Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, and Mark Williams will all compete in the John Virgo Trophy in April, it was announced this week.
The legends are regarded as among the all-time greats of game and will get together at the iconic Goffs venue in Ireland to pay homage to Virgo.
Virgo, a former UK champion who later became a well-known broadcasting personality and commentator, passed away last week in Spain at the age of 79.
The former world number ten was one of the most well-liked characters on the snooker circuit and his death has had an emotional impact on the sport as a whole.
Jason Francis, who spent a lot of time working alongside Virgo on his Snooker Legends exhibition tour, has quickly stepped up to create a fitting tournament in his honour.
The 2026 John Virgo Trophy will take place over two days in County Kildare on April 11th and 12th, just a few days before this year’s World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.
“The line-up speaks for itself,” Francis, who is also in charge of the new Snooker 900 series, said.
“All four probably sit within the top five or six of the greatest ever to play this game, but this is not an exhibition.”
“They are playing for prize money and competing hard, just the way our great friend John Virgo would have wanted.
“It will be a wonderful tribute to him and a great treat for our fans in Ireland. With this event being just a week before the World Professional Championship, I expect the players to be very sharp.”
Hendry, of course, won’t be participating in the World Championship this year, but the other three will be hoping to hone their skills ahead of the season-finale in Sheffield.
For O’Sullivan and Hendry, it will mark their first competitive match against one another for 15 years – albeit they have participated together at exhibitions during the interim period.
O’Sullivan and Hendry were among the many star names who paid tribute to Virgo after his death a week ago.
“[It] was only a couple of weeks ago I was with JV in the commentary box at the Masters,” Hendry wrote on Instagram.
“He was the greatest to work with. Nobody recreated the excitement of a match like him. ‘Where’s the cue ball going?'”
“Very sad news, absolutely gutted. Commentating won’t be the same. RIP JV, thinking about you Rosie.”
O’Sullivan also wrote on social media, saying: “Finished my match to get the news that JV has passed away. Love to Rosie, Brooke, and Gary. Such a great mate who I loved spending time with, absolutely gutted.”
The format for the John Virgo Trophy will follow the same one that is adopted for the Snooker 900, with 15-minute frames, shot clocks, and other tweaks to the traditional rules of the game.
There will be two semi-finals on the Saturday, with O’Sullivan and Hendry renewing their old rivalry and Higgins facing Williams in a repeat of the 2018 world final.
The following day will see a third and fourth place playoff ahead of the final, where the inaugural John Virgo Trophy will be won through a best-of-11 frame battle.
Other events will be staged throughout the weekend, including an Irish Junior 900 Championship, an Irish Legends Doubles event, and a trick shot exhibition led by Virgo’s close pal Dennis Taylor.
Tickets go on sale on February 27th and can be bought on Ticketmaster.
Great news!
Fantastic idea and what a great way to pay tribute to the late great irrepressible JV. I’m sure he would fully approve of four of the greatest ever snooker players going head to head in a new tournament that honours his name and in his memory..
I can hear him calling out his snooker catchphrases from wherever he is now..
‘Where’s the cue ball going?’
Still can’t believe he’s gone tbh…John Virgo will be so very much missed….
Thank you David for this heads up.