The 900 continues to amaze …

Today we will see the conclusion of week 4 and this is the line-up

It’s really an amazing line-up. We have a number of young players, including yesterday’s winner, Alfie Lee, son of Stephen Lee. We have a legend from the past, the “Silver Fox”, David Taylor who is 79 years young. We also have Vito Puopolo, probably the best Canadian player in recent years. Did you say “diversity”? Yes … and more.

These was the outcome of day 1:

And this is what happened on day 2

Jasmine Bolsover acquitted herself well, she forced a blue ball shoot-out with Vito. Vito went on to reach the final.

It’s great to see the girls show their skills

Alfie Lee is really impressive. He’s Stephen Lee’s son. Stephen was in the studio with his son

Here are some more pictures

Stephen Lee hinted at possible intentions to come back on tour when is ban is over. As Hector Nunns explains, it’s not that simple:

Stephen Lee leaves door ajar for snooker comeback after 12-year match-fixing ban

Stephen Lee still has two years left on his ban, after he was found guilty of seven counts of fixing matches in 2008 and 2009, but is refusing to rule out a return to the baize

Shamed Stephen Lee has refused to rule out a return to top-level snooker when his 12-year ban for match-fixing ends two years from today. 

The disgraced 48-year-old from Trowbridge was the fourth and now rarely mentioned member of the ‘Class of 1992’ along with Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Williams. Lee’s career achievements including five ranking titles were all forgotten as he was found guilty of seven counts of fixing matches over 2008-2009. 

And the ban, resulting from the worst case of its kind, will come to an end on his 50 ^th birthday exactly 24 months from Wednesday. Lee said: “I must get asked this weekly, daily, minutely. I would like to say no….but I am still capable of playing. Let’s see what happens in two years. It’s not a no, and not a yes. 

“We can only just see what happens in a couple of years’ time. I have some exciting things coming up, and I’m also getting older. My eyes are getting worse, and I never had good eyes to start with. As you get older the determination and the fire goes.” 

However there remain considerable barriers to a comeback that would impact the game negatively in PR terms. After appeals, Lee was left owing governing body the WPBSA £125,000 in costs – and not a penny of that has yet been repaid to the players’ organisation. 

There has been a lack of contrition from Lee that is likely to prove a real problem should he try and negotiate a deal with snooker bosses over the unpaid debt. Ultimately that decision will rest with the WPBSA board with input from current players. But without a genuine acceptance of guilt, it is possible the whole amount would have to be paid up front.

…

With an expression of contrition, a lesser amount in advance plus money taken off future prize money could become an option on the table. And then Lee would have to qualify for the main tour by one of several routes including Qualifying School, the secondary amateur Q Tour, or events such as the WSF Championship. 

Another twist is the emergence of Lee’s son Alfie, 19, as one of the better amateur prospects in English snooker. He has been playing in unofficial 900 event this week. 

The strict terms of Lee’s ban mean he also cannot attend any WPBSA-affiliated tournament in any capacity, be that parent, spectator, coach or player. And the possibility looms that Lee junior could be on the tour as early as next year, but with his dad unable to witness any elevation to the pro ranks.

WST has published the list of the players who will be invited to the qualifiers for the 2022 UK Championship:

WPBSA Qualifiers Announced for Cazoo UK Championship

The WPBSA and World Snooker Tour (WST) have today announced further information regarding the elite amateur players who will compete at this season’s Cazoo UK Championship having qualified through recognised WPBSA pathways.

The additional spaces are part of agreed changes to the Cazoo UK Championship format, which will this season include a tiered format and significantly more prize money available to players across the world ranking list.

Format

The tournament will now see the top 16 seeded through to the last 32 stages, to be held at the York Barbican from 12-20 November.

The remaining players will compete in the qualifying rounds at Ponds Forge in Sheffield from 5-10 November, with 16 players going through to York to be drawn at random against the top 16 seeds.

WPBSA Qualifiers

For the first time the field will include up to 16* players to have earned their places through new pathway opportunities for elite performers through activities staged and coordinated by the WPBSA Group.

*This number is subject to the total number of professional entries received. Should all 130 current professionals enter, there will be 14 places awarded to the WPBSA.

Confirmed Players:

WPBSA Q Tour

Champions from the world’s premier secondary tour to the World Snooker Tour so far this season:

1. Ross Muir – WPBSA Q Tour – Event 1 winner
2. Martin O’Donnell – WPBSA Q Tour – Event 2 winner
3. TBC – WPBSA Q Tour – Event 3 winner (to be held 14-16 October)

WSF Championships 2022

Runners-up from the world’s largest international amateur tournaments, champions having already earned two-year tour cards:

4. Lee Stephens – 2022 WSF Championship runner-up
5. Jake Crofts – 2022 WSF Junior Championship runner-up

EPSB Open Series

Leading player from the EPSB Open Series, open to professionals and amateurs from around the world:

6. Ryan Davies – EPSB Open Series number one 2021/22, winner of nine events

Highest performing juniors from the UK

7. Lewis Ullah – EPSB Under-21 Premier Development Tour 2021/22 no.1
8. Callum Beresford – EPSB English Under-21 champion 2021/22
9. Liam Graham – Scottish Under-21 champion 2022, number four in 2021/23 main tour rankings
10. Amaan Iqbal – Next highest national ranked junior in 2021/22 main tour rankings
11. Liam Davies – Welsh Snooker Under-21, Under-18 and Under-16 champion 2022, Welsh Amateur Snooker Championship 2022 runner-up
12. Bradley Ferguson – Welsh Snooker Under-21 Championship runner-up 2022
13. Robbie McGuigan – Northern Ireland Amateur Snooker Championship winner 2022 and Northern Ireland Under-21 Championship winner 2022
14. Joel Connolly – NIBSA Under-21 rankings number two

Should there be up to two additional places in the draw after these players and the current professional players have entered, these will be allocated to the WPBSA Q Tour ranking list following Event 3.

Should the Q Tour 3 event be won by a player already qualified, this place will be awarded to the next highest ranked player on the Q Tour rankings following that event.

Any remaining places in the draw will be taken from the 2022 WST Q School Order of Merit.