Stephen Hendry will defend his Malta Cup crown when the professional circuit returns to Malta early next year.

World Snooker is delighted to confirm that the 2006 Malta Cup will take place at the palatial Hilton Conference Centre in Portomaso from 30 January 30 to 5 February.

The world ranking tournament will be supported by the Malta Tourism Authority. It will be televised by TVM and Eurosport.

Hendry won his fourth title on Maltese soil when he beat Graeme Dott 9-7 in last season's final. The top 16 seeds will qualify automatically for the 2006 event.

A spokesman for World Snooker said: "This will be the seventh ranking event we have staged in Malta and we look forward to another successful tournament. It is an important part of our ongoing ambition to develop the growth of snooker overseas.

"Snooker is extremely well supported in Malta and the news of the return of the top players will be welcomed. The players themselves also particularly look forward to this event and the exceptional standard of hospitality."

Richard Balani, on behalf of Snooker Promotions (Malta), the local organisers of the event, said: "We are very proud to have once again brought over a ranking tournament to our shores. We have been working with World Snooker for the past 10 years on various events, and we are sure that this Malta Cup will not be the last.

"The Malta Cup will also allow some of our Maltese players to play the top stars in front of their own public and we look forward to yet another exciting event."

The 2006 China Open, originally scheduled for January, has been moved to March.