9 Facts About World Snooker

1. World Snooker reached landmark commercial agreements with the BBC, Eurosport and the Crucible Theatre to extend its existing contracts.

2. World Snooker returned to its founding nation for the first time for the inaugural Indian Open in New Delhi.

3. World Snooker lost one of its leading lights as three-time Masters champion Paul Hunter lost his battle with cancer at the age of just 27.

4. World Snooker enters the International World Games for the first time in Akita, Japan.

5. World Snooker was televised by the BBC for the first time from Leicester Square Hall.

6. World Snooker was invented by the British Army in the Indian town of Jubbulpore.

7. World Snooker is more rock and roll than you might imagine.

8. World Snooker had decamped to the Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool for a long summer of preliminary rounds and O'Sullivan emerged as the undoubted star.

9. World Snooker has a charitable arm that helps players who have fallen on hard times.