Snooker comes to Romania

It is finally happening: snooker comes to Romania and it is my great pleasure to inform you all that I am over the moon with excitement (not than any of you care about that sort of things, so I shall continue with the news).

World Snooker has recently released the news (which it in all fairness is not breaking news but great news, nonetheless) that Bucharest will be on the snooker map as the European Championship will staged here for the next three years.

As you all know, a few weeks ago I have been properly introduced to seeing professional snooker players at work (more about my experience here), as Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stuart Bingham have come to Romania for some exhibition matches.

Since then rumours have been flowing around that something big is going to happen and now, it's official: 2016 will mark the start of professional snooker getting acquainted with the Romanian audience.

The European Championship will be a ranking event (all 128 players will be part of the package) and will run from October 3rd until October 9th.

Although the venue is yet to be confirmed my sources say that the final stages will take place at the Circus Arena from Bucharest, the same place where the O'Sullivan v. Bingham exhibition matches happened (aka. got us, Romanians, scream: We love snooker!).

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to be bringing snooker into another new territory and once again expanding snooker’s global footprint.

“There are several new ranking events planned for the 2015/16 season as our tour continues to grow, and the new European Championship in Bucharest will be a tremendous addition to the calendar. The earning opportunities for the players have never been better, likewise the opportunities for fans to watch snooker live. These are exciting times for our sport.”

Adrian Thiess from McCann/Thiess Events added: “We are delighted to bring a world ranking event to Romania for the first time. The recent snooker exhibition showed what an incredible appetite the fans in Bucharest have for the sport. We look forward to working with World Snooker on what will be a spectacular tournament.”

So without any further ado, I am most deeply pleased to say: Let's get the boys on the baize! *counting the days