31st August-11th September 2010

Staying with Ireland, this month also sees the staging of the prestigious IBSF World Under-21 Championship in Letterkenny.

I have not yet come across an entry list but I would imagine that talented youngsters such as Stephen and Sam Craigie, Vinnie Muldoon, Li Hang, Luca Brecel and Michael Wasley will be involved in what should be a hotly contested affair.

To view some more information about the venue click here, although I am not sure as to when the draw will be made available, if it has not been already…

EDIT: The entry list can be viewed here at the RIBSA website.

Shanghai Masters Qualifiers – 2nd-5th August 2010

While the Players Tour Championship events already staged have offered ranking points, the qualifiers for the Shanghai Masters will for many mark the real start of the season with further points and more importantly, a place at a venue up for grabs for 16 players.

Staged at the English Institute of Sport this year rather than the much derided Pontins, I am not sure as to whether or not there will be any spectator facilities available or whether the policy of allowing each player two guests as in the PTC events will again be in force. As the matches will presumably be staged at the Academy as opposed to the badminton hall that the World Championship qualifiers are usually held in I suspect that it will take some time before the facilities are in place to hold additional spectators but hopefully this will be resolved in due course.

As yet we have no draw for the event but as soon as I know, it will be posted here…

Players Tour Championship Event 3 – 6th-8th August 2010

Players Tour Championship Event 4 – 14th-16th August 2010

Hot on the heels of those Shanghai qualifiers come the next two events of the Players Tour Championship, again to be staged at the Academy in Sheffield.

So far these events have proved to be popular as evidenced by a field which includes 88 professionals for the third event. To view the draw please click here.