Gibraltar will host a professional snooker tournament for the first time when the fifth event on this season’s Kreativ Dental Clinic European Tour series takes place in December.
The televised stage of the Gibraltar Open will run from December 11 to 13 at the Tercentenary Sports Hall.
The tournament, which will run for the next three years, is supported by the Ministry of Sports, HM Government of Gibraltar and will receive extensive live coverage from Eurosport.
Many of snooker’s top players are expected to enter and they will compete from the last 128 stage. There will also be qualifying rounds for amateurs on December 9 and 10.
The 2015/16 Kreativ Dental Clinic European Tour is a series of six events, with the others staged in Latvia, Germany, Bulgaria and Poland. The top 24 on the final Order of Merit will qualify for the Players Championship in March.
World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to stage a professional tournament in Gibraltar for the first time. The European Tour has taken snooker to a host of different territories across the continent, helping us to develop as an international sport. We’re excited about the new Gibraltar Open and it’s the perfect chance for fans in the area to see the world’s leading stars.
“I have staged darts events at the Tercentenary Sports Hall so I know it is a cracking venue. We look forward to working with the Ministry of Sports in Gibraltar on delivering another fantastic sporting event.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Sports in Gibraltar said: “It is great to have yet another tournament of world standard in Gibraltar. Snooker is a very popular sport and followed by millions around the world. This will further promote Gibraltar as an events destination and it is a further example of promoting tourism.”
Ticket details for the Gibraltar Open will be available shortly. The entry deadline for players is November 5th, with the draw and format to be published after this date.