More than 200 snooker players to participate in U16, U18 and U21 World Championships in Bucharest

More than 200 snooker players from 40 countries will participate in the World Championships for cadets - U16, juniors - U18 and youth - U21, which will take place in Bucharest between August 14 and 27, the organizers told a press conference held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Sports on Thursday, Agerpres reports.

It is estimated that 30 Romanian players will participate in this year's competition, which will be held in the same location for all three age categories, for the first time. There will be a total of 208 players, 64 in the Under-16, 64 in the Under-18 and 80 in the Under-21 event.

The president of the Romanian Snooker Federation (FRS), Francisc Toba, explained that the fact Romania is the host also represents a great opportunity for the Romanian players to participate in large numbers in high level competitions.

Also present at the press conference, the honorary president of the Romanian Snooker Federation, Prince Dimitrie Sturdza, who also bears some of the organizational expenses, stated that he wants to invite tennis player Simona Halep to the event in August if she is in that period in the country.

"It is a great honour for Romania to host this event, and it's also very important for the promotion of snooker among younger people, who in recent years are more concerned with phones and tablets than sports. I would like Romanian young people to become interested in sports again, and the Snooker World Championships may raise their interest. Which is why everybody involved will try to make this competition a success because we all want to promote sports. If she is able to come, we will also invite Simona Halep to this Snooker World Chamionships. She is a great girl and if she is in Romania at that time I believe she will do us the pleasure to come," said Sturdza.

For his part, James Lacey, vice president of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF), said he expects the 2022 U16, U18 and U21 World Championships to be a success.

The best performance of snooker in Romania is the bronze medal won by Mihai Vladu at the 2016 U18 World Junior Championships.

Over time, Romania has hosted international snooker competitions such as the EBSA European Championship in Constanta (2006) and Bucharest (2010, 2014 and 2018) and the IBSF Under 21 World Championship in Bucharest (2015).