RON TO WATCH
Ronnie O’Sullivan signs up for new snooker events after major tour rule change with tournaments set for shock TV switch
The development could shake up the snooker calendar
CHANNEL 4 could broadcast top-class snooker action involving the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Shaun Murphy – a week before the next Crucible Worlds begin.
SunSport understands some of the best cueists in the world have agreed in principle to play in four events on TV next year – the Snooker 900 Grand Slam – with one scheduled for a London venue on April 12-13.
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The Rocket, the seven-time world champion, is the headline act linked to this new eight-player series along with reigning world champion Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson and Mark Wiliams.
Organisers are liaising with the World Snooker Tour because players who have a Tour Card require permission to appear in any non-sanctioned TV tournaments.
Two of the four proposed events have been granted approval but discussions are ongoing about the other two which are later in 2025.
The ‘Macau 5’ episode in October 2023 forced a significant change within the sport as some stars had planned to skip the WST’s Northern Ireland Open for a Far East exhibition.
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Following that situation, there was a long negotiation of the players’ contract, which now allows flexibility and leniency to appear in third-party conflicting events that are put on by independent promoters.
The 2025 World Snooker Championship will start on Saturday April 19 as Wilson looks to defend his title and finally break the Crucible curse.
Murphy, the 2005 world champion, was asked about social media rumours of this new Grand Slam – organised by leading promoter Jason Francis – and he confirmed its existence in his onefourseven snooker podcast.
The Magician, 42, said: “It is true. Yeah, I’m delighted to be asked but I don’t know very much about it.
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“I know that Jason was planning to put on four two-day events.
“I had no idea until I saw the list on social media myself, who else was asked to play in it.
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“I’m just happy to play and looking forward to these opportunities.
“As luck would have it, two of those dates do clash with potential events in the 25/26 calendar, so I think only two of them so far have been granted permission.
“Excited about it. You know, I think competition is good.
“I personally, for what it is worth, think that as a professional snooker player, as a self-employed tradesperson, I should be allowed to play snooker wherever and whenever I want.
“That’s my own personal view. So I see this as a real positive step that these events are going to be put on and players are going to be able to ply their trade.
“Put balls in pockets, put smiles on people’s faces and entertain people who are wanting to watch us. That’s what it is all about.”
Channel 4 and the World Snooker Tour have both declined to comment.
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