London, Jul 21 (IANS): The upcoming World Snooker Championship to be held in Sheffield will become one of the pilot events which allow the attendance of spectators, the organisers have confirmed.

Last Friday, the British government announced that a small number of sporting events will be used to pilot the safe return of spectators through late July and early August amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans could return to stadiums in England in October if the pilot events go well.

The World Snooker Championship to be held from July 31 to August 16 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield will welcome a reduced crowd every session throughout the tournament, reports Xinhua news agency.

As the only indoor sporting event picked up for the pilot project, the World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn believed "this highlights the government's confidence in snooker and our ability to safely welcome back fans at one of the biggest sporting events on the planet".

The annual event will feature defending champion Judd Trump, Chinese ace Ding Junhui as well as top stars Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and John Higgins.