SNOOKER: It's been three years now since the Irish Masters event blew out tobacco and sucked on the wholesome patronage of the Department of Health.

This year's eight-day contest is no longer an elite invitational for a handful of the best but a world-ranking event. No fewer than 34 of the best players in the world will converge on The Citywest Hotel from March 23rd-30th in what is the sixth of eight ranking events being staged by World Snooker this year.

The points and a prize fund of €640,000 give the entire event a different configuration and significantly adds to the prestige.

Gone is the single table. Gone are the guaranteed prize handouts and in come the qualifiers, 128 of whom started out to play their way to Dublin.

John Higgins, last year's winner and world number four, has not been enjoying the best of seasons, but the Scot was yesterday hoping for a change of fortune. He has not won a tournament this season but arrives as the only player who, on his way to victory in 2000, scored a 147 maximum.

"It's always good for the game to see young bloods getting through and playing with the bigger names in the sport like they will this year in Dublin," said Higgins. "But I'm not happy with my form so far this season. I'll have to pick it up. I haven't won any tournaments this year. It's been a bit of a blow but hopefully I can knuckle down and win one before the Crucible to set me up with a little bit of confidence."

The world's top three players, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams and Peter Ebdon will join Higgins, with Irish interest settling on world number five Ken Doherty, Joe Swail, ranked 16, Fergal O'Brien at 23 and 24-ranked Michael Judge.

O'Brien and Judge will both play pre-qualifiers on Sunday, March 23rd. Judge faces Robert Milikens, ranked 33, with O'Brien on in the evening session against England's Nick Dyson, ranked 62.

Doherty comes up against England's Dave Harold in the first round on Tuesday evening, with the winner of that match going through to face either Belfast's Swail or Scot Stephen Maguire.

O'Sullivan opens the same day against Stuart Bingham in the afternoon session at the same time as Ebdon plays Brian Morgan. Williams takes on Liverpool's Rod Lawler in the morning session, with Stephen Hendry facing Mark Selby, a semi-finalist in last year's China Open, on Monday afternoon.

The winner of the 19-frame final will receive €77,000.