Malta Cup block tickets on sale

Block tickets for the Malta Cup, the 32-man world ranking tournament at the Hilton, between January 30 and February 5, will go on sale as from today.

These will be available from Café Veneziana, Valletta, Kids' Korner, Hamrun, Munch Cafe, Gzira, and 9 Ball Café Snooker Hall, Qawra.

Block tickets for the whole seven-day tournament, comprising 35 matches, cost Lm30.

Both 'wild card' matches, as well as Tony Drago's first qualifying match against Shokat Ali will be played on January 30. Three other last 32 matches (Round 1) will also be played on the opening day of the tournament.

On January 31, the winner of the Drago-Ali match will play the last 48 qualifier against Barry Pinches along with five other Round One matches. The remaining Round One matches will take place on February 1.

The last 16 round will be played on February 2. Up to this stage, all matches are held on a three-table set-up and will be on a best-of-nine-frame basis.

The quarter-finals will see the set-up changed to a two-table format and these will be played on February 3, starting at 4 p.m., all matches best-of-nine.

Both semi-finals will be played on a one-table set-up on February 4, at 3 and 8 p.m., best-of-11 frames. The final (best-of-17), will be contested on February 5 and will be played over two sessions, one at 2 p.m. and the second at 7 p.m.

The Malta Cup is one of six world ranking events on the calendar of the World Snooker Association this season.