In recent days, WST has provided some important information about the the 2024 UK Championship.

WPBSA QUALIFIERS ANNOUNCED FOR UK CHAMPIONSHIP

The WPBSA and World Snooker Tour (WST) have today revealed the elite amateur players who have qualified to compete at the 2024 UK Championship through recognised WPBSA pathways.

The historic Triple Crown Series event will again feature a tiered format, which will see the top 16 seeded through to the final stages, to be held at the York Barbican from 23 November – 1 December 2024.

The remaining players will compete in the qualifying rounds in Leicester from 16-21 November, with 16 players set to progress and complete the last 32 line-up.

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WPBSA QUALIFIERS

This season’s 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.

The 16 initially invited players are listed below:

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

• Andres Petrov – WPBSA Q Tour Europe – Event 1 winner
• Dylan Emery – WPBSA Q Tour Europe – Event 2 winner
• Zhao Xintong – WPBSA Q Tour Europe – Event 3 winner
• TBC – WPBSA Q Tour Europe – Event 4 winner
• TBC – WPBSA Q Tour Europe – Highest Ranked Player (not including the above)

WSF CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024

Eligible players from the world’s largest international amateur tournaments:

• Yang Gao* – 2024 WSF Championship finalist
• Iulian Boiko – 2024 WSF Championship semi-finalist
• Daniel Womersley – 2024 WSF Championship semi-finalist
• Hamza Ilyas – 2024 WSF Junior Championship semi-finalist
• Oliver Sykes – 2024 WSF Junior Championship semi-finalist

WPBSA Q TOUR GLOBAL

• Vinnie Calabrese* – WPBSA Q Tour Asia-Pacific – Event winner
• Matthew Scarborough* – WPBSA Q Tour Asia-Pacific – Event winner
• Igor Figueiredo – WPBSA Q Tour Americas – Event winner
• Habib Sabah Hamood – WPBSA Q Tour Middle East – Event winner
• Ali Gharahgozlou* – WPBSA Q Tour Middle East – Event winner
• Vladislav Gradinari – EBSA Under-16 Champion / Under-18 Finalist

*these players have declined their invitation

Any players who do not accept their place will be replaced by reserve players from the WPBSA Q Tour Europe Ranking List after Event 4.

I’m not sure why they list players who have already declined the invitation. Maybe it is to show that there is consistency in their invitation process? Anyway…

They have also announced the main sponsor for the event

VICTORIAN PLUMBING PARTNERS WITH SNOOKER’S UK CHAMPIONSHIP

Victorian Plumbing, the UK’s leading bathroom retailer, has become a partner of one of snooker’s greatest tournaments, the UK Championship, for the first time.

The Victorian Plumbing UK Championship will run from November 23rd to December 1st in York. Part of the sport’s Triple Crown Series, the tournament has been ever present on the calendar since 1977 and is contested by 32 of the world’s leading players. It is televised to a worldwide audience of hundreds of millions, by BBC, Eurosport and many other broadcasters.

Ronnie O’Sullivan won the title for a record-extending eighth time last year, beating Ding Junhui in the final. A strong field of snooker’s biggest stars is once again expected at the superb York Barbican venue.

WST’s Chief Commercial Officer Peter Wright said: “We are delighted to join forces with Victorian Plumbing for one of the biggest events on our global calendar. They have an impressive history behind them and they are still an expanding and ambitious company, so there are similarities with snooker and we are excited to work together. The Victorian Plumbing UK Championship is a much anticipated highlight for snooker fans and promises to be nine marvellous on days of action in York – it is a trophy which all of the player dream of lifting.”

Victorian Plumbing Chief Marketing Officer Joe Pascoe said: “We are proud to take up the mantle of Lead Partner with the WST for the forthcoming UK Championship. 2024 has been another year of growth and expansion for us, and we continue to explore new ways to reach and speak to our customers in the places that mean most to them. For us, investing further into UK sport, in particular one with a rich heritage and ambitious future felt like the perfect match. The Victorian Plumbing UK Championship will be a moment of pride for us, and we can’t wait to take it in.”

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Victorian Plumbing is the UK’s biggest bathroom retailer. Based in Leyland in the North West of England, they offer a huge range of bathroom fittings and accessories as a one-stop shop for your entire bathroom, home heating and tiling needs.

I’m glad that it’s not yet another bookie…

I have no doubts that there will be people objecting to Zhao Xintong presence but he is there by right: he has served his ban and won a Q-Tour event. Personally, I’m glad to have him back, just as I was glad to have Jamie Jones back. Those two did not fix any match, their “sin” was not to grass on their mates. I do understand WST position but I still find this quite harsh, especially when it comes to players living as expats in the UK. They are away from home for months in a row, their mates are all they have…