Preston is back in the frame for televised snooker after Sky TV staged an event in the city.
The Guild Hall was for many years synonymous with the sport, and was the scene of all five of former world champion Steven Hendry’s UK Open triumphs.
And at the end of October Hendry returned along with current world champion John Higgins, 2005 champion Sean Murphy, and recent Grand Prix winner Neil Robertson to play Premier League snooker in an event broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Paul Humphreys, Publicity Officer for the Guild Hall and Charter Theatre hailed the event a success. He said: “The fact that Sky TV have come along can only be good for us.
“Even though we’ve not had snooker here for four or five years, there is a constant flow of people who come into the Guild Hall and ask us when snooker is coming again.”
Despite sluggish early sales figures, the city’s snooker fans responded well to the event, with 90% of the 785 tickets sold and plenty of spectators paying on the door.
The night began with Scot John Higgins defeating Australian Neil Robertson 4-2, and ended with Steven Hendry winning a tense final frame against Sean Murphy to level the clash of the former world champions at 3-3.
Paul Humphreys believes the event can act as a springboard for future live snooker after Glasgow-based sponsors moved the Grand Prix, Preston’s last televised event, north of the border after 2005.
Humphreys added that the event was a chance to “refresh people’s memories that we are still a cracking venue.
He added: “We get nothing but good feedback from the players – they love it. They miss coming here.
“Fingers crossed the people of Preston will see snooker live again soon.”
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