<p>Advani last brought the snooker crown home in 2003.<br /><br />The International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) decided to shift the tournament from Bahrain to Bangalore due to prolonged crisis in some parts of Middle East Asia.<br />IBSF Board Member and tournament Director Barrie Jones told reporters here that the round-robin matches would be held till Nov 30 followed by both quarterfinals and semifinals from Dec 2 and the final on December 3.</p>.<p>As many as 42 countries including India, Thailand, England, Australia, Pakistan and Ireland will take part in the tournament, the highest number for any international championship in this discipline, he said.<br /><br />Indians Damandeep Singh and Balaji Reddy would be in the fray after two Qatari players declared their unavailability citing visa problems, Jones said.<br /><br />A total of 87 cueists have been divided into 16 groups. The winner will get 40 per cent of the total prize money of USD 16000 with a trophy, certificate and medal. The runner-up and second runner-up would receive 20 per cent and 12.5 per cent of the total prize amount, he said.<br /><br />Jones said financial constraints are a stumbling block to increase the number of world class tournaments. "If we get sponsorships, we hope to have more tournaments," he said.<br />Dechawat Poomjaeng of Thailand won last year's world snooker championship in Syria. </p>
<p>Advani last brought the snooker crown home in 2003.<br /><br />The International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) decided to shift the tournament from Bahrain to Bangalore due to prolonged crisis in some parts of Middle East Asia.<br />IBSF Board Member and tournament Director Barrie Jones told reporters here that the round-robin matches would be held till Nov 30 followed by both quarterfinals and semifinals from Dec 2 and the final on December 3.</p>.<p>As many as 42 countries including India, Thailand, England, Australia, Pakistan and Ireland will take part in the tournament, the highest number for any international championship in this discipline, he said.<br /><br />Indians Damandeep Singh and Balaji Reddy would be in the fray after two Qatari players declared their unavailability citing visa problems, Jones said.<br /><br />A total of 87 cueists have been divided into 16 groups. The winner will get 40 per cent of the total prize money of USD 16000 with a trophy, certificate and medal. The runner-up and second runner-up would receive 20 per cent and 12.5 per cent of the total prize amount, he said.<br /><br />Jones said financial constraints are a stumbling block to increase the number of world class tournaments. "If we get sponsorships, we hope to have more tournaments," he said.<br />Dechawat Poomjaeng of Thailand won last year's world snooker championship in Syria. </p>