We have a few days without major snooker action before an extremely busy next week. But, of course, there is news…
One of the events taking place next week is the 2024 Q-Tour Global Playoffs. The draw is out:
Q Tour Global Play-Off | Draw & Preview
The draw has been made for the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Q Tour Global Play-Off, where 24 players will compete for three two-year World Snooker Tour cards.
The prestigious event will be held alongside the EBSA European Championships in Bosnia & Herzegovina from 13-15 March 2024.
The 2023/24 WPBSA Q Tour season saw the tour go global for the first time by incorporating series’ in the Middle East, Americas and Asia-Pacific region alongside the UK/Europe series which has been held since 2021/22. Cueists from across the globe have been competing all year to earn a coveted spot in the Global Play-Off.
View the full qualification criteria. (Please note that due to the Asia-Pacific qualifiers being unable to attend the event for personal reasons, these places have been awarded to the next highest-ranked from the UK/Europe series).
The 24 players have been split into three sections of eight and the player coming through each section successfully will earn their place on the World Snooker Tour from the 2024/25 season.
Play-Off 1
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 Frames)
Liam Davies (Wales) vs. Peter Devlin (England)
Hamim Hussain (England) vs. Rory McLeod (Jamaica)
Duane Jones (Wales) vs. Vito Puopolo (Canada)
Florian Nuessle (Austria) vs. Craig Steadman (England)
Semi-Finals (Best of 11 Frames)
L Davies/Devlin vs. Hussain/McLeod
Jones/Puopolo vs. Nuessle/Steadman
Final (Best of 19 Frames)
Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2
Liam Davies, the top ranked player in the play-off from the UK/Europe series, is the top seed in the first section as he kicks off his event his with a difficult encounter against former professional Peter Devlin, who secured his place in the play-off as a benefactor of withdrawals from the Asia-Pacific series.
Veteran former professionals Rory McLeod and Craig Steadman are among the other big names to feature in a high-quality section.
McLeod, who famously defeated Judd Trump at the Crucible Theatre in 2017, faces 22-year-old Hamim Hussain the first round while Steadman meets Austrian national champion Florian Nuessle in the opening best-of-nine frame contest.
The line up is completed by Welsh former professional Duane Jones, who begins his campaign against Americas event one winner Vito Puopolo, who has previously competed in the 2023 World Seniors Championship at the Crucible Theatre.
Play-Off 2
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 Frames)
Peter Lines (England) vs. Tyler Rees (Wales)
Chris Totten (Scotland) vs. Iulian Boiko (Ukraine)
Barry Pinches (England) vs. Steven Hallworth (England)
Amir Sarkhosh (Iran) vs. Harvey Chandler (England)
Semi-Finals (Best of 11 Frames)
Lines/Rees vs. Totten/Boiko
Pinches/Hallworth vs. Sarkhosh/Chandler
Final (Best of 19 Frames)
Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2
The second section of the draw sees six former professionals aiming to regain their main tour status in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
There are two first round meetings between cueists who have previous plied their trade on the main tour, with Scotland’s Chris Totten and Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko facing off while the veteran Barry Pinches kicks off his campaign against the recent English Amateur champion Steven Hallworth
Elsewhere, the recent UK/Europe event seven winner Peter Lines takes on 25-year old Welshman Tyler Rees and double Middle East event champion Amir Sarkhosh faces Harvey Chandler as the Iranian looks to secure professional status for the first time in his career.
Play-Off 3
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 Frames)
Umut Dikme (Germany) vs. Ryan Davies (England)
Mohamed Shehab (United Arab Emirates) vs. Daniel Womersley (England)
Alfie Davies (Wales) vs. Yu Kiu Chang (Hong Kong China)
Hasanain Khalid Alsultani (USA) vs. Antoni Kowalski (Poland)
Semi-Finals (Best of 11 Frames)
Dikme/R Davies vs. Shehab/Womersley
A Davies/Yu vs. Alsultani/Kowalski
Final (Best of 19 Frames)
Winner of Semi-Final 1 vs. Winner of Semi-Final 2
Four Q Tour event winners from across the globe battle it out in the third section of the play-off draw.
There is a meeting of champions in the opening round as Americas event two winner Hasanain Khalid Alsultani and UK/Europe event four winner Antoni Kowalski meet in a best-of-nine frame contest.
Mohamed Shehab, winner of the third event in the Middle East, will face recent WSF Championship semi-finalist Daniel Womersley in an intriguing opening round tie while Alfie Davies, the son of former professional Anthony Davies, kicks off his event against Hong Kong China’s Yu Kiu Chang as he aims to follow in his father’s footsteps and earn professional status.
Another fascinating opening round contest sees German Umut Dikme, the UK/Europe event three winner, face English Under-21 champion Ryan Davies.
WPBSA Qualifiers Announced for 2024 Cazoo World Championship
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and World Snooker Tour are pleased to confirm the qualification criteria for the 16 amateur players who have secured their places at the 2024 Cazoo World Snooker Championship in Sheffield in April.
