Many of snooker’s biggest tournaments will be televised live by Eurosport in Australia for the first time this season.

Fans throughout Australia will be able to watch huge events including the World Championship, UK Championship, the Masters and the Home Nations series. Coverage will start with next week’s Shanghai Masters (September 10-16).

Eurosport already broadcasts snooker to 137 million homes in 54 countries and will now grow its reach by televising the sport in Australia. World Snooker has a long term partnership with Eurosport which runs until 2026.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “This is fantastic news for fans in Australia, who have been asking us for years for live coverage of our biggest tournaments. We know there is demand in the region and we hope that regular broadcast of snooker will help our sport grow in Australia.

“Eurosport has been one of our key partners over the past 15 years in terms of developing our sport across the planet and growing our global footprint. Every move into another territory is a step forward. I look forward to seeing strong viewing figures from Australia.”

Former World Champion Neil Robertson, Australia’s best ever player, said: “Over the years I have had so many fans, friends and family asking me when they can watch live snooker in Australia. Now we have the answer! And all of the big events will be covered on Eurosport. I’m delighted and I really hope this will help snooker to grow Down Under because kids need to see the sport on TV before they want to give it a go. We have a lot of sports to compete with in Australia but I would love to see snooker become more popular. I’ll be trying to win more big tournaments this season to give the fans back home something to cheer.”

Jonathan Rudd, Vice President Factual and Sports Products, Discovery Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands, added: “We’re proud to be working with World Snooker and IMG to deliver Australian audiences live coverage of the biggest snooker tournaments. This deal strengthens our offering in market, with snooker to be positioned as one of the channel’s key sports alongside cycling, athletics and winter sports.

“We know that snooker has a passionate and dedicated fanbase here in Australia, so I’m sure they’ll be thrilled with the news that they now won’t miss a minute of the action from key events around the world.”

The full list of tournaments to be covered by Eurosport in Australia during the 2018/19 season is:

Shanghai Masters

September 10-16, 2018

China Championship

September 24-30, 2018

D88.com European Masters

October 1-7, 2018

English Open

October 15-21, 2018

International Championship

October 28 to November 4, 2018

Northern Ireland Open

November 12-18, 2018

Betway UK Championship

November 27 to December 9, 2018

Scottish Open

December 10-16, 2018

Dafabet Masters

January 13-20, 2019

D88.com German Masters

January 30 February 3, 2019

Ladbrokes World Grand Prix

February 4-10, 2019

ManBetX Welsh Open

February 11-17, 2019

Ladbrokes Players Championship

March 4-10, 2019

Gibraltar Open

March 15-17, 2019

China Open

April 1-7, 2019

Betfred World Championship

April 20 to May 6, 2019