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Gibraltar hosts world class snooker in first professional tournament

Steven Linares, Minister for Sport (left), is excited at the prospect of increased event led tourism. He is pictured alongside Martin Clark, Kreativ Dental Clinic European Tour Gibraltar Open Tournament Director.

World class snooker players will flood into the Tercentenary Sports Hall tomorrow morning for the first professional snooker tournament to be held on the Rock.

The three day Kreativ Dental Clinic European Tour Gibraltar Open is part of a series of six events that will feature 128 competitors battling it out for a 25,000 euros prize pot.

Eurosport broadcasting station will televise the final stage of the tournament from Friday to Sunday with coverage as from 9.30am and could last up to 12 hours a day.

The top 24 on the final Order of Merit will qualify for the Players Championship in March where the prize money totals at 100,000 euros.

Four Gibraltarians took part in the amateur side of the tournament, which began yesterday and ends today, aiming for one of the 22 spots in the final available from qualification.

“This is a top snooker competition that will feature the best snooker players in the world,” said Steven Linares, Minister for Sport. “This event will fill around three hotels with approximately 500 people and it is another fantastic addition to the high-profile events we have staged on the Rock to date.”

Mr Linares said that with the millions of fans that snooker already boasts and the coverage on Eurosport, it is worth more than an advert of Gibraltar on TV.

“The value is immense and will show Gibraltar in another light,” he said. “There is also a value in those snooker enthusiasts who will fly over to Gibraltar to see the big players and leave with the memory of our hospitality after what will be a fantastic tournament.”

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