A MAJOR overhaul of the Worcestershire Area championship will see a new format introduced this season.

In a bid to get more players involved, two qualifying events and a finals day will be replaced with four separate one-day tournaments on the first Sunday in November, December, February and March at Pockets in Kidderminster.

Each will carry ranking points and the winner of each event, as well as the four highest-ranked players, will take part in a season-ending finale to determine the county champion.

Players can enter any of the monthly competitions but prize money will only be paid out in the four tournaments, although a trophy is up for grabs for the overall winner.

Andy Smith, from Bewdley, was crowned Worcestershire champion earlier this year.

Organiser John Smith said: “The thinking is to provide a series of regular tournaments for our keenest local players, providing more interest down the line to the lesser players by awarding ranking points and giving an extra edge to every frame as each frame won will affect ranking points.

“The lesser lights, who would have little realistic chance of winning the tournament, can still claim some success by striving to improve their Worcestershire area ranking, maybe even beating a higher-ranked player.”