Sports Listings: Plan ahead

TICKETS for snooker's showpiece, the Embassy World Championship at Sheffield from 17 April to 3 May, go on sale to personal callers and telephone bookings from Monday, and reductions are on offer for the season's final tournament.

The Crucible Theatre is offering, subject to availablity, pounds 2 off all tickets for the first week's play (17-23 April) and for all morning sessions up to and including the quarter-finals on 28 April. The world's top 16 players are seeded to the first round proper and the special offer means the early progress of the holder, Stephen Hendry, the former champion, John Parrott, and the six-times champion, Steve Davis, can be watched for pounds 2.

Before the World Championship, three tournaments complete the run-in. After a trip to Thailand for the Asian Open, 12 players on the circuit go to Ireland for the Benson and Hedges Irish Masters at the Goffs Complex in County Kildare from 23 to 28 March. Hendry, who won the title for the first time last year, returns to defend, while Ken Doherty, the runner-up in 1992 who is enjoying an excellent season, is drawn to meet Hendry in the semi-finals.

Fans in the West Country have a treat in April when the BSkyB International Open becomes the first important world ranking tournament to be held in Devon. The top 32 players in the world rankings will be joined by 32 qualifiers at the 1,200-seat Plymouth Pavilions, from 2 to 11 April.

Embassy World Championship, 17 April-3 May.

The Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA (Box office 0742-769922).

Admission: First round (17-21 April): Sessions 10.30am pounds 4, 3pm pounds 5, 7.30pm pounds 6.50. Second round (22-26 April; note there no morning sessions on Thursday, 22 April and Sunday, 25 April): pounds 5, pounds 6.50, pounds 7. Quarter-finals (27-28 April): pounds 6, pounds 7, pounds 8. Semi-finals: 29 April no morning session, 3pm pounds 8, 7.30pm pounds 10; 30 April 10.30am pounds 8, 3pm pounds 9, 7.30pm pounds 12; 1 May pounds 8, pounds 12, pounds 13. Final: 2 May 2.15pm pounds 13, 7.15pm pounds 15; 3 May pounds 16, pounds 18. Season ticket pounds 300, first week season (17-24 April) pounds 100, second week season (25 April-3 May) pounds 200.

Asian Open, Bangkok, Thailand, 13-20 March.

Benson and Hedges Irish Masters, 23-28 March.

Goffs Complex, Kildare Paddocks, Kill, Co Kildare, Republic of Ireland (010 353 45 77710).

Admission: First round (23-24 March): Sessions 2pm and 7.15pm IR pounds 5. Quarter-finals (25-26 March): IR pounds 7 per session. Semi-finals (27 March): 1pm and 7pm IR pounds 10 per session. Final (28 March): 2pm and 7pm IR pounds 10 per session.

BSkyB International Open, 2-11 April.

Plymouth Pavilions, Millbay Road, Plymouth PL1 3LF (Box office 0752-229922).

Admission prices to be announced.