This year's United States National Snooker Championship will break new ground as the United States Snooker Association (USSA) is pleased to announce that for the first time the event will take place in Houston, Texas, at the newly established Snooker 147 Bar & Grill, from May 24-27.

In the 22-year history of the Championship, it has never been hosted outside the states of California, Illinois and New York, and this was a factor that the USSA took into consideration when making the decision at the recent Board meeting, but also because the facilities available are first class and the proprietors are very enthusiastic to host the premier national snooker tournament which will help to promote snooker and their establishment in the area.

The establishment, which opened late last year by Mr. Mani Hassan and Mr. Aurangzeb Mahmud, is located at 14144 Westheimer Rd, Suite I, in Houston, and has eight regulation sized 6ft x 12ft snooker tables, a combination of the top snooker brands Riley and BCE all imported from England, which includes two Riley Aristocrat Tournament tables, one that was used for the 2006 World Championship at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.

The entrance facade to Snooker 147 Bar & Grill

Event 2 of this season's 2012-13 USSA Tour was played at Snooker 147 and was a fantastic success as it attracted a large entry field, so with many players from all across the United States expected to travel to Houston to compete, the USSA is anticipating possibly the largest and highest quality field in the history of the Championship.

Snooker 147 should also prove to be a terrific host as Mr. Hassan commented in his written bid to stage the Championship that they will provide practice time for all the players, and also a special discount on food will be available from their in-house kitchen for all the players.

California's Sargon Isaac is due to defend his title as he captured last year's Championship at the Embassy Billiards Club in San Gabriel, California, in sensational style, going through the event undefeated at his first attempt.

One of the Riley Aristocrat Tournament snooker tables pictured inside Snooker 147 Bar & Grill

Alan Morris, the Executive Director of the USSA, said: "The USSA Board is very pleased to have the opportunity to stage this year's National Championship in a city where it has never been before, which helps to spread the snooker word in the United States.

"Mr. Hassan and Mr. Mahmud have opened a magnificent snooker establishment and I am sure the players will very much enjoy their experience playing in the Championship at Snooker 147, and their hospitality too."

During the recent Board Meeting of the USSA, some further Championship rule amendments were discussed and passed in order to help improve the running of the event, all of which will be published shortly in the Championship Conditions & Entry Form document which will be available on the SnookerUSA.com website.

It was also decided by the Board to reduce with immediate effect the cost of the annual USSA Membership fee from $25 to $10.

The USSA looks forward to what promises to be a remarkable National Championship played in a terrific new snooker establishment.