888casino has been unveiled as the title sponsor of a brand new professional snooker tournament, the Champion of Champions.
The event will run from 19 to 24 November at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry and will feature 16 champions from the previous season competing for a £270k prize fund, with the winner taking home £100k.
The tournament will be televised live in the UK on ITV4, with the event also being screened live in China on CCTV.
888.com senior VP Itai Pazner said the online casino and poker specialist was “excited” to continue its association with snooker, calling it a “perfect fit” for the 888casino brand.
“We look forward to utilizing the access and exposure as title sponsor of the 888casino Champion of Champions.”
888 was formerly the title sponsor of the richest and most prestigous event in the sport, the World Snooker Championship, from 2006 until 2008.
Barry Hearn of event promoter Matchroom Sports said he was “thrilled” that 888 was continuing its support of the sport via an innovative new event which would enjoy “unprecedented live coverage on terrestrial UK television.
The participants have yet to be confirmed, but the new commercial partners said that the current world top 3 Judd Trump, Mark Selby and Neil Robertson would all be invited, as will current world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The event will also feature a new format of four mini tournaments, with the winner from each pool progressing to the semi-final, with the finalists playing the best of 19 frames.
Online gambling brands feature prominently on professional snooker’s sponsorship roster, Betfair this year assuming title sponsorship of the World Snooker Championship from Betfred, and William Hill recently extending its association with the UK Championship.
Article written by Peter Holmes
