The 2011 Premier League Snooker starts on Thursday 18 August, with John Higgins facing Jimmy White
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The tournament has undergone a major overhaul of its format since last season and promises to be more exciting than ever.
Ten players (the winners of every major event in the snooker calendar) will now compete in four mini tournaments compromising of four players; points are awarded for frames won.
Newcomers to this year's event include The Whirlwind Jimmy White, who earned his place via his World Seniors title and is the tenth seed rank outsider in the event.
The line-up contains a mixture of youth and experience, with the likes of Judd Trump, Ding Junhui and Matthew Stevens alongside big guns such as John Higgins, Mark Williams and defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The top four come the end of the season will progress to the play-offs in Norfolk, with £60,000 awarded to the winner.
The unique format of the event incorporates a 25 second shot clock, as well as Sky Sports Shoot Out rules applied for deciding frames.
The revamp of the event comes as part of Barry Hearn's growing revolution of the sport.
"Last season was a watershed year for snooker and one of the consequences has been the incredible standard of play," said Hearn.
“It seemed only right to invite the winners of every major championship last season. With Ronnie attempting to win his tenth League title, he will be facing stiff competition from the likes of Higgins, Williams, Trump, Ding, Robertson and Murphy," he added.
“We’ve even managed to include the World Seniors Champion in the line-up and I’m sure over the quick fire format, Jimmy will cause a few surprises. Any one of the ten players is in with a chance which is what makes it such an exciting event.”
The tournament kicks off with world champion John Higgins against the people's champion Jimmy White, before Neil Robertson takes on Matthew Stevens.
The winners of the two matches will meet in the week 1 final in Skegness.
The tournament gets underway on Thursday August 18 at 7:30pm from the Embassy Theatre, Skegness.
Week 1 - August 18, 2011
Semi-finals: John Higgins v Jimmy White, Neil Robertson v Matthew Stevens.
Final: Higgins or White v Robertson or Stevens
Week 2 - September 1 - Guildford Spectrum
Semi-finals: Jimmy White v Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Shaun Murphy.
Final: White or Williams v O'Sullivan or Murphy.
Week 3 - September 22 - Ravenscraig Sports Facility, Motherwell
Semi-finals: John Higgins v Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui v Shaun Murphy.
Final: Higgins or Robertson v Ding or Murphy.
Week 4 - September 29 - The Dome, Doncaster
Semi-finals: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Matthew Stevens, Ding Junhui v Ali Carter.
Final: O'Sullivan or Stevens v Ding or Carter.
Week 5 - October 6 - Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, Weston-Super-Mare
Semi-finals: Mark Williams v Judd Trump, John Higgins v Matthew Stevens.
Final: Williams or Trump v Higgins or Stevens.
Week 6 - October 13 - Biddulph Leisure Centre, Stoke
Semi-finals: Mark Williams v Ali Carter, Jimmy White v Ding Junhui.
Final: Williams or Carter v White or Ding.
Week 7 - October 20 - Riverside, Exeter
Semi-finals: Ali Carter v Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson.
Final: Carter or Trump v Murphy or Robertson.
Week 8 - November 3 - Guildhall, Southampton
Semi-finals: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Judd Trump, Neil Robertson v Ding Junhui.
Final: O'Sullivan or Trump v Robertson or Ding.
Week 9 - November 10 - Spiceball Leisure Centre, Banbury
Semi-finals: John Higgins v Ali Carter, Mark Williams v Matthew Stevens.
Final: Higgins or Carter v Williams or Stevens.
Week 10 - November 17 - Grimsby Auditorium
Semi-finals: Judd Trump v Shaun Murphy, Ronnie O'Sullivan v Jimmy White.
Final: Trump or Murphy v O'Sullivan or White
Semi-finals Nov 26 Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton on Sea, Norfolk
Semi-finals are the first to five.
2nd v 3rd
and 1st v 4th
Final - Nov 27 - Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton on Sea, Norfolk
The final is the first to seven.
Winner of semi-final 1 v winner of semi-final
Prize Fund:
Winner £60,000
Runner-Up £30,000
Semi Final Losers £20,000 (x2)
5th Place £17,500
6th Place £15,000
7th Place £12,500
8th Place £10,000
9th Place £8,000
10th Place £ 6,000
High break prize = £1,000 per league night
