QSP Series @ South West Snooker Academy-£25,000 prize fund*

[frazz]

At the end of the day as I said the q school is an amateur only event so why have pretty much the qualifiers for that allowing pros? Fair enough there needs to be money made, why not ask all people entered if they would be willing to pay the original entry fee of 500? Pay the 350 now and the extra 150 at The first event. I will still play Init as I still fancy beating most players anyway if am playing well and know I can so its not sour grapes or that.what happens if a guy ranked 65 pays in then has a decent couple runs in ranking events, he can to upto number 50 or higher but can still play these to pick up an extra few grand. hardly fair on the amateurs

[magicman]

I can understand that Paul Mount needs to have as many entries as possible and consequently the decision to include lower ranked pro's. This decision, however, has affected my and a few friends of mine choice of whether to enter or not. Swings and roundabouts!

[Souwester]

If you don't fancy playing against some lower ranked pros in QSP then there's probably not a lot of point in turning pro.

Another option, of course, is the cheaper to enter, EASB QS Satellite events, at £100 a throw (and up to three entries) again with a number of £1000 entries into Q-School up for grabs as prizes.

[JanieWatkins]

If you don't fancy playing against some lower ranked pros in QSP then there's probably not a lot of point in turning pro.

Another option, of course, is the cheaper to enter, EASB QS Satellite events, at £100 a throw (and up to three entries) again with a number of £1000 entries into Q-School up for grabs as prizes.

Surely those EASB events are only open to English EASB players? Not to Scottish players?

I prefered the pink ball Souwester - not sure about the black looks a bit severe to me!

The Q school in May will potential have all the professionals who've lost their tour place plus the amateurs so we think that for quality of competition and preparation it makes sense to pit your wits against the level of competition you are going to encounter in the Q School.

I understand one or two players, who were entering QSP more as an event in its own right, being put off by maybe getting duffed up by a pro. Obviously we're sorry if it's put you off, but we can assure you that we're actually sitting in the Academy right now and planning a whole range of activities and events that will embrace every age of player from 8-80 and every standard and we will have "something for everybody" through the year.

We hope to put out a Calendar of Events in the coming weeks and apart from enabling all of you to plan which events you'd like to come and participate in, we hope it will also help the many other organisers and associations with pre-planning their calendars so we can all avoid any serious date clashes next season.

I can tell you now that this year's 2011 Pink Ribbon at the Academy will be held 3-5 June so put that one in your diaries right now.

We'll have entry packs and more information on that in a few weeks time.

There will be lots more exciting activities and events at the Academy during the year, but I think I'll leave you guessing for a while about some of them! (Only because I'm a tease!)

[JanieWatkins]

QSP - Press Release 6 January 2011

PRESS RELEASE
On Q Promotions Announces QSP Structure.
In line with our affirmed policy of open governance and close player liaison at South West Snooker Academy, we are pleased to announce we have acted upon the players’ feedback to enable as many players as possible to participate and fully benefit from the series.
Issues raised by the players, who were disappointed that they may not be able to participate, included timings of the events, conflicting dates in their diaries and funding led us to implement the following refinements to the QSP Series:

1. Events will now run Saturday-Sunday.
2. Players best 3 from 4 events will count towards their Ranking Position.
3. Entry payments may now be taken in two instalments.
These three actions will save players additional costs for accommodation, avoid taking a day off work on Friday and will enable players to still compete in QSP series and miss an event if they have a date clash, and spread out the cost of entry.
As the Academy has been booked out for the QSP for 3 days the South West Snooker Academy is delighted to announce a FREE practice day at the Academy, on the Friday prior to all QSP events for all those players who would like to take advantage of it.

INFORMATION
Ranking Points: Ranking points will be issued as follows: Winner 100 points, Runner Up - 75, Semi Finalist - 50, Quarter Finalist - 25, Last 16 - 10 points, Last 32 - 5 points. Additionally players will receive one point per frame won in their losing match. Players take their best 3 results to count towards the final ranking list.
Entry Fees: The total entry fee for the 4 event series is £350. This may be paid in one payment by cheque, credit card or BACs transfer. Or may be paid in two instalments: First payment £200 with entry and second payment £150 by 2nd February 2011.

Extended Closing date: 14 January 2011

Draws: The draw for Event 1 will be made on 15 January and published on our website at www.southwestsnookeracademy.com . We will also email players to give you your start times.
The draws for Events 2, 3 and 4 will be done live in the players' lounge at event one.
Event Dates:
Event One: 22-23 January 2011
Event Two: 5-6 February 2011
Event Three: 19-20 February 2011
Event Four: 19-20 March 2011

The prize fund will be, as previously announced, based on the number of entrants in the tournament.

