Security software company Kaspersky Lab has reached a deal to become the title sponsor of World Snooker’s new Riga Open tournament.
Starting today (Thursday), the Riga Open is the first professional snooker tournament to take place in Latvia and is the first event on the 2014-15 European Tour series.
World champion Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Judd Trump, Steve Davis, John Higgins and Jimmy White are among the players targeting a €25,000 ($34,000) first prize, with the best-of-seven frames tournament concluding on Sunday.
World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to welcome Kaspersky Lab as title sponsor of a tournament for the first time. They will receive fantastic exposure as the tournament will be televised live on British Eurosport, Eurosport and broadcasters throughout Asia to an audience of many millions.”
The 2014-15 European Tour series comprises six events, with the top 24 players in the final Order of Merit to go through to the Players' Championship next March.