Another relatively barren period means there’s not much snooker to be enjoyed in September.
In fact, there are some players on the Main Tour who will go through the entire month without hitting a competitive ball in anger.
Six Red World Championship
The Six Red World Championship was supposed to return to the snooker calendar in Thailand this year, with dates pencilled in for early September.
However, it had long been rumoured that the promoters wanted to postpone the tournament, with an official announcement from the World Snooker Tour finally being made earlier this week.
This botched attempt at staging an event coupled with other empty spaces on the schedule have left some questioning the current status of the sport.
Tournaments that are meant to be staged in China have not been sufficiently replaced, with players further down the rankings now going weeks and even months without action.
World Mixed Doubles Championship
This ongoing issue has been elevated by the decision to introduce a World Mixed Doubles Championship to the calendar.
While there are many positives to be taken from what promises to be an exciting new addition, the fact remains that only eight players are participating – the same number as in next month’s revived Hong Kong Masters.
For the World Mixed Doubles Championship, the world’s four best men players will partner the four best women players on the circuit.
The competition, which runs during the weekend of September 24/25 and will feature the likes of world champions Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mink Nutcharut, is going to be broadcast live on ITV.
British Open
Immediately following the doubles event will be a second event screened on ITV from the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes – the British Open.
The third ranking event of a stuttering 2022/23 term, Mark Williams is the reigning champion with the likes of O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, and Mark Selby also set to be involved.
A £100,000 top prize will be on offer for a random-draw event that, thankfully, boasts a longer format than what was utilised a year ago.
Q Tour
In amateur snooker, the satellite circuit known as Q Tour will commence its new campaign in September.
There are two upcoming events – September 2 to 4 and September 16 to 18 – with amateur players again jostling for potentially lucrative Main Tour spots come the end of the season.
The 900
Finally, an interesting new series for amateurs that is being launched by Jason Francis will commence later this month.
The new concept will introduce 25 nights of televised snooker across September, October, and November – with live coverage on SportyStuffTV.
The 900’s name derives from a frame that lasts 15 minutes, with this tournament adopting many rules that are familiar with those from the Snooker Shoot Out.
Beginning on September 17th, it offers a unique opportunity for amateur players to showcase their talents to a wider audience.
Featured image credit: WST
