Are the World Championships open to everyone?

[DartsMadJohn]

Having seen the drawsheet for the last World Championships, I noticed that the first rounds of qualifying were for "Overseas and Non-members".

Does this mean that literally anyone can enter the tournament, or are there some rules in place, such as being your country's number 1 player or having achieved a certain minimum break? Also, what is the entry fee?

One last question - which player, having started in the first qualifying round, has managed to go furthest in the World Championships?

[MattWilson]

You have to be a member of the WPBSA to play in the World Championships, which several leading English Amateurs are not, because to play in other amateur events in England you have to be a member of the EASB. You cannot be a member of both the EASB and WPBSA, its one or the other. Hence, they don't get mayny amateurs trying to qualify for the Main Tour stages of the Worlds.

Last time I heard, the entrance fee was £750, but it used to be about £300 a few years back.

Personally I think they should scrap the rule saying you must be a member of the WPBSA, as I know players in amateur snooker would love the chance to play in the Worlds (including myself) but are unable to if they want to play a full season of amateur events.

Another way that the WPBSA shoot themselves in the foot!

MW

[PaulTheSoave]

Thanks Matt.

Finally a sensible answer concerning pro and amateur players I asked a few days ago on another thread!

[elvaago]

For those who are ignorance, can you detail what the abbreviation EASB means?

[Robert602]

For those who are ignorance, can you detail what the abbreviation EASB means?

Think I can answer that one, it's the English Association for Snooker and Billiards.

[Mr Snooker]

Having seen the drawsheet for the last World Championships, I noticed that the first rounds of qualifying were for "Overseas and Non-members".

Does this mean that literally anyone can enter the tournament, or are there some rules in place, such as being your country's number 1 player or having achieved a certain minimum break? Also, what is the entry fee?

One last question - which player, having started in the first qualifying round, has managed to go furthest in the World Championships?

Where did you obtain the draw sheet for the world championships from and please can you tell me where I can get a copy of it or send one to me please.

I think the question to your answer is Chris Small he played in the pre-qualifying rounds and lost in the last 16 to Dene O' Kane in the 1992 world championships main satges at Sheffield. He played 8 matches just to get there and beat Doug Mountjoy 10-7 in the first round at Sheffield

Rd 1 Beat Allison Fisher 6- 4
Rd 2 Beat Nick Lazarus 6- 3
Rd 3 Beat David McLllelan 6- 3
Rd 4 Beat Steve Meakin 10- 6
Rd 5 Beat Ken Owers 10- 8
Rd 6 beat Rod Lawler 10- 8
RD 7 Beat Cliff Thornburn 10- 7
Rd 8 Beat Danny Fowler 10- 6
L 32 Beat Doug Mountjoy 10- 7
L 16 Lost to Dene O' Kane 13-10

hope this info helps you

Having seen the drawsheet for the last World Championships, I noticed that the first rounds of qualifying were for "Overseas and Non-members".

Does this mean that literally anyone can enter the tournament, or are there some rules in place, such as being your country's number 1 player or having achieved a certain minimum break? Also, what is the entry fee?

One last question - which player, having started in the first qualifying round, has managed to go furthest in the World Championships?

[Robert602]

Where did you obtain the draw sheet for the world championships from and please can you tell me where I can get a copy of it or send one to me please.

I presume it'll be coming to Statman's section shortly: http://www.thesnookerforum.com/showthread-t_1802.html

Edit: Very shortly, as he seems to be working on it right now:
http://www.thesnookerforum.com/showthread.php?t=1875

[MattWilson]

My apologies PTS, I do not read all the threads on this site, just the one's which look interesting!!!

MW

[MattWilson]

If the price of entering the Worlds is £300 then if you had say another 200 amateurs vying to qualify (idealistically), that would add an extra £60K to the kitty, and if as I suspected the entry fee has gone up to nearer £750, then it would add at least double that figure to the coffers.

So why not abolish the rule that says you can only be a member of WPBSA if you're not a member of the EASB? Players always used to be able to do both and it's what makes the World Championships special, the fact that everybody can enter.

MW

[PaulTheSoave]

My apologies PTS, I do not read all the threads on this site, just the one's which look interesting!!!

MW

No need for apologies! On the contrary, compliments! On the other thread I asked whether there is no definition like there is in golf. I think the difference being a amateur of pro golfer is quite distinctive. has to do with registration. I thought there might be something like that in snooker.

[MattWilson]

When a player earns the right to turn pro, he or she is invited to join the WPBSA and to enter all ranking events. I think anyone can join and play in the World's but you have to be invited if you want to play the ranking events.

If only snooker were like golf, with 3 or 4 events a week worldwide, a Challenge Tour and Qualifying Schools! And that's just the pro game...!!

MW

[The Statman]

I have now completed my full results tables for the World Championship, and the rule about not being an EASB member came in in 2006.

You will see that the 2006 chart is very much smaller than the previous ones – particularly, the pre-qualifying rounds were reduced to literally a handful of matches.

I seem to remember Mike Hallett being singled out as someone who was especially done by this – he had played in the pre-quals every year up to 2005, but was not allowed in 2006 for the reasons previously stated.

Does seem strange, when the Association is so cash-strapped at the moment, that it would limit eligibility in this way, while at the same time meaning that the non-main-tour likes of Hallett had to decide whether to join the WSA to enter the 'big' one, or join the EASB to guarantee a certain amount of competition during the season.

[DartsMadJohn]

Thanks for all your answers - the rule that you have to be a WPBSA member does seem stupid because, as MattWilson pointed out, allowing anyone to enter would hopefully generate big interest among amateur players, the entry fees would help boost the prize money, and let's be honest, more money and more exposure are the two things snoker desperately needs right now, not a PR campaign to convince people that £11k for winning a tournament is more than enough cash.

[stephenm2682]

how would one join the WPBSA? and what events can you play under there membership? cheers.

what events (qualifying) can a amatuer play in and ope to turn pro, instead of going to the PIOS or pro-ticket tour? would anyone know of any events around north yorkshire
thank you.

[stephenm2682]

^ any ideas after 2 month lol

are they still open to non EASB members?

would anyone be able to shed some light on this