Cheltenham will host a major snooker tournament for the first time in February 2019 when the World Grand Prix comes to the town.

The world-ranking event will run from February 4 to 10 in The Centaur, part of the famous Cheltenham Racecourse.

Fans in the Gloucestershire area will have the perfect chance to see the best snooker players on the planet competing for a prestigious title.

The World Grand Prix will feature the leading 32 players on the 2018/19 season one year ranking list, starting with July's Riga Masters and ending with the final counting event, the German Masters which finishes on February 3.

With extensive live television coverage from ITV4, the tournament offers a top prize of £100,000 from a total prize fund of £375,000.

Last season the World Grand Prix was staged in Preston, with Ronnie O'Sullivan beating Ding Junhui in the final.

The top 16 on the one year ranking list will go on to compete in the Players Championship in Preston (March 4 to 10) and then the top eight will progress to the new Tour Championship in Llandudno (March 19 to 24).

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn said: "We are thrilled to bring the World Grand Prix to a new location at the fantastic Cheltenham Racecourse. As well as being world famous for horse racing, this is a superb venue which hosts a wide range of major events and we have no doubt it will prove a top class facility for one of our leading tournaments.

"The popularity of snooker has grown dramatically in recent years, both in terms of its television and live audience, so we are always looking for new locations where we can give fans the opportunity to see the players in the flesh.

"Tickets will go on sale soon and they will sell rapidly so fans are strongly urged to book fast.

"From the moment the very first ball is struck at the beginning of the new season, players will be striving for every pound to get themselves up the one year ranking list and earn a place at the three highly lucrative events which will take place early in 2019 in Cheltenham, Preston and Llandudno. There will be star-studded fields at all three venues."

Lee Moulson, regional head of sales at Cheltenham Racecourse, added: "We couldn't be more excited to be hosting the 2019 World Grand Prix here at Cheltenham Racecourse.

"The Centaur is a fantastic venue for an event of this type and we are delighted to be hosting snooker at the Home of Jump Racing for the first time."

Details of how to buy tickets will be released soon.

Picture captions: The outside and inside of The Centaur at Cheltenham Racecourse