English Institute Of Sport Sheffield To Host Snooker’s World Qualifiers

The qualifying rounds of snooker’s biggest tournament, the Betfred World Championship, will once again take place at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield next month.

Tickets for the qualifiers are now on sale – for details click here

The Coleridge Road venue will host the qualifiers from April 10 to 17, with all players ranked outside the world’s top 16 in action. There will be 128 players in the field, each needing to win three matches to earn a coveted spot at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The final stages then run from April 20 to May 6.

Players in action in the qualifying rounds could include legends Jimmy White, Ken Doherty and Marco Fu and former Crucible kings such as Graeme Dott and Peter Ebdon, as well as many of the best amateurs from around the globe, male and female.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: “We are thrilled to bring the Betfred World Championship qualifiers back to the English Institute Of Sport – Sheffield because we know it is a superb location and very popular among the players and fans.

“There are still a few tournaments to go until we know the line-up of the top 16 seeds who will go through to the Crucible, with the seeding cut-off point to come at the end of the China Open on April 7. After that, 16 players can dream of walking down the famous stairs at the Crucible, while the others face the tough test of three qualifying rounds. The motivation to earn a place at snooker’s Theatre of Dreams could not be greater.

“Every year at the qualifiers we see dramatic matches and an incredible standard of play. The field is a mixture of great names of the sport, up-and-coming talent, players hoping for a Crucible debut or one more shot at the title.

“For the fans it’s a fantastic chance to see a wide range of players competing with so much at stake. Tickets for most sessions of the main event at the Crucible sell out a year in advance, so the qualifiers is a fantastic alternative for anyone who loves live sport.”

Tickets cost just £10 per day, or £20 for any three days.

The English Institute of Sport Sheffield is the country’s largest multi-sports training centre; the training home of Olympic and World champions as well as national teams GB Boxing, British Wheelchair Basketball and British Para Table Tennis. This provides a truly inspiring location for both the players competing as well as spectators.

If fans can’t make it to Sheffield to see the qualifiers live, there will be two tables covered on the Eurosport Player live streaming service.