Tour Championship 2023 preview: Top seed Allen headlines mixed pack
The top eight players from the one-year rankings list will once again go head-to-head in one of the most anticipated events on the snooker calendar.
The tough criteria to make the event welcomes the game's biggest names but there are a host of key absentees who have not made this year's cut, including Ronnie O'Sullivan.
'The Rocket' recently pulled out of the WST Classic with an elbow injury which has left him way outside this season's top eight.
Other stars to miss out include defending champion Neil Robertson and the likes of Judd Trump, Mark Williams and John Higgins.
But there are still some talented names ready to battle for the Tour Championship crown and Flashscore previews what you need to know ahead of the action.
When is the 2023 Tour Championship?
The 2023 Tour Championship begins on Monday, March 27th at the Bonus Arena in Hull, England with the final of the event taking place on Sunday, April 2nd.
Who is competing?
Northern Ireland's Mark Allen headlines the Tour Championship as the top seed after breezing towards qualification.
The world number four is joined by a host of English representatives who fill out the top five seeds, including Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, Ali Carter and Kyren Wilson. Robert Milkins is the seventh seed.
Ryan Day of Wales takes up the sixth spot while China's Ding Junhui rounds out the competition.
What is the format?
All eight players have been drawn into their respective quarter-final draws with matches, which will be spread across the week, taking up a best-of-19 frame format.
Schedule and order of play
Quarter-finals
Monday, March 27th: Mark Allen v Ding Junhui
Tuesday, March 28th: Ali Carter v Kyren Wilson
Wednesday, March 29th: Shaun Murphy v Robert Milkins
Thursday, March 30th: Mark Selby v Ryan Day
All quarter-final matches to take place at 1pm and 7pm
Semi-finals
Friday, March 31st: Allen or Ding v Carter or Wilson
Saturday, April 1st: Selby or Day v Murphy or Milkins
Both semi-final matches to take place at 1pm and 7pm
Final
Sunday, April 2nd: Finalists to be confirmed
Final to take place at 1pm and 7pm
