LOCAL cue men Lee Clough and Russ McGrady are both playing in the £41,000 Embassy World Eight-Ball Pool Championships which start tonight (May 23) at Blackpool's Hilton Hotel.

The potting pair made it through a tough qualifying competition in Great Yarmouth to book their place among the game's elite.

Players from Europe, Africa and Australia will be cueing up alongside the best in Britain for the chance to become world champion.

The Championships end with the men's final on Saturday, June 1.