Further information at www.southwestsnookeracademy.com or telephone: 01452 223214 or email janie.watkins@onqpromotions.co.uk or sarah.mount@onqpromotions.co.uk .

[Souwester]

Yes, I'm not sure about the black ball either. Might have to try and think of a totally new avatar.

It goes without saying that the EASB events are open only to English players, although new English players can still join EASB. I believe I'm right in saying that all players in the WS Q-School event will need to be members of their respective NGBs.

The added flexibility of using the best three event performances for the end rankings makes the series a whole lot more attractive. I'm still puzzled, though, as to how the final QSP event is after the WS closing date, yet EASB were requested to bring their final event forward to comply with their closing date!

[JanieWatkins]

Hi souwester
good news about the avatar rethink!

The closing date for the Q School has never been an issue in relation to the QSP series.

In theory all the QSP entrants would have been entering the Q School anyway. One of the main reasons for the QSP was to provide the preparation tournaments for players intending to play the Q School.

Of course the QSP provides a good series of events in its own right with excellent prize money, which will help many players towards their Q School entry fee.

But by the time of the 1 March closing date for Q School 3 of the QSP events will have been played. So actually this will give the players a chance to have a realistic look at their chances in the Q School before parting with £1,000 entry money.

Obviously the leading contenders will go ahead and enter Q School, but some of those players who might not have been as successful, at that level of competition, as they'd hoped might then take a step back and think maybe I won't spend out £1,000 this season as I'm unlikely to achieve my target this time.

They can save up their money and keep practicing towards the following season.

Of course the top four at the end of the QSP series will be getting their £1,000 Q School entry money reimbursed to them as part of the QSP prize package.

[JanieWatkins]

I've just worked out that the FREE practice day before each QSP totals up to £160 of value for the players.

That is amazing. It's effectively half the entry fee back in practice time.

It's still not too late to enter.

You can ring us at the Academy on 01452 223214 and do a cc payment over the phone, or go to academy website and download the entry form and post a cheque off.

The draw will be done early next week and we'll contact everyone then with their start time. Or check out whether you're coming for practice on the Friday so we can be ready to welcome you all to the Academy.

[frazz]

Janie, myself and Ross Higgins are still waiting to be contacted for the payment details, will this happen soon as we are waiting for this to be paid before we book hotel and transport.

[JanieWatkins]

Janie, myself and Ross Higgins are still waiting to be contacted for the payment details, will this happen soon as we are waiting for this to be paid before we book hotel and transport.

Sorry Fraser, that's up to me - I'll email you - if you're paying by cheque pop in the post, if by cc message me a phone number and I'll ring you tomorrow.

I must have missed your enquiry form somehow - it's a senility thing.

Looking forward to seeing you lads again. Haven't seen you for ages.

[JanieWatkins]

LAST CHANCE TO ENTER

We're closing entries at Noon on Monday.

It's not too late to enter - you can send the enquiry form in via the website - www.southwestsnookeracademy.com

or ring us on Monday morning at the Academy (01452 223214) to get your entry in.

Don't forget you can take your best 3 from 4 results for the ranking list.
The top 4 on that list get their £1000 Q School entry paid for them
and FRIDAY preceding each QSP event is a FREE Practice day at the South West Snooker Academy.

[frazz]

janie have you got my cheque? its in post, will i be in if its not there by noon on monday?

[the legend]

Hi anyone know if draw been made yet.

[the legend]

only 41 entries that seems very low and dissapointing.Anyone out there any ideas why.

[Sarah Mount]

only 41 entries that seems very low and dissapointing.Anyone out there any ideas why.

Hi The Legend,

For the majority of those who were looking to enter the QSP that didn't, the main factor was money. With the deadline for entries so close to Xmas we can all appreciate that our bank balances are as unhealthy as our bodies after the festive season! A lot of amateurs have spent so much money on playing in and travelling to the PTC/EPTC events that they are skint for the second half of the season.

Another factor for some was commitments to other events for which they had already paid entry.

As this is the first year of the Q School, none of us know exactly how many British based players will be looking to enter and that left us unable to plan ahead for expected numbers. We knew that the maximum we could accommodate was 128 and we hoped we would at least reach the 64 mark but essentially, this event is based at those who are going to be playing in the Q School and that therefore limits the number of players who would enter.

What we have ended up with though is an incredibly high quality field and we will be doing all we can to support those who have entered in their quest to turn Pro including free associate membership at the Academy until the start of Q School for all entrants, which will enable them to play at the Academy for £2.50 an hour.

We're looking forward to some great snooker this weekend