On/Off the tour?

[Alex0paul]

I can't see any of the PIOS qualifiers staying on the tour. (Kurt Maflin isn't among them) Also I think it is unfair on them as all the new players have starter points equal to the worst player who remained on the tour. Players like Jamie Jones, Ben Woollaston (albeit he stayed on in the end) dropped off the tour dispite having average seasons. I think to increase their chances the tour needs to be expanded to 128 pros.

[DartsMadJohn]

Unfortunately It's a vicious circle that the WSA has created. To expand the tour to 128 pros means more players have to get paid, therefore more tournaments need setting up and more sponsors found, but World Snooker will instead probably just congratulate themselves on adding one new tournament to the calendar, and try to hide away from the issues that really need sorting in the game.

[rivercard]

I've just browsed the results of the European Main Tour Play-Off, and I noticed that Lasse Münstermann made breaks of 86, 82, 73 and 65, and he still lost his first match 3-2! Winning only 2 frames with breaks like these is more than just unfortunate..

[chasmmi]

SO it looks like Bjorn Haneever in the driver's seat for a Main tour place, if he beats Goggins he is there otherwise it is Muldoon. (Is it correct that Van Hove would qualify through Play Offs if he wins both?)

As for Asian Championships the semi final lineup is:

Yasin Merchant (Ind)
Khurram Agha (Pak)
Jin Long (Chn)
Supoj Saenla (Thai)

So there's a good chance of another Asian making the tour this way.

Then there are just a couple of Scottish and English invites left to mull over.

[Alex0paul]

The English invite wont be announced until next week but the draw for the Shanghai qualifiers will just say 'English Nominee' or whatever. It begs the question surely they could do that with all of the places they are waiting for and bring the draw out earlier.

Also do the players 17-32 have to qualify for the venue or will the tournament start at the last 48 stage?

[chasmmi]

The calender shows 4 days of qualifiers for Shanghai compared to 3 for NI and Wales.

This suggests to me an extra round of UK based qualifying fun.

[Alex0paul]

Vincent Muldoon beats Bjorn Haneveer 5-3 to earn a place on the tour however the place may go to Haneveer as Muldoon wants to complete his education first.

[chasmmi]

Asian Champ place is now a shootout between Yasin Merchant of India and Supoj Saenla of Thailand.

(Out of interest anyone know when we last had an Indian on the tour?)

[t.lavery55]

I think Pankaj Advani was the last Indian to be on the main tour
3 or 4 seasons ago

[Alex0paul]

Supoj Saenla claims a place on the tour defeating Yasin Merchant 7-0 in the Asia Champiomships final.

[chasmmi]

Judging by frames scores Supoj Saenla really looked impressive this week. Any details on if he's worth his salt?

[chasmmi]

Do you think the 2nd English Nimination knows who he is? Or is some poor unfortunate going to get call in a few days telling him he's has to be in Prestatyn next week.

[Sarmu]

Why can't they just decide someone? or they waiting for something to happed?

[chasmmi]

I assumed they were waiting until the European event ended just incase their provisional choice won it, but no English guy even made it to the semis so they have had at least 5 days to publish a name they must have decided on a fair while ago.

[gloveman]

easb are holding play offs 23/24 june. 32 play down to winner who receives the second english place on the main tour.