Morningside Arena Leicester welcomed the World Snooker Tour last week for the MrQ UK Championship qualifiers.
The MrQ UK Championship is one of snooker’s most prestigious events, with a long history dating back to 1977. The competition features 32 of the world’s best players.
Hosting the MrQ UK Championship qualifiers was part of the Arena’s long time relationship with the World Snooker Tour, with the Arena hosting several snooker events throughout the years. It was also the first time that fans were welcomed to spectate the qualifying stages of the championship.
The qualifying event featured 128 players, all trying to earn one of 16 spots in the final stages of the UK Championship in York and all culminated in two ‘Judgement Days’.
Leicester native Joe O’Connor secured his spot in the UK Championship last week, with a 6-3 win over 2004 Champion, Stephen Maguire.
“He got me in all sorts of trouble at the end so I was relieved to get through,” said O’Connor, who will be one of four Leicester-based players in York alongside Ben Woollaston, Mark Selby and Tom Ford.
“I feel I’ve been playing well the last few weeks and it’s great to get through because York is such a good venue. It’s nice for Leicester to have four players there and I’m pleased for Tom climbing into the top 16, he deserves to be there.”
Live snooker action will take a two-month break from the Arena before action returns with the 2024 World Grand Prix!
The World Grand Prix will be staged at the Morningside Arena in Leicester for the first time in 2024, featuring the top 32 players from the 2023/24 season one-year ranking list.
Tickets are on sale now for the tournament which will run from January 15th to 21st 2024. Mark Allen won the title in 2023, beating Judd Trump 10-9 in a dramatic final in Cheltenham. The 2024 edition promises to be more enthralling than ever.
The World Grand Prix has been ever-present on the calendar since 2015. The one-year list will run from the first ranking event of the 2023/24 season, and only the top 32 will make it to Leicester. It is the first event in the Players Series, followed by the Players Championship and Tour Championship.
Tickets start at just £20, and fans are urged to book quickly to make sure of their seats to see a wide range of the sport’s leading players.
Get your tickets below!