Format of Play The first round will be eight groups of four players. The round robin stage will be conducted in the first round with the best of nine frames format. The winner of each match will receive one point while the loser gets no points. The top two players after the completion of the round robin stage will advance to the knock out stage The format of play for the last 16 to the quarter-finals will be the best of 11 frames. The format of play for the semi-final will be the best of 13 frames and the final will be the best of 15 frames.
The line-up is packed with stars such as World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Williams, John Higgins, Ding Junhui, Stuart Bingham and defending champion Stephen Maguire. O’Sullivan’s group draw includes an intriguing meeting with WSF Junior Champion Stan Moody.
The event runs from March 6 to 11 with total prize money of 11 million Thai Baht. Details of how to watch the event will be available soon.
This invitation tournament uses six reds instead of the traditional 15. Maguire lifted the trophy for the second time in 2019, beating John Higgins 8-6 in the final.
And these are the rules in use for the event as explained above (third link)
Additional Event Rules
1) At the end of round robin matches, positions in any given group shall be decided on the basis of number of matches won. 2) To resolve any ties within the groups when two (2) players have equal number of wins, the best frame differentials shall decide the positions. If still being equal, the winning result between the two (2) players concerned shall determine their positions.
3) To resolve any ties within the groups when three (3) have equal number of wins, the best frame differentials shall decide the positions. If still being equal, a draw shall be conducted to determine the top position. For the remaining two players, the winning result between the two (2) players concerned shall determine their positions.
4) In case of a walkover or forfeiture during the round robin stage, the player not in default shall be credited with a win, but no frames shall be awarded thereto. However, should the non-award of frames for the forfeited match affects concerned player’s position within the group, then a sufficient number of winning frames (not exceeding five frames) shall be awarded thereto to enable him to tie with the player immediately above him and to establish the eventual positions, the result of the match between the two players shall be considered.
5) No re-seeding shall take place at the conclusion of the round robin stage. Pairings for the knockout stage matches shall be decided by a draw shall as per following format:
Next month’s WST Classic will be broadcast across the globe (outside China) on Matchroom.Live, giving fans the chance to watch snooker’s star players compete over seven days in the new world ranking event.
The tournament at the Morningside Arena in Leicester will run from March 16th to 22nd, with a field of 128 players and total prize money of £427,000. All-time greats in the line up include Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Mark Allen, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams and many more, with the draw and format to be announced on Wednesday.
Fans in all territories (outside China) can watch live on Matchroom.Live, with commentary on the main table from David Hendon and Dominic Dale. Details of the cost and how to sign up will be announced shortly.
Matchroom.Live is a global multi-sport OTT service, launched in May 2020 to provide a single destination for Matchroom’s diverse portfolio of events across many sports. The platform hosts live events for territories outside of existing broadcast agreements, as well as free on-demand content spanning over 40 years of Matchroom’s archive.
WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “We are thrilled to team up with Matchroom.Live to broadcast the WST Classic to every corner of the globe. With such a strong field, it will be seven days of outstanding snooker. For fans who have not come across Matchroom.Live before, this is a chance to get a taste of the fantastic service on offer, with live action from many different sport available throughout the year.”
A limited number of tickets are on sale for the final day WST Classic. The final day will include the quarter-finals at 10am, semi-finals at 2.30pm and final at 7pm. All matches will be best of seven frames, up until the semi-finals which are best of nine, and the final which is best of 11.
I’m sure many will be disappointed. In the past the Matchroom.live service has not always been great (to say the least) but recently I must say that it has been good.
2 thoughts on “Professional Snooker News – 28 February 2023”
I already subscribe to Discovery+ for EuroSport’s Snooker coverage. I’m not paying for Matchroom for one stupidly organised and terribly scheduled ranking event, that in all likelihood, will never happen again. Like the WST Pro Series.
Matchroom live?
The way Steve Dawson speaks about it (above) would make anyone who didn’t know think he hadn’t been involved in Matchroom for around 40 years.
It’s another inside job and he was never fining to say anything else.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
I already subscribe to Discovery+ for EuroSport’s Snooker coverage. I’m not paying for Matchroom for one stupidly organised and terribly scheduled ranking event, that in all likelihood, will never happen again. Like the WST Pro Series.
Matchroom live?
The way Steve Dawson speaks about it (above) would make anyone who didn’t know think he hadn’t been involved in Matchroom for around 40 years.
It’s another inside job and he was never fining to say anything else.