If you're heading to Brentwood for the BetVictor English Open, or just watching on TV or online, here's all the information you need...
Where is it and what are the dates?
The venue is the Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9NN. There is free parking for visitors. By train from London, take the Elizabeth Line to Brentwood station, and the venue is less than two miles away.
The event starts on Thursday (September 12th) and the first two rounds take place from Thursday to Saturday. There is no play on Sunday, then the world's top 32 join in round three from Monday. The final is on Sunday September 22nd. For the match schedule click here.
Can I buy tickets?
Yes! The last session of the final is sold out but all other sessions have availability. An all-day ticket for Monday is just £25, and with four tables and five sessions that day, it's a fantastic chance to see a wide range of all-time greats. Click here and book fast.
What's the format?
There's a new format this season for the four BetVictor Home Nations events as well as the German Masters. In round one, players seeded 65-96 face those seeded 97-128. In round two, those 32 winners take on players seeded 33-64. And those 32 winners go through to round three (the last 64) to meet the top 32 seeds. From there, it's a straight knockout.
Who's playing?
It's an outstanding line up of players, including defending champion and world number one Judd Trump, local favourite and all-time greatest Ronnie O'Sullivan, World Champion Kyren Wilson, Mark Allen, John Higgins, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, Luca Brecel, Essex aces Ali Carter, Stuart Bingham, Matthew Selt and Zak Surety, plus many more. Both Trump and Higgins are close to the milestone of 1,000 career centuries, with the Englishman on 997 and the Scot on 998.
What is the BetVictor Home Nations series?
This is the first event in the series, followed by the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open (Belfast, October 20-27), BetVictor Scottish Open (Edinburgh, December 9-15) and BetVictor Welsh Open (Llandudno, February 10-16). The leading money winner across the series will win an extra £150,000 BetVictor Bonus. Trump banked the cash in 2020, 2021 and 2024, while Higgins won it in 2022 and Robert Milkins in 2023.
How do I watch?
If you can't make it to Brentwood, you can watch on various platforms including Eurosport, discovery+, DMAX (freeview), and others outside Europe. For the full list click here.
What's the prize money?
Overall prize money for each BetVictor Home Nations event has increased this season from £427,000 to £550,400. The breakdown is:
Winner: £100,000
Runner-up: £45,000
Semi-finals: £21,000
Quarter-finals: £13,200
Last 16: £9,000
Last 32: £5,400
Last 64: £3,600
Last 96: £1,000
High Break: £5,000
Total £550,400
What else is there to do in Brentwood?
Aside from watching snooker, there is plenty to do in this part of Essex, such as visiting Warley Place Nature Reserve, the historic Nuclear Bunker or the famous Sugar Hut. For more details click here.
Who has won this event before?
The roll of honour is:
2016 Liang Wenbo
2017 Ronnie O'Sullivan
2018 Stuart Bingham
2019 Mark Selby
2020 Judd Trump
2021 Neil Robertson
2022 Mark Selby
2023 Judd Trump
