Malta professional Tony Drago will be starting the official 2002/2003 season with a tough match in the qualifying phase of the 2002 Regal Masters Tournament against Nigel Bond.

The 16-man qualifying tournament will be played in Stirling between August 27 and September 1. Here, no fewer than 13 of those who contested the final stages of the 2002 Embassy World Championship will be involved. The world's top players will then feature in the main event at Glasgow's Thistle Hotel between September 24 and 29.

Drago plays Bond on August 28. The winner faces either Anthony Hamilton or Michael Judge.

The top seed in the qualifying round is Graeme Dott, last season's runner-up in the British Open. He plays against Finn Robin Hull who along with Drago are the only two non-British cueists playing in this stage of the competition.

Whoever wins the qualifying event will earn the right to play in the main event and joins the world's best players in Glasgow.

Paul Hunter, the Regal Welsh Open and Wembley Masters winner, and Mark King fill two of the wild card spots, with another to be taken by the winner of the qualifying tournament.

Drago did well last season to retain his place in the top 32 as competition started getting even tougher than before. He started the season 29th but finished the campaign one place better. Bond, one-time World Championship finalist and Regal Masters '97 champion, slipped from 23rd to 30th after a rather poor season by his own standards.

Qualifying tournament (first round): Graeme Dott vs Robin Hull; Dominic Dale vs Drew Henry; Joe Swail vs Anthony Davies; Alan Mc-Manus vs Chris Small; Tony Drago vs Nigel Bond; Anthony Hamilton vs Michael Judge; David Gray vs Fergal O'Brien; Joe Perry vs Ali Carter.

Main events 2002/2003: Regal Masters (Glasgow) Sept. 24-29; LG Cup (London) Oct. 4-13; B&H Championship (Mansfield) Oct. 19-31; British Open (tbc) Nov.; UK Championship (York) Dec. 2-15; Regal Welsh (tbc) Jan.; B&H Masters (Wembley) Feb. 2-9; Irish Masters (Dublin) March 25-30; Regal Scottish (tbc) March/April; World Championship (Sheffield) April 19-May 5.

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