BRADFORD'S Mark Hirst and Stephen Kershaw have both qualified for the £20,000 LITEtask World Billiards Championship, which will be held at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds on October 16-28.

There will be both long and short-format events, which have both attracted 50 entries, with the favourites being Mike Russell, Peter Gilchrist and David Causier.

The 150 up event will be held from October 19-23 and the longer format takes place from October 24-28.

A qualifying tournament will be held on Friday, while the £2,100 Jim Williamson Memorial Competition follows that on Saturday and Sunday, also at the Northern Snooker Centre, and is a Level Three world-ranking tournament.

Entries for that include Hirst, Kershaw and Burley-in-Wharfedale's Stephen Crosland.

The Ladies' World Championship will be held on Tuesday, October 27, also at the Northern Snooker Centre.