New World Open Excites Hendry

Scottish snooker legend Stephen Hendry says he is fired up for the new season and the World Open in Glasgow.

The seven-times World Champion is still ranked among the world's top 16 at the age of 41, though he is not satisfied with being an also-ran at the sport's biggest tournaments. He won his opening match in all six ranking events last season, but failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals of any of them.

"That's not the kind of consistency I'm looking for, it's about winning titles," said the Auchterarder cueman. "I'm always enthusiastic when the new season comes around, so I just have to keep trying and see what happens."

The World Open runs from September 18-26 at the SECC in Glasgow and boasts a series of new features including quickfire best-of-five frame matches, a random draw and the chance for amateurs to enter at the qualifying stage.

"It's the one tournament we have in Scotland, and with the new format there's no doubt it's going to be exciting," added Hendry, who won his last ranking title in 2005.

Hendry plays his first match in the tournament at 2pm on Sunday, September 19. Many of snooker's top stars will be in action at the SECC including Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, Steve Davis, Mark Selby and Scots Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott.

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The World Open receives equal funding and support from EventScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “GCMB is delighted to be continuing its support of World Snooker by welcoming the game's elite players back to Glasgow for the new-look 2010 World Snooker Open this September.

“Well known stars including Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Steve Davis will be competing alongside Glasgow-born talents Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott as well as the game's current crop of young guns, such as reigning world champion Neil Robertson. Moreover, the new tournament format is likely to appeal to players and fans alike by creating exciting, quick-fire matches, which will further help to revitalise world snooker.

“Around 10,000 tickets have been made available for the nine-day contest at the SECC, with the event itself expected to generate around £335,000 for Scotland's economy and almost £1 million worth of TV exposure.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland said: “The line up for the World Open in Glasgow is very impressive and the SECC will be a perfect stage for snooker enthusiasts from across Scotland and beyond to watch the top players in action. The World Open is a marquee event on Scotland's busy events calendar this year and we look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators to Glasgow next month.”