Snooker: India to host first world ranking event in October

India will stage its first world ranking snooker tournament in October.

The Indian Open in Delhi will feature 64 of the world's top players and will offer prize money of £300,000, with £50,000 going to the winner.

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn said: "This is a momentous announcement for snooker as we stage a world ranking event in India for the very first time.

"If we can replicate the phenomenal success we have had in China then India will be a very exciting prospect."

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson added: "I have been in Delhi to finalise the agreement and have witnessed first-hand the enthusiasm for snooker in India.

"We now have two Indian players on the professional tour; Aditya Mehta who reached the last 16 of the International Championship last season and Pankaj Advani who got to the semi-finals of the Paul Hunter Classic and the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open.

"The people in India really love our game and I've no doubt this event will be a great success and provide a basis for snooker's growth there."

A qualifying round will be held at at the Doncaster Dome in August with players needing to win one match to earn a place at the tournament in India, which will be held from 14 to 18 October.