Snooker in March 2012

Phew! Can you believe we have survived no less than three ranking events, two series of Championship League and two qualifiers? That's how busy the month that has just ended was. But it was good fun and a great way for people all around the world to acknowledge the fact that snooker is definitely back.

Now moving on to March, I must tell you that if you want a break from snooker this is the week do it, because after the second half of the month we are booked completely. And don’t get me started on how April is looking, because we have the most incredible event coming our way: The World Championship. 

But let's not get carried away and see how the current month is presenting itself.

First stop is the dreamy Ireland where the PTC Grand Finals is taking place from 14-18 of March, 24 brave players that did their best to obtain as many ranking points as possible and collect enough money during the PTC series, crossing their cues in the ultimate battle - the one for the big trophy.

As the tournament is finishing we are heading straight to Essex for the last matches of the Championship League. The first couple of days are being dedicated to Group Seven matches, while after the last two the name of the player who is getting a place in this year's Premier League being no longer a secret.

Three days (23, 24 and 25) have been considered to be enough for the Top 16 lads and the ones that managed to qualify for China Open in order to pack their bags and take the first flight to Beijing. Here, from 26 of March until 1^st of April the China Open tournament is taking place.

When?: 14-18 March
Where?: Bailey Allen Hall, Galway, Ireland
Defending champion: Shaun Murphy
Who's playing?: click here for the draw.
Ranking points: winner (3,000), runner-up (2,400), losing semi-finalists (1,920), losing quarter-finalists (1,500), Last 16 (1,140) and Last 24 (840).
Prize money: winner ( £70,000) - update needed -
 

When?: 19-22 March
Where?: Crondon Park, Essex
Who's playing?: click here for the draw.
Prize money: For the group phase - £3,000 for the winner of each final, £2,000 for the runner-up in final, £1,000 for the losing semi-finalists, £100 per frame won and £500 for the highest break.                      
For winners' group phase - £10,000 for the overall champion, £5,000 for the overall runner-up, £3,000 for the losing semi-finalists, £300 per frame won and £1,000for the highest break.
Ranking points: -


When?: March 26 - April 1st
Where?: Beijing, China
Defending champion: Judd Trump
Who's playing?: click here for the draw.
Ranking points: winner (7,000), runner-up (5,600), losing semi-finalists (4,480), losing quarter-finalists (3,500), Last 16 (2,660), Last 32 (1,960 and 980*), Last 48 (1,610 and 805*) and for the Last 64 (1,260 and 630*).
Prize money: winner (£75,000), runner-up (£30,000), losing semi-finalists (£18,000), losing quarter-finalists (£10,000), Last 16 (£7,500), Last 32 (£6,000), Last 48 (£2,300) and for the Last 64 (£1,500). There are also two more money prizes, one for the highest break made on TV (£2,000) and one for the highest non-TV break (£200).
*seeded loser