Snooker

Malta is the venue for the next snooker European Open. Scottish defending champion Stephen Maguire is the favourite. From the World Snooker Association:

All of snooker’s leading stars are heading to the Mediterranean island for the event, which runs from January 31 to February 6 and will be staged at the luxurious Hilton Conference Centre in Portomaso.

Welsh Open runner-up Stephen Hendry is next in the betting at 9/2, followed by John Higgins (8/1), Paul Hunter (10/1), Mark Williams (10/1), Neil Robertson (25/1), Ken Doherty and Peter Ebdon (33/1) and Matthew Stevens (40/1). The likes of Whirlwind White, Steve Davis and Maltese hero Tony Drago will also be competing for the title.

The tournament will be televised by Eurosport and you can also catch up with the latest news on www.worldsnooker.com. Visit www.maltadirect.com/snooker/index.htm for details of package holidays to the Malta Cup

Global snooker centre

In this Q&A, 'Tornado' Tony Drago talks about Chelsea, gangster films and his mother's food.