Shaun Murphy says he is relishing the chance to try to win this weekend's opening World Series Tour event in Jersey.

The Series, which has been set up by two-time World champion John Higgins and his business partner Pat Moone, will feature some of the world's top players.

Murphy will be joined in Jersey by Higgins and fellow former world champion Ken Doherty as well as last season's Masters and Welsh Open winner Mark Selby.

In addition, two Jersey cueman, Gary Britton and Aaron Canavan, Guernsey's Martyn Desperques and Rafal Jewtuch of Poland will take part as part of Higgins plan to help nurture home-grown players.

Other top stars, including Steve Davis, Ding Junhui, Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott will take part in the later tournaments.

After the Jersey leg, the World Series moves to Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw before the Grand Finals in Dusseldorf in November.

"It's great for the sport that John is doing something like this. There's a lot of interest in snooker in Europe," said Murphy.

"I'm delighted to have been asked to play. It's a chance to showcase snooker to a wider audience, a new audience which is great for the game."

The season's eventual final winner is set to pocket 70,000 euros and the runner-up 30,000.

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