Snooker gets new sponsor

SNOOKER’S World Championship has a new sponsor after the sport’s governing body signed a lucrative multi-million pound deal.

World Snooker have announced a new five-year deal with online casino and poker company 888.com, with a view to the agreement being extended in the future.

The news comes on the back of a new sponsor for the Masters, which began yesterday at the Wembley Conference Centre. Saga Insurance came in at the 11th hour to back the game’s most prestigious invitation event.

But with a sponsor secured for the World Championship, the final of which attracted 7.8 million television viewers last year, the future of snooker looks healthy.

Embassy sponsored the World Championship for 30 years, before being forced to withdraw their support following legislation which banned tobacco advertising.