Selby is back in action at ‘safest place on Earth’
LEICESTER’S Mark Selby will take on Chinese prodigy Yan Bingtao as snooker’s return to live action continues this month.
Selby has been drawn against Yan, 20 – who in 2014 became the youngest player to win the IBSF World Snooker Championship – in the Coral Tour Championship, taking place from June 20-26 at the Marshall Arena, in Milton Keynes.
The event was originally due to take place from March 17-22 and was then rescheduled for July 21-26. But new dates in Milton Keynes have now been confirmed.
The tournament will be behind closed doors, with extensive live television coverage from ITV4.
This follows the staging of last month’s Matchroom.Live Championship League, one of the first sporting events to be staged in the UK since March.
Following weeks of detailed liaison with the UK government, strict health and safety regulations, including Covid-19 testing for all players, officials and staff, were put into place.
The same procedures will be followed during the Coral Tour Championship, and the venue in Milton Keynes has again been selected as it has a hotel on-site which means that all personnel can isolate without needing to leave the venue.
One day has been added to the original schedule which means the whole event can be played on a single televised table, with one match on each day including the final on June 26.
World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn said: “The feedback we had last week from the players at the venue in Milton Keynes has been excellent. Any concerns they may have had about their own welfare have been laid to rest – in fact one player described it as ‘probably the safest place on Earth.’
“We have proved that despite the many challenges associated with running events in the current conditions, it can be done.
“There is no sport which can meet the required regulations on isolation, sanitisation and social distancing as rigorously as snooker can, and that is why we have set an example for other sports to follow.
“This is a huge tournament with a stellar line-up and massive prize money on offer. We are thrilled to be working with the Coral team as we come to the final chapter in the series with the Coral Cup still up for grabs for all eight players in the field.
“It’s another major event for the fans and players, ahead of the World Championship.”
The Coral Tour Championship world ranking event is the third and last event in the Coral Series.
It features the top eight players on this season’s money list, battling for a top prize of £150,000. The leading money winner across the three events will also receive the Coral Cup and a bonus of £100,000.
Selby is currently seventh in the tour ranking, having won £15,000 from the first two events. Judd Trump is leading on £132,500 and Yan is third on £50,000.
Coral Tour Championship draw: Judd Trump v John Higgins
Neil Robertson v Ding Junhui Mark Selby v Yan Bingtao Shaun Murphy v Mark Allen