Snooker used to be a mainstay of the Guild Hall’s offering

The eyes of the snooker world will be locked on Preston from Tuesday.

The World Snooker Grand Final returns to the Guild Hall for the first time in nine years.

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It is the culmination of the European and Asian tour series and there is £100,000 at stake as 32 players do battle on the baize.

Snooker returning to the Guild Hall is a huge boost for the struggling venue.

Preston city council have subsidised it to the tune of £500,000 for the coming financial year but cannot guarantee it will continue to operate during 2015.

The council is currently in negotiations with a number of operators to see if it can be either sold or operated by them.

Tickets are still available for the snooker, which is expected to be televised, but they are going fast. The final on Saturday is completely sold out.

The likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Ding Junhui are expected to be in the draw.

Councillor Peter Rankin, leader of Preston City Council, said: “It is great to welcome back the world’s best snooker players to Preston and back to the Guild Hall, a venue which has been synonymous with the sport over the years.

“There is a great appetite for snooker in the region and I am sure people will want to come out and see the top stars of the sport competing in the Guild Hall.”

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to bring a world class snooker tournament to Preston for the first time since 2005. The Guild Hall is a superb venue and we know that the Lancashire area is a hot-bed for snooker. This announcement is fantastic news for the fans in the area, who now have a chance to see the top stars competing for a major title.”

Have you got a ticket? Will you be going? Let us know in the comments below