Many of the world’s biggest snooker stars will be in Hull for the Duelbits Tour Championship next week and the field is taking shape, with five of the eight players now confirmed.
Considered by some players as the biggest tournament outside the sport’s ‘Triple Crown’, this event is contested by the top eight on the one-year ranking list and it has massive prize money with a winner’s cheque of £150,000 up for grabs.
The matches are best of 19 frames from the start – that’s a longer format than any event outside the World Championship, which underlines its prestige. And every ball is televised live on ITV.
The Duelbits Tour Championship runs from Monday 27 March – Sunday 2 April and will be staged at the Bonus Arena Hull for the first time. Tickets, starting at £22, are on sale but are selling fast and fans are urged to book quickly – don’t miss out on this opportunity to see the world’s best! For details visit www.wst.tv/tickets
The five players guaranteed a place in the draw are:
Mark Allen – player of the season so far with tournament wins at the Northern Ireland Open, UK Championship and World Grand Prix
Shaun Murphy – former World Champion back on form with victory in last week’s Players Championship
Ali Carter – crowned German Masters champion this month
Kyren Wilson – current European Masters champion
Ryan Day – won the British Open this season
Currently ranked sixth to eighth on the one-year list are Robert Milkins, Ding Junhui and Mark Selby so they are on target to qualify, but there is one more counting event in the race to earn a place in Hull. That’s the WST Classic which runs from March 16th to 22nd in Leicester, when the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Mark Williams and many more will be looking for a late burst to climb into the top eight.
A spokesman for World Snooker Tour said: “It’s shaping up to be a fantastic line-up as we look ahead to staging a major event in Hull for the first time. It’s an elite field with only the best eight players of the season so far earning a place, so those at the peak of their form are rewarded. It will be exciting to see the last counting event, the WST Classic, unfold as there are plenty of players who still have a chance to qualify.
“We are thrilled to be heading for Hull as the Bonus Arena is clearly an outstanding venue. This is a chance for local fans to see world-class sporting action and the tickets represent fantastic value for money. We hope to see the arena packed so that the players will experience a superb atmosphere.”