The qualifying rounds will take place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield from 8-17 April to determine who will join the world’s elite top 16 ranked players at the Crucible Theatre.
Joining all professionals ranked outside the top 16, following the 2024 Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship, and top-ups from the 2023 Q School Order of Merit will be 16 leading amateur players who have earned their place at the event courtesy of their achievements at recognised international events across the season.
These include our recent champions at the World Snooker Federation Championship in Albania, the winner of the upcoming World Women’s Snooker Championship to be staged in China next week, and the WPBSA Q Tour Global, expanded for this season.
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “We are excited to be able to announce another formidable line-up of WPBSA qualifiers who will join the field for this year’s professional World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.”
“Last year we saw fantastic wins for our qualifiers including Liam Davies, Stan Moody, Iulian Boiko and many more, and I have no doubt that this year’s players will also make their mark on our most recognisable tournament.”
“Amateur snooker continues to go from strength to strength as our recognised WPBSA Group pathways around the world continue to mature and deliver elite talent to the World Snooker Tour. Only last month we witnessed fantastic performances from Hong Kong China’s Ka Wai Cheung and Hungary’s Bulcsú Révész at the WSF Championship in Albania to earn their Tour places for the first time, while Michael Holt has also secured his return after two years away after winning the UK/Europe WPBSA Q Tour.”
“The WPBSA’s vision, is to inspire and reward. Through the development of global pathways, snooker is now a sport where an athlete can go from amateur status to world champion and global sports star in a matter of months. The opportunities are there, the only criteria are achievement.”
“I would like to wish our 16 players every success in Sheffield as they stand just four wins away from a place at the iconic Crucible Theatre in April!”
Oliver Sykes – 2024 WSF Junior Championship Semi-Finalist
Hamza Ilyas – 2024 WSF Junior Championship Semi-Finalist
TBC – 2024 EBSA Under-18 European Championship Winner
TBC – 2024 EBSA Under-21 European Championship Winner
TBC – Q Tour UK/Europe Ranking List (subject to Playoff Result)
All players selected will appear subject to acceptance of their place and any travel restrictions in place. Any replacement players for these 16 places will be selected from a reserve list to include performances at World Snooker Federation, Q Tour and recognised regional events.
Any current professional players who do not enter the tournament will be replaced from the 2023 Q School Order of Merit.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has ‘arm twisted’ to play Tour Championship as he sets out Crucible preparation
Phil Haigh
Ronnie O’Sullivan says his sponsors have twisted his arm to play in the Tour Championship next month, meaning he has two more tournaments to play before the World Championship gets underway in April.
The Rocket won the first ever World Masters of Snooker in Riyadh on Wednesday night, beating Luca Brecel 5-2 in the final and claiming the huge £250,000 first prize.
It was the fifth title of an incredible season for the 48-year-old who will be going into the World Championship this season as the favourite to lift the trophy for a record eighth time.
The world number one is not slowing down, though, heading to Yushan, China next week for the World Open, starting on 18 March then is back in the UK for the Tour Championship, getting underway on 1 April in Manchester.
O’Sullivan suggested he would have happily skipped the Tour Championship, though, but his sponsors convinced him to play the 12-man event in Manchester.
‘I’m going to keep playing, keep enjoying it,’ O’Sullivan told WST in Riyadh. ‘I go to China next week which I’m looking forward to.
‘It’s a tournament that I’m geared up to do well in, with this and China, then obviously the one in Manchester because my sponsors have twisted my arm to say, look we want you to do well in it, it would mean a lot to us.
Ronnie O’Sullivan beat John Higgins, Judd Trump and Luca Brecel in Riyadh (Picture: Zhai Zheng @zhaizhengqd)
‘So for the next four tournaments [including the Saudi event] I’m really going to give it 100 per cent because sponsors and all the backing that they’ve put in for these events.’
It was all a very nice and interesting read until the latest silliness from Ronnie. He likes the Tour, he worked hard in earlier seasons to qualify, so there really is no need to say how his arms are “twisted” to play there. I love the man, but sometimes…
Csilla… Ronnie in the past did qualify for the Champion of Champions and eventually didn’t enter it. He’s won 5 titles this season, but also withdrew from a number of events. So, I’s not silly. It’s very possible that he would have preferred to take a break before the World, but that his sponsors want him in those very visible and exclusive events.
It’s exasperating. Somewhat disheartening. He said after the Masters he wanted to take a break, play the Grand Prix and return to the Tour which he likes. That made sense until he realized the Players was in between, so he played that. Skipping the Champion of Champions this year made perfect sense and I applauded it, because the UK followed. Now I know he made an incredible amount of money in Riyadh, but still… a ranking tournament with matches of normal length against top players must still be more prestigious than an exhibition tournament of best of 7s/9s.
I know it’s his choice and everything, but for everyone else it is a no-brainer to pick the Tour over the China-event if he wants a break. It’s one thing not to play the Home Nations, which can be regarded as not too prestigious and bad venues, and another to show such a demonstratively open disdain for tournaments in the UK.
