SNOOKER'S PREMIER TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO EUROSPORT SCREENS

The first ball is hit at the world’s premier snooker tournament on Saturday 21 April and Eurosport, Eurosport.com and the Eurosport App will exclusively* broadcast all of the action from The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield across Europe. Over 150 hours of live coverage is set to be shown on Eurosport’s platforms throughout the main tournament with highlights shows, replays and action from the qualifying tournament** taking that figure to well over 300 hours when the curtain comes down on the 41st World Snooker Championship on Monday 7 May.

Boasting a team that features the best team of experts and reporters in the game including snooker legend Jimmy White, former World Championship semi-finalist Neal Foulds and respected sporting presenter Colin Murray, Eurosport will offer fans unrivalled expertise and analysis throughout the sport’s blue-riband event. Matt Smith will conduct interviews on-site in Sheffield with Dave Hendon, Joe Johnson and Mike Hallett behind the microphone calling the action.

Supplementing its live coverage, 2018 will also see Eurosport broadcast a daily fast-paced highlights package reviewing the days play to feature the best shots, the best player interviews and the best from the world of social media. Throughout its coverage of the World Championship, Eurosport will also give fans the opportunity to get to know their snooker heroes better through a series of short interviews that delves into their personal and professional lives.

Taking fans closer to the action than ever before, Eurosport’s studio will use Viz Libero and touch screen technology while professional snooker guru Chris Henry, who has coached Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui, Stephen Hendry and Mark Selby, will be on hand to offer a deep insight into the mind of the world’s best snooker players to educate viewers across the continent.

Five-time World Champion, current world number two and Eurosport snooker ambassador, Ronnie O’Sullivan said: “I’m personally looking forward to this year’s World Championship. It’s going to be an exciting event. Hopefully all of the top players will be at the top of their game. The Crucible always brings out great drama and great matches. 

“I have a great relationship with Eurosport, it’s something I enjoy and if I happen to go out early in the tournament then I’ll be stepping right in the commentary box to do some punditry with them!”

In addition to the main tournament itself, Eurosport Player will also show the qualifying tournament from the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield from 11-18 April with live coverage of two tables throughout the eight days.

The 2017 World Snooker Championship was the second best in terms of audience numbers in the past decade with an average of 976,000 fans tuning in – an increase of 10% versus 2016. Eurosport Poland and Spain both recorded significant growth compared with 2017 on linear.

To promote its coverage of the 2018 World Snooker Championship, Eurosport is currently airing its promo with the campaign theme of “Nothing worth having comes easy”, a not-so-subtle reference that the tournament is one of one of the toughest to win in the world of sport. Click here to watch the 30-second TVC.

ENDS.

*non-exclusive in the United Kingdom
**The 2018 World Snooker Championship qualifying competition is only available to watch via the Eurosport Player

Notes to Editors

2018 World Snooker Championship Key Dates:

Saturday 21 April: Day one of main tournament

Friday 27 April: Second round begins

Tuesday 1 May: Quarter-finals begin

Thursday 3 May: Semi-Finals begin

Monday 7 May: 2018 World Championship Final concludes