WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP
Traditionally held over 17 days, the World Snooker Championship is the pre-eminent snooker tournament and one of the three Triple Crown events. The event takes place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield and has been the setting for some of snooker’s most iconic moments.
UK CHAMPIONSHIP
As the name suggests, this is a British competition that takes place from November to December every year. It’s the second event in the Triple Crown and has been a highlight on the snooker calendar since its inauguration in 1977. Held at the Barbican Centre in York, 128 players compete in a knockout tournament.
MASTERS SNOOKER
The final jewel in the snooker Triple Crown is the Masters Snooker tournament. Held at Alexandra Palace in January, the annual tournament is an invitational knockout event that brings together the world’s top 16 players.
SHANGHAI MASTERS
Some of the world’s best new players are coming out of Asia. Shanghai is China’s snooker epicentre and the Shanghai Masters is now the richest invitational event in the world. Twenty-four players are invited to compete in an annual knockout tournament every September.
CHINA OPEN
Originally called the China International, the China Open takes place during April and is the last ranking tournament before the World Championship. It has been the setting for some fairytale matches, with unknown players beating the best in the world.
WELSH OPEN
Forming part of the Home Nations Series, the Welsh Open is a ranking tournament which takes place every February. 128 players compete in a knockout tournament and matches are played over the best of seven frames. The final is the best of 17.
SCOTTISH OPEN
Established in 1981, the Scottish Open is another event in the Home Nations Series. Once again, a field of 128 players compete in a single elimination knockout tournament. In 2003, not a single top player reached the final 16.