 The 900 is back for Season Two on Monday evening, with the fast-paced, unpredictable event offering the biggest prize in amateur snooker once again. The innovative idea burst onto the scene last year and was a hit with amateur players, who scrapped it out for the £10,000 top prize, eventually won by Ant Parsons. The tournament is back with the same one-frame format, in the same Crucible Sports & Social Club in Reading, but played with a live crowd this time around, which will be a first. It is a huge opportunity for some little-known players, while there are former world champions Dennis Taylor and Joe Johnson, ex-pros including Tony Drago, Michael Holt, Robin Hull and Ng On Yee all involved and even pool star Jayson Shaw. The event is played over eight weeks, with the winner each week winning £2,000 and qualifying for the Grand Final where the £10,000 and Season Two title is on offer. The man behind The 900, Jason Francis, told Metro.co.uk: 'There's been huge interest after last year, hence why we're going to a live studio. 'We've built a live studio, we've got champions from 15 countries. The interest has been unbelievable. 'The TV channel – SportyStuffTV – have already put the dates in for Season 3 next year, so The 900 is definitely here to stay. We just look to build on it and get the prize money bigger and bigger.' Ant Parsons celebrated his Season One win with The 900 crew (Picture: The 900) Francis is also chairman of World Seniors Snooker and says talks are underway to get The 900 events on a bigger broadcaster under that banner. 'We're still talking to Channel 5 about doing one day specials of The 900 with them, with the more high profile players,' he said. 'Possibly by the end of the year with the likes of Jimmy [White], Stephen [Hendry] and Ken [Doherty] under the World Seniors banner. 'A problem with snooker is that you don't know how long it will last. With The 900 we know how long it's going to){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
The 900 is back for Season Two on Monday evening, with the fast-paced, unpredictable event offering the biggest prize in amateur snooker once again.
The innovative idea burst onto the scene last year and was a hit with amateur players, who scrapped it out for the £10,000 top prize, eventually won by Ant Parsons.
The tournament is back with the same one-frame format, in the same Crucible Sports & Social Club in Reading, but played with a live crowd this time around, which will be a first.
It is a huge opportunity for some little-known players, while there are former world champions Dennis Taylor and Joe Johnson, ex-pros including Tony Drago, Michael Holt, Robin Hull and Ng On Yee all involved and even pool star Jayson Shaw.