There is not long left until the first snooker event of the 2022/23 season.
It has been just over a month since Ronnie O’Sullivan captured a record-equalling World Championship title in Sheffield.
The Rocket commanded the Crucible Theatre for a seventh time to match Stephen Hendry’s long-held tally, beating Judd Trump in the final.
Since then, the Main Tour has been quiet but that’s not to say that there’s been no snooker on the calendar whatsoever.
Q School in Sheffield took the best part of three weeks to complete, with a dozen competitors graduating onto the professional circuit.
The inaugural Asia & Oceania Q School is ongoing in Thailand, meanwhile, with an additional four spots up for grabs there.
Soon the full lineup of participants on the Main Tour will be complete and the action for the upcoming term will be able to get under way.
Like last season, the first snooker event will be the ranking version of the Championship League, which commences on June 28 in Leicester.
A lengthy and, let’s be honest, a somewhat boring launch of the campaign will see 32 groups, comprising four players in each, contest an elongated stage one.
Two more league stages will be required before a champion is ultimately crowned a full month later on July 29.
O’Sullivan is scheduled to take part and has been drawn alongside Alexander Ursenbacher, Alfie Burden, and Farakh Ajaib in Group 1.
That said, his involvement could be subject to change considering his withdrawal last year after the completion of the first stage.
David Gilbert will be the defending champion, looking to replicate the form that saw him land a maiden ranking crown last summer.
The likes of Trump, Mark Selby, and Zhao Xintong are also scheduled to compete at the Morningside Arena.
It may not be the most exciting way to kickstart a fresh season, but after a long break it’ll be good to soon see the best players in the world back on the green baize.
Featured photo credit: WST
Undeniably a boring start to the season. The Championship League goes on too long and it’s silly have the same event twice in a season. Hard to think of another sport that has the same event twice in a season.