Snooker's
ruling body will provide the prize money for this year's
British Open.
And the prestigious event, which starts in Telford on Saturday,
is not the only one without a sponsor.
The
UK Championships will also be missing a financial backer
as snooker attempts to rebuild its commercial image.
Despite
the potential cash crisis, the World Professional Billiards
and Snooker Association insist the sport is not in terminal
decline.
"The
first point to make is that the deal with (bookmakers) Stan
James to sponsor the British Open was just for last year,"
said Bruce Beckett, the WPBSA's head of media.
"The
British Open did not have a sponsor before last year while
the UK Championships have not had a sponsor for at least
four years."
With
tobacco sponsorship set to end, although the World Championships
are unaffected, snooker is in dire need of new backers.
Davis and Hendry demand change
But the WPBSA believe they are doing their best to avoid
a potential cash crisis.
They
have already handed over their commercial interests to a
dedicated company, World Snooker Enterprises.
"Snooker
is facing a watershed in the fact that we have suffered
from poor management in the past and we need a period of
stability," Beckett told BBC Sport Online.
"But
they (World Snooker Enterprises) have to perform and meet
certain criteria, otherwise the WBPSA will simply take the
commercial rights back."
Senior
players such as Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry have already
committed themselves to restructuring the way snooker is
run at the top level.
The
pair have called for an extraordinary general meeting, set
for 13 November, in a bid to replace the existing board
at the WPBSA.
