In the most in-depth simulation of snooker ever seen, players can choose from a full suite of offline and online modes to master every official tournament. These include global online tournaments that link in real-time with the live World Snooker calendar, quick play online match-making, and fully customised matches of full snooker, 6-red snooker and fast-paced Shoot-Out snooker.

Snooker 19 is the most authentic depiction of the sport ever created, and players can expect a full TV-style presentation in the game alongside evocative visual details of the players, arenas and equipment. Player likenesses have been meticulously created using 3D facial scanning technology while the subtle yet detailed wood grain of the cues and tables is rendered impeccably. With the glare of the spotlights reflecting accurately off the polished balls, Snooker 19 sets a new visual standard for the snooker video game. Players can soak up its atmosphere while the advanced physics and AI engines ensure the action remains tense, thrilling, and most importantly, true to real life.

Ripstone Games, in collaboration with Lab42 and official snooker governing body WST, revealed that they will be hosting a Virtual World Snooker Championship in Snooker 19.

With the Betfred World Snooker Championship postponed due to COVID-19, players at home are missing out on the sport’s biggest event of the year. This is where the Virtual Betfred World Snooker Championship steps in! The virtual tournament will run on the original tournament dates and will feature the 16 best pro snooker players in the world; represented by top players from the Snooker 19 community.

The Virtual Betfred World Championship will see competitors battling for the title between April 18 and May 4 at the simulated Crucible Theatre and the winner of the event will be invited to the Crucible during the real-world tournament to be presented with the Virtual Betfred World Championship trophy. This is a once in a lifetime experience to be crowned snooker champion in the world-famous arena, followed by the chance to watch a series of live matches first hand. The prize package also includes a cue signed by the world’s top snooker players.

All matches will be broadcast on WST’s YouTube and Facebook channels and tournament participants will be seeded according to the current world rankings, with the draw as follows: 

Judd Trump (1) v Yan Bingtao (16)
Kyren Wilson (8) v Shaun Murphy (9)
Mark Allen (5) v Jack Lisowski (12)
John Higgins (4) v Stuart Bingham (13)
Mark Williams (3) v Stephen Maguire (14)
Ronnie O’Sullivan (6) v David Gilbert (11)
Mark Selby (7) v Ding Junhui (10)
Neil Robertson (2) v Barry Hawkins (15)

The line-up of Snooker 19 players to represent each of the top stars will be announced shortly, along with the schedule of matches.

A spokesman for WST said: “Snooker fans around the world will be missing our sport’s biggest tournament later this month, but this could be the next best thing, especially for anyone who loves video games."

“It’s a chance to get behind your favourite player, follow the action every day and marvel at the skills of the best exponents of Snooker 19.”

Snooker19, developed by Lab42, was released last year as the first official WST video game in a generation and received widespread acclaim, as the most true-to-life snooker game ever made.

Hollie Pattison from Ripstone, the publisher of Snooker 19 added: “We are really looking forward to hosting the Virtual Betfred World Championship in Snooker 19 and we hope to bring some joy to everybody watching from home at this difficult time. This is a world first and we expect the standard of play from the 16 participants to be incredibly impressive, so we should have some great matches to look forward to.”

Key Features:

• THE BIGGEST STARS IN WORLD SNOOKER: Play in every officially licensed tournament as any of the top 128 players in the world including: Mark Selby, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ding Junhui and legends of the sport like Ken Doherty and Jimmy White.
• UNPRECEDENTED REALISM: This is the most authentic simulation of the sport ever created, with TV-style presentation and commentary, true-to-life physics and advanced artificial intelligence.
• BECOME A LEGEND: Make history and break records as you assume the career of your favourite snooker pro, or start a brand new journey fresh from the Q-School academy. Rise through the rankings, earn prize money, fill your trophy cabinet and unlock rewards on your way to the Hall of Fame.
• EVERY OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT: Tour all 25 major snooker tournaments around the world in all of the venues, including the China Open at Beijing’s Olympic Gymnasium, The Masters at Alexandra Palace, and the pinnacle World Snooker Championship at the legendary Crucible Theatre.
• ONLINE & OFFLINE MULTIPLAYER: Choose from a full suite of offline and online modes, from quick play online match-making to global online tournaments that link in real-time with the live World Snooker calendar. Plus fully customised matches of full snooker, 6-red and Shoot Out for both online and offline competition.

Snooker 19 is available for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4 and Xbox One.