FORMER Grand Prix champion Stephen Lee will hold an exhibition event at Snookes in Weymouth on September 4.

The venue in Caroline Place, formerly known as Weymouth & Portland Snooker Club, was recently taken over by Mark Cottingham and he is looking forward to playing host to the World number 25, who has so far won four ranking tournaments in a highly successful career.

Cottingham said: “We have renamed the club Snookes to give it a more up-to-date feel and we are changing the club to enhance other sports like darts and pool.

“The fact we have managed to get Stephen Lee down to do an exhibition next month is fantastic. Not only is he a familiar face on the snooker circuit but he has also won numerous titles and is currently ranked number 25 in the world.

“He will play 10 people throughout the evening, who will be made up from a selection of competition winners, players selected by the club, and a raffle prize winner, and a ticket draw winner on the evening.

“There will also be an auction to raise money for the Paul Hunter Foundation. Paul Hunter was another highly successful snooker player, who sadly died of cancer in October 2006.

“Within the auction people will have the opportunity to bid for the chance to play Stephen, and also acquire some sporting memorabilia.

“The memorabilia on offer will include two backstage passes to the Masters at Wembley in January, a signed snooker cue, a signed Arsenal shirt, an Eric Cantona signed football and a full set of snooker balls signed several by professional players.

“The event will start at 7pm and tickets are just £10 for adults and £5 for under-16s, which includes an interval buffet. To find out more or obtain tickets visit the club or call 788593.”

Snookes will also be running a three-day Festival of Pool at the end of the month, which will included an open pairs competition on August 28, a three-man team competition on August 29, and an open singles tournament on August 30.

Cottingham added: “The pairs competition will start at 7pm on the Friday. The cost to enter will be £6 per pair and it will be a best of five frames knockout tournament with the first prize being £100.

“Then on the Saturday we will be holding a three-man team competition where the entry fee will be £15 per team. That will start at midday and will follow a round-robin basis, which will then lead to a knockout stage. The winners will scoop £150.

“We will then complete the weekend with an open singles competition on the Sunday. The entry fee will be £5 each and again it will start at midday and follow a round-robin basis, which will then lead to a knockout stage. The winner will receive £100.

“All entries for the three competitions must be submitted to the club by August 23 with payment in advance. Call 788593 for more information.”