November 12th 2024.
The snooker world is buzzing with excitement as plans for a new series of events have been announced. Eight top players, including the legendary Ronnie O'Sullivan, have already signed on to participate in what is being called the Snooker 900 Grand Slam. This series of four two-day events, set to take place next year, promises to be a thrilling showcase of skill and talent, with some of the biggest names in the sport competing for the ultimate prize.
The line-up for this series is truly star-studded, with current world champion Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Luca Brecel, Shaun Murphy, and Reanne Evans all set to take the stage alongside O'Sullivan. While the players have all agreed to be a part of this new venture, the independent promoters are still in discussions with the World Snooker Tour to ensure that the event is sanctioned and that the players have permission to participate.
According to the players' contracts, they are allowed to compete in non-sanctioned events as long as they do not conflict with WST tournaments. However, with two of the Snooker 900 Grand Slam dates potentially overlapping with WST events, there is still some negotiation to be done. Talks are ongoing to find a solution that will allow the players to participate in as many of the events as possible.
It has been reported that Channel 4 is being considered as the broadcaster for the series, which is expected to run from April to July. This would be a major move for the station, as it would mark their first foray into the world of snooker. The first event, scheduled for April 12-13 in London, is the brainchild of promoter Jason Francis, and Shaun Murphy has expressed his excitement at the prospect of playing in it.
During a recent episode of his onefourseven podcast, Murphy confirmed the rumors of the new events and shared his thoughts on the matter. He expressed his gratitude for being invited to play, but admitted that he didn't know much about the details yet. However, he did mention that he and the other players had been given permission to participate in two of the events, with the remaining two dates conflicting with WST tournaments.
The 2005 world champion believes that this new series is a positive step for the sport, allowing players to showcase their skills and entertain fans. He also voiced his personal opinion that as a professional snooker player, he should have the freedom to compete in any event he chooses. As the details of the Snooker 900 Grand Slam are still being worked out, the dates and venues are yet to be confirmed. Both the World Snooker Tour and Channel 4 have declined to comment on the matter, leaving fans eagerly waiting for more information.
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