Judd Trump, Mark Williams and John Higgins set for rapid return to action as the world's top four head to Helsinki Cup for sell-out invitational event

The second Taom Helsinki International Snooker Cup will be staged in Finland this weekend with the world's top four players set to return to competitive action following the World Championship. World No. 1 Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, John Higgins and Mark Williams will all take to the table in an eight-man invitational event boasting a £210,000 prize fund as Ali Carter defends the title.

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Judd Trump and Mark Williams will both return to action in Finland this weekend as several of the game's leading players compete at the Taom Helsinki Cup in Finland (May 17-18).

World No. 1 Trump and Crucible finalist Williams contested what was arguably the match of the tournament in the semi-finals of the World Championship, with the Welshman completing a 17-14 victory from 7-3 behind amid a blistering level of scoring that included seven centuries.

It failed to provide the platform for Williams to claim a fourth world title, with the exacting nature of his run to the final seeing him come up short against Zhao Xintong (18-12).

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World No. 3 Williams faces Masters champion Shaun Murphy in his opening best-of-seven frames match in the Finnish capital on Saturday morning, with Trump taking to the table against Zhang Anda.

World No. 4 John Higgins, who lost 13-12 to Williams in another epic quarter-final battle, faces defending champion Ali Carter at 5pm before last year's Crucible winner Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen do battle at 8pm.

The semi-finals and final will be contested on Sunday.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

It was Carter who claimed the title last year with two centuries in a 6-3 final victory over Wilson, who praised the passion of the local fans in supporting the inaugural event.

The eight-man tournament was supported by sell-out 1400 crowds at the capital's House of Culture with a Snooker Shoot event set to be staged on Friday night.

"This is my first time in Helsinki. I have loved everything and the weather has been beautiful. I'm happy to be here," said Wilson in an interview after last year's event.

"I'm going to tell tournament organisers how great I thought this event was.

"The Finns have treated me, my brother and the other players so well. With 1400 tickets sold for each match, there should be a professional event here.

"Let's hope that happens soon."