A MAJOR coup for the Bradford area will see Shipley & District Social Club host an evening with current World Snooker Champion Mark Williams, who will appear alongside the renowned referee Michaela Tabb.

Williams is set to feature in exhibition matches against paying attendees on Saturday, October 13, all played under the expert eye of Tabb.

She has stepped in at the last minute to replace Brendan Moore, who is scheduled to referee a Barry Hearn-run tournament on the same day.

Ten frames are expected to be played, with the final one being raffled off and prizes handed out.

"Welsh Wonder" Williams appeared to have left his glory days behind. He was World Champion in 2000 and 2003, and he also took home two UK Championship and two Masters trophies between 1998 and 2003.

The intervening 15 years saw him never quite hit those heights again, and he was on the verge of giving up the sport last year, before his wife Jo convinced him otherwise.

That proved to be a wise decision, as he rolled back the years with a stunning 18-16 World Championship Final success over fellow veteran John Higgins in May.

His impressive year has also seen him pick up the German Masters crown and he will now take his form to Shipley, to take on the finest that Bradford has to offer.

Tickets for the event are £35 and doors open at 6:30pm. There is limited availability but anyone looking to attend should contact Keith Walker on 07761 628384.