Barely a month after the curtain fell on the 2012/13 season with Ronnie O'Sullivan lifting his fifth world title,the first champion of the 2013/14 season will be crowned this weekend in Sofia as the city plays host to the Victoria Bulgaria Open.
In truth though the action has not really stopped as the last month has seen three Q School events,as well as qualifiers for the Wuxi Classic and the Australian Open.as Barry Hearns ambition to make snooker an all year round sport comes closer and closer to been realised.
The Wuxi qualifiers,if that is indeed the right term,were the first to use the flat 128 draw and among the big name casualties who wont be making the trip to China are World no.1 Mark Selby,whose slump in form continues and Shaun Murphy.Ronnie O'Sullivan wont be there either as he was a late withdrawal following a family bereavement .
So on to Sofia we go then and as ever with these European Tour events it serves a mixture of the great and the good. Ronnie is making the trip this time and along with the likes of Robertson,Murphy,Higgins,Hawkins and defending champion Judd Trump,he will be mixing with amateurs as well as some of the games newer professionals.all of whom willbe hoping to lift the title come Sunday evening.
If last years first staging of this event is anything to go by,those who are playing are certain to be met with full houses and enthusiastic crowds as the popularity of the sport continues to grow all across europe.The part Eurosport has played in this can't be underestimated and they will again be showing extensive coverage on all their channels over the weekend.
Snooker on tv at the start of June.Did we ever think we'd see the day!
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