WST has published more information about the coming British Open
Next month’s British Open world ranking event, to be staged at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, will have a completely random draw for all rounds.
The tournament will run from August 16 to 22 featuring 128 of the world’s top players. Every round will see a random draw, which could pitch the top stars against each other.
The event, to be televised by ITV, has a rich history having previously been staged from 1985 to 2004, often with random draws as a distinctive element.
Details on the line-up of players and how to watch the first round draw will be announced closer to the event.
Fans will be welcomed for the seven-day tournament, which will be the first ever ranking event at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
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Snooker has led the sporting world in the post-lockdown return of live audiences, and WST will continue to work closely with the UK Government and all of our venues and partners on Covid-19 regulation.
British Open prize money
Winner: £100,000
Runner-up: £45,000
Semi-finals: £20,000
Quarter-finals: £12,000
Last 16: £7,000
Last 32: £5,000
Last 64: £3,000
High break: £5,000
Total: £470,000
I’m sure some will think that this is “exciting” … but it’s not not for me. Ultra short format, random draw in each round, significantly more money than the Home Nations. Seriously? This is a good recipe to make snooker random rather than having the best players getting to the latests stages as they should.
Will the draws be made “public”? I hope so. Or will we see some more pairings simikar to the “Jimmy White v Stephen Hendry” at the World Qualifiers? I wouldn’t be surprised. I wouldn’t be happy. The bookies will be delighted and it’s probably all that matters.
Anyway, it’s what it is.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
I’m all for random draws – I personally think the Home Nations should do it for all of theirs + maybe one or two of the events in China.
Best a best-of-5 is not a professional match. I think this sort of thing will eventually backfire because people will become so afraid of losing a frame (and thus being 33% of their way out of the tournament) rather than actively trying to win them, so here’ll be a high percentage of dogged/tactical ones that make for largely difficult viewing.
We don’t mind a bit of cagey play here and there, certainly between the top players it’s rather intriguing, but ITV won’t be happy if the schedules all get over-run because your Feargal O’Brien/Rory McLeod types are making every frame an hour long for fear of losing.