The opening event of the World Snooker Championships - the Cue Ball

For the past 13 years there has been a black-tie event on the eve of the Snooker World Championships to raise money for the nominated charity of the Championships.  The St Paul's hotel is the venue and this year's charity is Sheffield Children's hospital: http://www.tchc.org.uk/

Rob Walker was the compere for the evening, and Dan Walker (no relation) was there supporting the Children's Hospital.

 Stuart Bingham made a welcome appearance to do a short presentation.

This included a presentation to the Children's Hospital Charity of a photograph of the world's top 16 Snooker players from earlier in the day, with the mount signed by each player.  Another copy of the same was auctioned for £1000 on the night!

Gearing up for the World Snooker Championships

One week today and the 2016 World Snooker Championships sponsored by Betfred will be under way at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield with Stuart Bingham defending his title.

Almost as soon as 'The Nap' finished it's run at the Crucible last Saturday, the theatre staff started moving out of the venue so that it could be prepared for the competition with rooms emptied and paint refreshed and the scenery set for another World Championship.
 

The qualifiers are running now at Ponds Forge - I watched Jimmy White recently when he came agonizingly close to making it through the first round.

The last pre-event before the Championship itself will be the Cue Ball on Friday 15th April - the thirteenth time this has been held, at the St Paul's hotel.