Power Snooker 2011 live from EventCity on ITV4

October 19, 2011   ·   0 Comments

EventCity at Manchester’s Trafford Centre will become snooker’s newest venue next month after being chosen to stage the second Power Snooker Masters Trophy with live coverage on ITV4.

Ronnie O’Sullivan won the inaugural event after beating China’s Ding Junhui at the O2 Arena in London last November, and the ‘Rocket’ will return to defend his title as one of the 16 players competing in the 2011 version on November 19 and 20.

The full line-up & draw is as follows : Mark Selby v Matthew Stevens; John Higgins v Mark Allen; Ding Junhui v Graeme Dott; Ali Carter v Ronnie O’Sullivan; Judd Trump v Martin Gould; Shaun Murphy v Stuart Bingham; Neil Robertson v Steven Maguire; Mark Williams v Stephen Lee.

Power Snooker is one of the fastest versions of the game, mixing potting skills with live music and audience interaction. Players are accompanied into the match arena by the ‘Power Girls’ and no match will last more than 30 minutes as a shot-clock will ensure a fast paced game.

The purpose built venue within EventCity features a unique match play arena and an amazing knockout Fanzone. Live music from the award winning Power Snooker Band featuring hits from Rihanna to Queen, Jessie J to The Rolling Stones.

Organiser Rod Gunner said: “Power Snooker is like nothing you’ve seen before. There’s still the skill of snooker, but at a much faster pace, which makes it more interesting for your everyday sports fan.”

Fight promoters Frank Warren and Barry Hearn are the brains behind the event and speaking to The Sun, Hearn said : “Just like cricket has evolved into a new game with Twenty20, snooker is evolving into Power Snooker — but it is not attempting to take over from the traditional version.

“This is where the glamour of a rock show meets quick-fire snooker. We are bringing Power to the people.

“All the players are behind it. It is the most exciting development snooker has faced in years.

“And we know it will be an outstanding success because of the pilot competition we ran last year, which attracted a staggering half-a-million audience for ITV4 when it was up against X Factor.”

Warren said: “The young sports audience of today appear to want their games in short, sharp bursts with plenty of quality thrown in.

“Power Snooker provides just that on all fronts.

“All the stars taking part will be under real pressure to deliver, because each game lasts half an hour before the shutter comes down and the winner is decided on points scored in that time — not frames won.”

ITV4 will broadcast 16 hours of live coverage of Power Snooker 2011 live from EventCity on November 19 & 20. 

Tags: Ding Junhui, Event City, John Higgins, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Power Snooker, Ronnie O'Sullivan