World Women's Snooker (WWS), the governing body of the World Women's Snooker Tour, has revealed an exciting plan for a landmark first tournament in the United States over the next 12 months.

The announcement follows a five-year growth period which has seen the WWS Tour expand its footprint significantly beyond the UK, with ranking tournaments held in mainland Europe, Asia and the Oceania region since 2016. Earlier this year the WWS Tour was recognized as an official qualifying pathway to the professional World Snooker Tour – the very highest level of the sport.

With eyes on a breakthrough Stateside, extremely positive discussions have taken place with Michael Dominguez, owner of Ox Billiards which opened in Seattle last month, which is a stunning new venue boasting four World Snooker Tour standard XingPai Star snooker tables.

With the support of WWS, Ox Billiards is committed to increasing female snooker participation in the United States and to helping provide opportunities for women and girls to become trailblazers on the women's circuit and beyond.

The discussions have taken place with the blessing of the United States Snooker Association (USSA), and regional body, the Pan American Billiards and Snooker Association (PABSA).

Subject to any Covid-19 restrictions in place, it is the aim of both parties that the cooperation will result in the staging of a ranking event competition within the next 12 months.

Mandy Fisher, WWS President, said: "Today's announcement is hugely exciting for our Tour as we continue to expand and provide the opportunity for women to play our wonderful sport across the globe.

"We are extremely grateful to Mike for the enthusiasm that he has shown for this project over the past several months. Ox Billiards looks to be a fantastic new venue for tournament snooker and already, thanks to his encouragement, we have received expressions of interest from American players excited to compete in the tournament which is fantastic to see!"

Dominguez said: "Snooker is a fantastic cue sport that is appreciated by American players. In particular, we are delighted to be working together with WWS with the goal of bringing the World Women's Snooker Tour to the U.S. for the first time, right here at Ox Billiards in Seattle.

"Already we are speaking with players who will be the pioneers for women's snooker in our country and we hope will inspire more people to play the sport in the U.S. We are proud to be a part of this!"

Ajeya Prabhakar, USSA and PABSA president said: "From a U.S. and Pan-American perspective it will be fantastic to host the WWS Tour in Seattle, a fantastic city on the west coast of the United States. I think it would be a great event in our region, in an awesome city, at a great new club with a character that Michael has created!

"We hope that it'll be a start of many tournaments to come to our region both from a women's perspective as well as the world tour.”

For more information about the WWS Tour, please visit their website at: www.womenssnooker.com