PIOS attracts a global field for 2009-10 series
The 2009-10 PIOS series, which gives the 8 top players a place on the WSA Main Professional Tour, has attracted entries from as far away as China, Mongolia and Australia.
The 2009-10 PIOS Snooker Series, which is held at the World Snooker Centre, in Pontin's, North Wales, will see 18 countries, from right around the world, represented.
As well as England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, entries have been received from Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Holland, China, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mongolia, Thailand, Germany and India.
Several of last season's demoted professionals have comes back to the PIOS to have another go at gaining a Main Tour place.
The promising young players like Stephen Craigie, Vinnie Muldoon, Jamie Jones, Michael Georgiou, David Grace will all have benefited from their professional experience and will be names to watch out for this season.
Some more season former professionals have also dusted off their cues. Wayne Brown and Brian Morgan both make a return to competition after a few seasons out of the pro ranks.
PIOS stalwart Mike Hallett, who came close last season to regaining his place, is having another go, as are Shokat Ali, Alfie Burden, Kurt Maflin, Alex and Adam Davies, Paul Davison, Liu Chuang, Jeff Cundy, Rodney Goggins and Suriya Suwannasingh.
The Irish Champion, Martin McCrudden enters for the first time, as does Northern Ireland's leading junior, Declan Brennan.
One name to watch out for is Igor Figueiredo from Brazil. Igor is a multiple Brazilian Champion, but, in Brazil they play on ten foot tables with ten reds.
Figueiredo's first tournament on full size tables was a few weeks ago in Belgium, when he shocked a number of experienced players, to reach the quarter finals of the International Open.
The new Paul Hunter Scholar, Jack Lisowski, will be bidding to gain his Main Tour place, as will another Gloucester lad, Michael Wasley, who was runner up in this year's European Under 19 Championship.
With a bumper entry of 142, it will be a very busy opening day, on Monday 22 June, as the first PIOS of the season gets under way.
Global Snooker will be at all PIOS events providing live coverage, photos, news, player profiles, scores and results. Check out the 2009-10 PIOS here.
