Final touches as Wolverhampton venue set to host top snooker names

The final work is getting underway to welcome the world's leading snooker players to Wolverhampton.

Tournament director Mike Ganley and local player Martin Clark take a tour around around the venue, which will be up and running on Monday

Crews and workers were putting the final touches on the main hall at Aldersley Sports Village to transform it into a snooker arena ahead of a week of action at the internationally ranked Cazoo Players’ Championship.

Tournament manager Mike Ganley, son of former referee Len Ganley, and former professional player Martin Clark from Sedgley were on hand to oversee the final work on the arena, which sees banks of seating put in place and two tables installed.

The event comes on the back of the PDC Grand Slam of Darts held at the venue last year and is being held in the city for the first time.

Sports fans now have the opportunity to buy tickets to see snooker’s biggest names, including Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump, compete at the event, which runs from Monday, February 7, until Sunday, February 13.

The tournament is set to be televised by ITV4 , as well as a range of other international broadcasters worldwide.

The hall at Aldersley Leisure Village is being transformed into a snooker arena, big enough to have two tables

A World Snooker Tour spokesman said: "We are thrilled to stage the Cazoo Players Championship at Aldersley Leisure Village for the first time. It is a fantastic venue and a fitting location for such a big tournament.

"We know there is a lot of support for snooker in the Wolverhampton area and we expect to see great crowds and a superb atmosphere throughout the week.

"The field is packed with the very best players in the world so for local fans this is an incredible chance to see top class live sport. We’re looking forward to a great week."

Councillor Steve Evans, Wolverhampton Council cabinet member with responsibility for city events, said: "We are absolutely delighted the World Snooker Tour has chosen Wolverhampton to stage one of its prestigious televised events.

"The successful staging of the Grand Slam of Darts and big-name comedy events at WV Active’s Aldersley Leisure Village showed what a great venue it is and now it will host some of snooker’s greats.

"This is all part of our overall five-year events strategy to bring the very best in art, music and sport to the city to boost the local economy, create new jobs and build an outstanding cultural reputation."

Tickets for the tournament are on sale now and start from £15, with afternoon sessions beginning at 1pm and evening sessions at 7pm.

Full details are available at wst.tv/tickets