On the home front 2000 quarter finalist Steve ‘Romford Slim’ Davis will lead the British challenge that includes reigning World Snooker Champion Mark Williams, 1999 quarter finalist Steve Knight  and UK’s No.1 ranked player Imran Majid.

The Championship breaks off at 11am o­n Saturday 12th July as the opening group games get underway and culminates o­n the evening of Sunday 20th when the final will be played out and the destination of the magnificent trophy and the winners cheque of $65,000 will be decided.

The World Pool Championship is live in its entirety o­n Sky Sports in the UK, adding up to more than 60 hours of live coverage over the nine days. The Championship is also live to over 60 countries across Asia o­n the ESPN Star network where pool is o­ne of the top-rated sports.

In addition, the event is live throughout Holland via terrestrial broadcaster RTL5 and in Hungary o­n Sport 1. As well as its live coverage, the World Pool Championship is broadcast in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, the Middle East and various European countries in highlights form.

The tournament is sanctioned by the World Pool Association, the sport’s governing body, who administer pool across the world. For players who have not made it through to the main draw via international ranking lists, there is a series of open qualifying events at the Cardiff International Arena starting o­n Saturday 5th July. Eleven places are available and it is a chance for aspirational club players to rub shoulders with the greats of the game.

Pool is o­ne of the fastest growing sports in the world and the 2003 World Pool Championship is its international show case.

World Pool Championship 2003  –  Prize Fund 

Winner                                     $65,000                                               x 1       $65,000

Runner-Up                                $30,000                                               x 1       $30,000

Semi-Finalists                         $17,500                                               x 2       $35,000

Qtr Finalists                             $ 8,500                                                x 4       $34,000

Last 16                                      $ 4,000                                                x 8        $32,000

Last 32                                      $ 2,000                                                x 16      $32,000

Last 64                                       $ 1,500                                                x 32      $48,000

5th Place in Group                     $ 1,000                                                x 16     $16,000

6th Place in Group                         $    500                                                 x  16        $ 8,000

                                                                                                                                    _______

Total Prize Fund                                                                                                         $300,000