The BetVictor European Masters, to be staged in February 2022, has been relocated from Fürth in Germany to Milton Keynes in England.

Due to Covid-19 rates and the consequent restrictions for sporting events in the Bavaria region of Germany, WST has taken the decision to move the world ranking event to the UK.

The tournament will start on February 21, rather than February 22 as previously planned, and run until February 27 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. Fans will be welcomed, with ticket details to be announced shortly.

The £407,000 event has a strong line up of players including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson and defending champion Mark Selby.

Televised by Eurosport and a range of other broadcasters and online platforms worldwide, the tournament forms part of the eight-event BetVictor Snooker Series, from which the player earning the most prize money will receive a huge £150,000 bonus.

WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “We love going to Germany because of the incredible enthusiasm of the local fans for our sport, and we were particularly excited to stage this event at the Stadthalle in Fürth for the first time as it has proved a fantastic venue for other tournaments. Unfortunately it is not viable to stage the event in Fürth this time.

“Milton Keynes is an excellent alternative and we have hosted many of our tournaments at the Marshall Arena over the past two years, including this season’s BetVictor English Open which drew packed crowds and a great atmosphere.

“In these testing times we continue to work within the rules set down by Governments both in the UK and overseas and to find solutions to maintain momentum on our tour, allowing our players to keep competing and our fans to watch snooker live in the venues or on television.”

While we are constantly monitoring the ever changing Covid-19 regulatory position in the UK and in Germany, the BetVictor German Masters is still scheduled to take place in Berlin on the original dates, we will continue to monitor the situation.

Last year saw World Champion Mark Selby lift the trophy aloft after beating Martin Gould 9-8 in a thrilling final. More of the same is expected in 2022, when the finest players on the planet head to Milton Keynes.

All matches up to and including the quarter-finals will be played over the best of nine frames, with best of 11 frame semi-finals and a best of 17 frame final.