Selby is hoping to attract new fans

SNOOKER: Three-time world champion Mark Selby hopes that the return of snooker next week could attract a brand new audience to the sport.

The coronavirus pandemic forced a widespread sporting shutdown, but snooker is set to be among the first major sports to return with a 64-player event behind closed doors in Milton Keynes.

The Championship League, featuring world champion Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan, will be on free-to-air television from June 1-11 and played under strict coronavirus testing measures.

Selby believes the desperation among sports fans to witness live action could see some who do not tend to watch snooker turning to the table.

“It is great for everyone who follows the game. The German football Bundesliga has been going, so that is the first sport back, but us being the second one is massive for snooker,” Selby said. “I think we could attract a lot of new followers as well. People are sitting at home, crying out for sport to be on TV.”

The World Snooker Championship was postponed from its original April 18 start date, with organisers now hopeful of it starting at the Crucible in Sheffield on July 31.

“I am fortunate enough to have played in the one-table setup with a full crowd [at the Crucible] and know what it is like getting to the latter stages,” he added. “There is no better venue to play at than the Crucible. To have nobody there at all, other than the opponent and referee would be quite surreal. At the same time if it comes to a choice between no crowd or not at all, then the whole tour would want to play it.”