The first Q-School started yesterday in Leicester and here is WST report about the day’s outcome:
Heathcote Off To Strong Start
Louis Heathcote got his bid for a return to the professional ranks off to the perfect start with a 4-0 win over Marc Shaw on day one of Q School Event One at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
Heathcote is aiming to bounce straight back from the disappointment of relegation from the World Snooker Tour last month. His four year run as a professional came to an end with a 10-7 loss against Andrew Higginson at World Championship qualifying.
The Leicester cueman, who is playing on home turf this week, narrowly avoided relegation two years ago. He made it to Judgement Day at 2021 World Championship qualifying to retain his tour card, but this time it wasn’t to be.
Heathcote wasted little time securing the win this afternoon, taking just over an hour. He crafted breaks of 112 and 53 en route to victory. Next up Heathcote faces Alex Clenshaw.
“You have to go in the mindset that you belong on the tour. We all want to be top 16 and world number one. This is just part of the journey for me. I’m not saying I’m going to get on straight away, but that is the approach you have to come in with,” said 25-year-old Heathcote.
“I was gutted. Falling off tour is one of the worst feelings you can ever imagine. I had two weeks off then straight back on the practice table. I have been practising really hard and also making time for a bit of golf as well!”
Havant’s Jamie Wilson beat Latvia’s Rodion Judin 4-1, averaging just 16.8 seconds a shot, to earn a place in round two.
Wilson came through Q School in 2020 at the age of just 16 and topped the average shot time standings during his first season on the circuit. Having since dropped off, he is now 19 years old and is aiming for a return to the World Snooker Tour. His round two opponent is Alfie Davies.
Luke Pinches, son of recently relegated professional Barry Pinches, beat Stephen Kershaw 4-2. Talented 18-year-old Paul Deaville, who made the last 16 of the 2021 English Open, whitewashed Heather Clare 4-0.
English Amateur champion Deaville said: “I didn’t play in the last two Q Schools because I didn’t think I was ready. I wanted to give it a go this time but I’m trying to stay relaxed and I’ll just see how it goes. I am going to university, to study sports business and management, so snooker is still going to be part time for me, and that takes pressure off. I just try to enjoy it.”
All the results are also available (and will remain available) on snooker.org
As you would expect WST report is only about UK players, and actually here English players.
Sixteen years old Bulcsú Révész from Hungary also won his first match beating Alfie Lee, Stephen Lee’s son and a young player rated highly by many. Alfie lead 2-0.
Another player who won yesterday is Vladislav Gradinari from Moldova. Vladislav is only 14 and made a name for himself earlier this year by winning two matches at the Shoot-out.
Also coming through yesterday is Darryl Hill from the Isle of Man. Darryl is now 27. He turned pro some eleven years ago and didn’t get much success. When he gave up professional snooker, he said that this was it, he wouldn’t try to come back as a professional again. He didn’t enjoy it. But here he is giving it a go …
One player who I expected to do well and was beaten yesterday in the first round is Robbie McGuigan, who only last week-end had won the the Northern Ireland Snooker Championship for a third time in a row. The result surprised me all the more because I had never heard about his opponent Tom Maxfield, a 29 years old amateur from England. From what I found on cuetracker.net, Maxfield was quite active as a junior and young amateur, took about 10 years off amateur competitions but came back playing in 2022/23.
And finally … Paul Deaville is a brilliant young amateur but frankly his win yesterday was the most predictable result ever. His opponent, Heather Clare, has been playing in the Q-Schools for a long time and has never won even one frame. Why she forks a rather high amount of money to play in those events is a complete mystery to me especially as she doesn’t even play on the women’s tour.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
Another problem is work. Unless contestant is a free lancer, it is difficult to spare 20+ days for Q School (I wonder if that is same case in Europe. But it is hard to take such a long leave at least in China…).
It may not be that easy in Europe either and, if possible, it will probably “eat” most of your holidays for a year
I have always been mystified why it is called “qualifying SCHOOL” when no teaching takes place l, just another brutal competition.
I suspect all the women who care about serious playing are either on the tour or on qschool. And I’m still hot happy about her tour card.
As to yesterday, let me mention Bulcsú Révész’ victory over Alfie Lee (am I right that he is Stephen Lee’s son?) 4-2 after being 0-2 down.
I duly mentioned it… and happy about it too.
Sorry, must have missed it
There are so many reasons why there should be some kind of qualification system for Q School.
To pay £600 (previously £1000) for one match for “the experience” is ludicrous.
Players should be learning the game and proving their worth before getting anywhere near this kind of event.
It’s all very well having “pathways” but snooker needs “development pathways” in order to grow as a professional sport.
Correction: I should have said one match per event.
I agree Michael. But I’m not holding my breath. As it is it’s easy money going WST’s way…
Yes but also an important revenue stream. Any ‘open’ event will have substandard entrants. I myself have played against 11-year olds, or opponents who couldn’t pot more than 3 balls in succession. It’s a completely normal part of the game below professional level. Imposing ‘restrictions’ is extremely dangerous, and unacceptable in the modern climate of inclusiveness. There are only 2 women in Leicester (and another 2 in Bangkok). There have been years when Heather Clare was the only woman – I watched her play last year when I was there. If her motivation is to try an increase female participation, the she can hardly be criticised.
In terms of ‘distorting’ the knockout draws, and resulting Order of Merit calculations, I’ve already made my views known about that, and details of how to make the whole Q School format much better.
Q School shouldn’t be regarded as an income stream.
The cost of entering should be calculated/estimated from the cost of putting on the event.
My argument is that Q School shouldn’t be an open event. Rather, you should have to be of the required standard before being allowed to enter. It is simply too big a jump to expect players who don’t win any event anywhere else, to be expected to compete for a place on the main tour.
No, it’s not the place to gain experience. That should be done much earlier and only those ready for the main tour should be competing for a place.
I’m not criticising her and I have no clue about her motivation. I’m just extremely surprised that someone who doesn’t play in the women’s tour and can’t seem to be able to win a frame, comes back year after year to play in an event that has high entry fees.
What I find interesting is that none of the other WWS players have entered.
As many of them travel the world to play on the tour, I would doubt if the cost of entering is an issue.
Even Reanne didn’t enter and if she hadn’t made it via the WWS then she would have been off the tour. But from her comments on Twitter recently, I don’t think she thinks wants to be on the tour.
I doubt if Heather Clare has any ambition to play on the main tour and, as the current rules go, she is perfectly entitled to enter Q School.