World Snooker will stage a tournament in The Netherlands for the first time in over 20 years with a European Tour event in Rotterdam in July.
The Rotterdam Open at the Topsport Centrum will run from July 19th -21st and will be open to all 128 professional players on the World Snooker Tour. There will also be amateur pre-qualifying rounds on July 18th.
The tournament will be televised by Eurosport. It will be the second event in the 2013/14 season’s European Tour, part of the Players Tour Championship series. And it will be the second professional snooker event ever staged in The Netherlands, and first since the 1991 European Open, won by Tony Jones.
World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “In recent years we have taken professional tournaments to many growth areas in Europe including Poland, Germany, Belgium and Bulgaria and now we are delighted to bring the European Tour to The Netherlands for the first time.
“Rotterdam is a wonderful city with great sporting heritage and it will be a fabulous occasion for the players. I’m hoping to see Dutch fans show their passion for snooker with full houses and a wonderful atmosphere.
“Snooker’s progress towards becoming a truly global sport is unstoppable and this is another step forward.”
Leading referee Jan Verhaas is thrilled to see the tournament come to his home city. “This is a dream come true for me, to see professional snooker played in Rotterdam,” said Verhaas, who will referee the final of the Betfair World Championship in Sheffield on May 5 and 6.
“It will be incredible to see the best players in the world in The Netherlands and anyone who has a chance to come to a top class sporting event should make sure they are there to see the action live. It’s a proud day to be Dutch!”
Tickets will go on sale soon, further details will be announced at www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
