The eagerly anticipated World Mixed Doubles takes place this weekend at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.
The action begins on Saturday afternoon, with the four highest ranked men from the world rankings paired with the four highest ranked women.
For years, snooker fans have been calling out for more doubles formats, so it will be intriguing to see how successful this new event will be.
World Mixed Doubles Format
Each team will play against the other once in a round-robin format, with each match lasting four frames.
All allotted frames will be played, and a point is awarded for every frame won during the league phase of the competition.
The two teams with the highest number of points at the end of the group stage will advance to the final, where they will challenge each other for the title over seven frames.
Play will be dictated by alternate visits to the table rather than alternate shots.
As this is an invitational tournament boasting only eight contenders, there will be no ranking points on offer.
However, there is a total prize fund of £140,000, with £60,000 going to the winners crowned on Sunday evening.
The Pairings
With 19 World Championship titles between them, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Reanne Evans appear to be the dream team.
They already have experience playing with one another at other invitational events and exhibitions in the past.
But a couple of the other teams look strong as well, including the partnership between reigning world women’s champion Mink Nutcharut and Australia’s Neil Robertson.
Two competitors from outside the United Kingdom, Robertson and Nutcharut could be able to bond over the hurdles overseas players have to overcome.
Judd Trump will play alongside Ng On Yee, another potentially strong pairing with the latter having already taken a scalp on the Main Tour this season.
Mark Selby and Rebecca Kenna make up the final duo of the quartet and the clear outsiders, although in an unpredictable format they are not to be ruled out either.
Saturday Afternoon
1pm
O’Sullivan & Evans vs Trump & Ng
Est. 3pm
Robertson & Nutcharut vs Selby & Kenna
Remaining matches to be scheduled after the first session
Where to Watch
There will be four sessions of live snooker for the World Mixed Doubles, with two sessions on Saturday at 1pm and 7pm, and another two on Sunday at the same times.
While the evening sessions will be broadcast live on ITV4, there was a special coup for WST with the announcement that the afternoon session will be on the flagship ITV1.
More details on how to watch around the world can be viewed at the WST website.
Featured image credit: WST
very smart players and referee dress—only fault who is evans wearing trainers