main tour

[stephenm2682]

hi all, having just looked on the world snooker fixtures, which events are now open to amateur players? i'm a bit baffled.

also what's the route onto the main tour now the pios as being cancelled?

[Souwester]

PIOS has effectively been replaced by the Q-School which is to be held in May 2011 (for qualification to the 2011-12 Main Tour), at the World Snooker Academy. Three tournaments I believe and the winner, runner up and semi-finalists from each event each getting places. Entry to the Q-School costs £1000 with no prize money on offer, just the MT places.

EASB, for English Amateurs, is holding a series of Q-School satellite events, whereby it will pay for a number of £1000 entries to World Snooker's Q-School, dependant on how much income they derive from entries. The first stage costs just £10 to enter, and it is possible to have up to three entries at each of the three stages, thus giving yourself three chances of going through to the next stage.

Stage 2 will comprise qualifiers from Stage 1 (at no extra cost) plus direct entries to Stage 2 at £40 each. If you qualify once from stage 1 then you can pay for a further 2 entries at £40 giving yourself the maximum three in stage 2.

Similarly the qualifiers from Stage 2 will go on, for no further cost, to Stage 3, where further direct entries can be made at £100 each. Entries can be made at stage 2 or 3 without having played in the earlier rounds.

So, if you go on to qualify from the WS Q-School, you could, effectively 'turn pro for a tenner'! See www.englishsnooker.com for details: the closing date for Stage 1 is imminent.

Apart from Q-School, the *only* other route to MT is by the allocated NGB, EBSA and IBSF places. In England, the winner of the Pro Ticket series of events will gain the solitary English nomination.

Contrary to popular belief the PTC events, which (apart from the World Open, just gone) are the only events open to amateurs, do *NOT* carry any MT places.

[MattWilson]

The Q-School will be played down to semi-finalists only, the prize money for the 12 qualifiers players is £1000 each towards their fees for the Main Tour the following season.

MW

[GOMH71]

As in the £ 1000 they paid to play in the Q School ? Seems a tad steep to me ...

[stephenm2682]

in regards to the PTC events, could one gain a wildcard for doing well in these though? and maybe get onto the MT this way? obviously no amateur did well in the world open, so maybe that's out of the question

[MattWilson]

I must admit I'm not 100% convinced by the fact that there is no prize money for the rest of Q-School. With a significant amount of money being paid on entries, you would think they would dish some out to the players who made it to quarters/last 16s to help pay accommodation and living fees during the 3 week period.

But then the argument would be if you don't think you're good enough to qualify, then you shouldn't bother playing!

MW