THE inaugural John Virgo Trophy gets underway TODAY with a total of nearly £50,000 up for grabs, as snooker pays tribute to an icon.
Ronnie O’Sullivan will be joined by John Higgins, Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry in competition for the trophy.
This foursome has been a dominant force in snooker for over 30 years, racking up a combined 21 world titles.
They pay their respects to Virgo, a star both on and off the table, following his death in February.
Born in Salford in 1946, Virgo enjoyed an 18-year professional career which included a UK Championship in 1979.
During the 90s he co-presented Big Break alongside Jim Davidson and later became a familiar voice in the commentary booth.
For O’Sullivan, Higgins and Williams the trophy also serves as a competitive warm up for the World Snooker Championship, which starts next week.
When is the John Virgo Trophy?
The event begins on Saturday 11th April at Goffs in Ireland, with semi-final pairings of Higgins vs Williams from 2-5pm and O’Sullivan vs Hendry from 7-11pm.
The winners progress to the final on Sunday, which closes the event from 7-11pm, following the third/fourth place playoff.
John Virgo Trophy prize money
The prize pot may be on the modest side but there are guaranteed earnings for all four players.
- First place: £17,400 (20,000 Euros)
- Second place: £13,064 (15,000 Euros)
- Third place: £10,886 (12,500 Euros)
- Fourth place: £8709 (10,000 Euros)
How can I watch the John Virgo Trophy?
Pluto TV will broadcast the event, and snooker fans in the UK can watch on 5 Action or on 5’s streaming service.
SunSport will also cover all the weekend action through our live blog.