Well, I think that for him, nearing the end of his career, China is more important. It’s a huge market for exhibitions. He’s a star there too. Why do you think Barry Hearn was so upset about Macau? Listen again to Barry’s last interview I shared. He doesn’t want competition and China has the means to give him serious competition, especially if they can attract retiring top players.
And also, regarding the Tour… this is one event – if it’s like in previous years – nobody can watch outside the UK.
I remember there was a very interesting discussion here about all these Chinese exos vs. WST. Of course part of my beef is that it would be so much more pleasant not to advertise it so loud how he would rather not participate in important events.
Can someone explain to me what’s all the fuss about sponsors? I honestly don’t understand it all. Why does Ronnie at this stage of the career still have sponsors at all? I always thought sportsperson who have not achieved much yet need sponsors and need to be loyal to them. But why has Ronnie still sponsors to which he seems to need to be loyal. Or could Ronnie choose with some when he is loyal or not and uses them just as an excuse sometimes? Can they really still dictate him what to do? Does anyone even know what kind of contracts he has with them?
Why does someone like Djokovic have sponsors? Because he’s a known sportsperson, regularly seen on television and they want their brand to be visible and associated with a sport celebrity. It’s the same for Ronnie. And, of course, they have to make sure he does play, and in particular in those events that will be watched by their “target” markets, hence the contractual constraints. It’s no rocket science.
I was just thinking in theory he wouldn’t need sponsors at this stage and could be totally independent. And it would be interesting to know how restrictive these contracts really are, since the “medical reasons” withdrawals begin to occur regularly now.
Of course, there will still be a shortfall for the World Championship for various reasons, which makes the rather vague top-up criterion a subject of attention.
Also, the draw for the WWS Women’s World Championship is out, with 45 players (mainly from Asia) drawn into 9 groups. I will be travelling to Guangzhou next week and will attend for a couple of days, before moving on to Yushan.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
It was all a very nice and interesting read until the latest silliness from Ronnie. He likes the Tour, he worked hard in earlier seasons to qualify, so there really is no need to say how his arms are “twisted” to play there. I love the man, but sometimes…
Csilla… Ronnie in the past did qualify for the Champion of Champions and eventually didn’t enter it. He’s won 5 titles this season, but also withdrew from a number of events. So, I’s not silly. It’s very possible that he would have preferred to take a break before the World, but that his sponsors want him in those very visible and exclusive events.
It’s exasperating. Somewhat disheartening. He said after the Masters he wanted to take a break, play the Grand Prix and return to the Tour which he likes. That made sense until he realized the Players was in between, so he played that. Skipping the Champion of Champions this year made perfect sense and I applauded it, because the UK followed. Now I know he made an incredible amount of money in Riyadh, but still… a ranking tournament with matches of normal length against top players must still be more prestigious than an exhibition tournament of best of 7s/9s.
I know it’s his choice and everything, but for everyone else it is a no-brainer to pick the Tour over the China-event if he wants a break. It’s one thing not to play the Home Nations, which can be regarded as not too prestigious and bad venues, and another to show such a demonstratively open disdain for tournaments in the UK.
Well, I think that for him, nearing the end of his career, China is more important. It’s a huge market for exhibitions. He’s a star there too. Why do you think Barry Hearn was so upset about Macau? Listen again to Barry’s last interview I shared. He doesn’t want competition and China has the means to give him serious competition, especially if they can attract retiring top players.
And also, regarding the Tour… this is one event – if it’s like in previous years – nobody can watch outside the UK.
I remember there was a very interesting discussion here about all these Chinese exos vs. WST. Of course part of my beef is that it would be so much more pleasant not to advertise it so loud how he would rather not participate in important events.
Can someone explain to me what’s all the fuss about sponsors? I honestly don’t understand it all. Why does Ronnie at this stage of the career still have sponsors at all? I always thought sportsperson who have not achieved much yet need sponsors and need to be loyal to them. But why has Ronnie still sponsors to which he seems to need to be loyal. Or could Ronnie choose with some when he is loyal or not and uses them just as an excuse sometimes? Can they really still dictate him what to do? Does anyone even know what kind of contracts he has with them?
Why does someone like Djokovic have sponsors? Because he’s a known sportsperson, regularly seen on television and they want their brand to be visible and associated with a sport celebrity. It’s the same for Ronnie. And, of course, they have to make sure he does play, and in particular in those events that will be watched by their “target” markets, hence the contractual constraints. It’s no rocket science.
I was just thinking in theory he wouldn’t need sponsors at this stage and could be totally independent. And it would be interesting to know how restrictive these contracts really are, since the “medical reasons” withdrawals begin to occur regularly now.
Of course, there will still be a shortfall for the World Championship for various reasons, which makes the rather vague top-up criterion a subject of attention.
Also, the draw for the WWS Women’s World Championship is out, with 45 players (mainly from Asia) drawn into 9 groups. I will be travelling to Guangzhou next week and will attend for a couple of days, before moving on to Yushan.