World Snooker has announced a new Pro Challenge Series. This new series will have seven new tournaments taking place during the first season. The series will begin in late July and will be open to all ninety six players on the pro circuit.

The new series will be supplementing the Tour of world ranking and invitation tournaments that are run by World Snooker. Four of the seven events in the series will use the standard 15-red format, while the rest of the series will run the Super Sixes format.

Both Dave Harold, the former Asian Open champion, and Michael Holt, world number 24, were involved in the initial discussions on the new series. Harold stated: “It’s a great idea because it keeps players bubbling under and gives them vital match practice. The events will be played at decent venues with decent prize money so that’s an incentive for all players to take part. Using the six-red format for some of the events will be interesting because it’s quick-fire snooker, although it’s still the best players who come through.”

Holt commented: “Any chance to play more snooker is a good thing. It’s what all of us professionals want, to play competitive matches with the chance to earn prize money. It will help keep us sharp in between ranking events.”








- 2009-07-07