World Snooker is the commercial arm of the World Professional Billiards & Snooker
Association (WPBSA), the governing body of professional snooker.
It is responsible for running and administrating snooker's professional circuit,
including prestigious ranking tournaments such as the World Championship, UK
Championship and the Grand Prix, as well as invitation events such as the Masters.
As the owner of the sport's commercial rights, World Snooker also negotiates
sponsorship for tournaments as well as television contracts.
Snooker's popularity is growing rapidly in many countries around the globe. In 2004,
World Snooker signed a deal with the European sports television channel Eurosport,
to broadcast snooker into 51 different countries and territories, with a reach of 95
million homes across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Viewing figures are
particularly high in countries such as Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.
In the Far East, the snooker boom is developing at pace. The China Open staged in
Beijing in 2005 was enthusiastically received by Chinese fans. A staggering 110 million
people watched live on television as the home nation's Ding Junhui beat the seven times
World Champion Stephen Hendry in the final to elevate himself to the status of national
hero.
Snooker is also one of the most popular sports in the United Kingdom and is played
regularly by over four million adults (UK population of 60 million). It attracts vast
television audiences; the 2005 World Championship final was watched by a peak figure
of 7.8 million on BBC television. 45% of the UK population (25 million) watched 15
minutes or more of the coverage.
The WPBSA also deals specifically with the rules and regulations of snooker as well
as disciplinary matters.
Successful sports promoter Barry Hearn was appointed Chairman of the WPBSA board in
December 2009, with Brandon Parker, Jason Ferguson, as well as the six-times former
world champion Steve Davis, serving as directors.
World Snooker's headquarters are located in Bristol, in the south-west region of
Britain.
World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association
Ground Floor
Albert House
111-117 Victoria Street
Bristol
BS1 6AX
ENGLAND
World Snooker also has a commercial base in London, England.:
14-16 Great Portland Street
London
W1W 8QW
ENGLAND
And an office in China:
World Snooker China (Beijing)
Representative Office Suite 1532
15 Floor
NCI Tower
12A Jianguomenwai Avenue
Chaoyang District
100022 Beijing
CHINA
Tel: +86 010 8523 3059
Fax: +86 010 8523 3001
Support the promotion and development of the sport of snooker in the United States by becoming a member of the United States Snooker Association (USSA).
An organization to heighten the interest and awareness of cuesports
through the support and sanctioning of competition throughout the United States and North America
» FindSnooker.com State-by-state list of snooker tables in the United States