World Snooker unveil expansion plans

World Snooker have revealed major expansion plans today which which will see the number of ranking events more than double.

More overseas tournaments will be played on the new World Snooker Tour, which is set to be introduced next season.

The move will be popular among players concerned by a dwindling number of major events - there are only six on the calendar this year - and has been introduced to capitalise on growing interest in countries where snooker has previously had a low profile.

World champion John Higgins has been an advocate of taking top-class snooker to previously overlooked countries, and has promoted a World Series of Snooker which has seen matches played in Germany, Poland, Russia, Portugal and the Czech Republic.

World Snooker intend to have at least 15 ranking events on the calendar, plus invitational tournaments, in a venture which is being carried out in conjunction with events management company IMG.

World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker said: "We have brought forward today's announcement of the proposed World Snooker Tour in response to misleading, inaccurate and downright untruthful comments about the sport which have been made in the past few months.

"In the last five years, the sport has progressed from an uncertain financial position with a history of turmoil, to a sport with financial stability, renewed long-term worldwide broadcast contracts and new sponsorship agreements.

"Together with IMG we believe the time is now right to build on these underlying strengths to put in place a World Snooker Tour.

"We hope the players and promoters will recognise the opportunities of being part of this ambitious plan and help in bringing it to fruition."