New and exciting activities in Sheffield for snooker world championship.

Photo of Steve Davis snooker player in the winter gardens, with
the BBC studio in the background
.

The world snooker championship is back at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The tournament runs from Saturday the 16^th of April to Monday the 2^nd of May, with all the best players coming together to compete for the famous trophy and the top prize of £250,000.

The top snooker contenders of 2011 will include John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, Mark Selby and Ronnie O’ Sullivan, all battling it out for the goal of becoming world champion.

Sheffield is known as ‘home to snooker’, with the Crucible Theatre hosting the world championship game since 1977. Sheffield snooker chairman Paul Bannister, said: “The atmosphere at the Crucible really is one of the most magical anywhere in the world, and with the incredible standard of snooker the top guys are producing now, this is really an event not to be missed.

Photo of the cue zone, a member of the public playing on the
full sized table in the Winter Gardens.

“Our aim this year is to open up snooker to everyone across the city, so even if people have not got tickets for the matches, they can get involved in new and innovative snooker related activities in the city centre.”

There are lots of snooker related games and activities running throughout the tournament. Organisers of the Snooker World Championship want the public to have the opportunity to take part in the snooker for free.


Activities include, street snooker taking place daily, the cue zone exhibition in the Winter Gardens, of an authentic sized snooker table where people will have the chance to pot some balls and a big screen outside the crucible to watch the snooker action.

Photo of the street snooker in Tudor Square.

The free new activity street snooker is a target practice game that involves players kicking or throwing a ball against a green board resembling a snooker table, in order to pot balls of different colours, earning varying points. High scorers will win fantastic prizes, including tickets to the championship final, snooker cues signed by the professional players and much more.

Carrie Hampton, a part time worker who manages the street snooker game, said: “Over the bank holiday we were buzzing with lots of people interested and taking part. It is great to see how many different people of all ages have got involved. So far the highest score was by a young lad who managed to kick the ball scoring 178, however if someone can beat that score by the 2^nd of May they will win the ticket to the final."

“I believe this new and exciting activity, crossed between the traditional snooker and football game has drawn in lots of young people to follow snooker. It also has encouraged people to get more active, as well as having the opportunity to win snooker prizes.”

Photo of student playing street snooker.

Taking part in the street snooker was Ryan Allmark a student at Sheffield Hallam University, he said: “I am considering starting a snooker and pool society at university, as I am disappointed that there are no societies for cue sports, considering that Sheffield is supposed to be ‘snooker city’. However, this year I am impressed with all the new and different snooker activities people can get involved in, and for free which is a bonus.”

To follow all the latest snooker action, visit the Betfred.com World Snooker championship Blog and get the latest news and backstage insights from the Crucible http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/blogsarticle/0,,13165~2212649,00.html