Main Tour World Snooker Tour

1 main tour

1.1 qualification

1.1.1 history
1.1.2 q school
1.1.3 other qualification routes
1.1.4 current criteria

main tour

the main tour consists of ranking tournaments contribute players ranking, , invitational events not. players on tour can enter ranking event, whereas entry criteria invitational event set sponsor or broadcaster, , excludes many players on tour. ranking tournaments played in 2 stages—a qualification stage , main draw , @ different locations. main draw held @ prestigious venue audiences can purchase ticket , watch players compete. typically main draw televised, , therefore carries considerably higher prize money qualifiers. players traditionally come ranking events in different rounds based on world ranking, , top players in sport—often top 16 ranked players—are seeded through venue stage , not have play qualification match; however, 2013/2014 season circuit began transition flat format structure, players starting in first round. tournaments have amateur leg makes possible non-members enter wpbsa events.

qualification

to compete on main tour professional player, player must qualify it. @ end of each season, pre-determined number of players relegated tour based on performance in ranking tournaments , on secondary tour, making way new professionals join tour. there several qualification routes tour: player can gain qualification via various events organised wpbsa or affiliate organisations, , limited number of places made available players @ discretion of governing body.

history

following creation of main tour in 1997/1998 season, top ranked professionals qualified automatically places while rest of membership had qualify places through series of qualifying schools. qualifying schools held once, , thereafter main qualification route via secondary professional tour. following scrapping of secondary tour, promotion places allocated international open series (pios)—an amateur open tour organised pontins—for 2005/2006 season. amateur status of event meant players had been relegated main tour , wished compete on pios had relinquish professional membership. had unpopular side effect, since if players relinquished professional membership unable enter world snooker championship, open professional members including not compete on main tour. issue players not compete on pios while competing on main tour, meaning unable safeguard membership on main tour re-qualifying via pios, keeping them out of professional competition whole season should drop off tour. though pios competition in own right, served main tour qualification route, , anticipating streamlining of tour qualification 2011/2012 season unpopular contest discontinued after 2009/2010 season.

q school

the q school established in attempt streamline qualification process main tour, , more or less replacement pios. series of play-offs run through quarter-final stages only. players pay fixed entry fee enter play-off events, , there no prize money. each player wins quarter-final game qualifies two-year tour card on main tour. players have entered event compete in first play-off, , not successful automatically entered next play-off , on.

there important differences between q school , pios. q school purely qualification process whereas pios tournament series in own right. q school conducted in limited time period of 2 3 weeks in may, during interlude between seasons, while pios events played on course of season. important distinction pios is open everyone, , players have been relegated main tour eligible enter , if successful regain places on tour.

other qualification routes

the international billiards , snooker federation (ibsf), european billiards , snooker association (ebsa) , asian confederation of billiards sports (acbs) each nominate players tour, , wpbsa makes limited number of discretionary places available players too.

current criteria

the players retain place on tour guaranteed place 1 further season, while else—including requalify—is awarded two-year tour card.