After nearly five years of writing this blog, it is probably fair to say that PSB has come to be associated with snooker’s world rankings, particularly as I have updated the latest projected seedings page, tracking the race for favourable seedings and main tour places at various cut-off points.
With the traditional points-based ranking system set to be replaced by a list based upon prize money earned however, attention now turns to how such a money list will look going forward.
I am pleased to say therefore that you can new view PSB’s first unofficial draft of that list here. Please note that the list is purely for illustrative purposes at this stage and will not be used until the end of this season.
Click below for an explanation as to what the list shows, why it differs to that published by World Snooker and just why this list is so important, even this early in the season…
- Click here to view the latest provisional money list
- Click here to view the indicative prize money schedule for 2013/14
What is the provisional money list?
As usual, the blurb at the top of the page explains what the table shows, but in plain English what is the point to this new table and what does it show?
Simply put, the table includes all money earned during last season (2012/3), and from left to right will include all money earned from the current 2013/14 season, which started on Monday. All of these totals will then be added up to give a player’s two-year total at the far right-hand side.
Haven’t World Snooker already published this?
Now World Snooker are of course publishing a two-year rolling money list, for illustration purposes only, which you can view here at their website in pdf format.
The important difference however is that their list includes points from the 2011/12 season, which will not count when the money list is first used to determine snooker’s world rankings for real come the start of 2014/15.
As with my usual lists therefore, I have already removed the points that won’t matter, so my table will just include those events from the start of the 2012/13 season onwards.
Why does it matter? Isn’t it a bit early?
Four days into the season, you could be forgiven that it is a bit early to be looking at a provisional list to the end of this new season and to some extent that is probably true.
However, the list is not purely a point of interest. As highlighted previously on this blog, at the end of this season, all players ranked outside of the top 64 on the money list, who do not have a tour-year tour card, or re-qualify through the PTC Order of Merit, will be relegated from the tour – not the points list.
All of the players who will definitely be on tour for next season have been highlighted in green.
Already therefore, we are halfway through a race which by the end of this season, will determine a large number of the players who will be on the tour for the 2014/15 campaign.
Where is the information from?
The first important point that I should make here is that the list is not my own handiwork, a huge thanks from me to @joanneballantyn, who has very kindly offered to help out keep the list updated during the course of the season.
The second important point is that the list is very much UNOFFICIAL at this stage – we have not received confirmation from World Snooker as to whether there will be an indicative prize money schedule applied to last season’s events, or how exchange rates will be applied.
At this stage, the list is intended as a guide only.
That said, I am confident that the list is (give or take a few pounds), as accurate as possible, however as and when further information becomes apparent, the list will of course be updated where necessary.
Money will be awarded for the 2013/14 season in line with the indicative prize money schedule published by World Snooker here.
What are the main points of interest?
So what conclusions can we draw from the list? At the top of the list, fourth placed Ronnie O’Sullivan is far higher than he would be under the current points system, by virtue of his Crucible victory earlier this month, but for me it is further down the list where the real interest lies.
Take Liam Highfield, who on the points list currently stands in 71st place, over 4,000 points away from 64th place, but on the money list actually sits inside the top 64, which would be enough to see him stay on tour for next season.
Or Dechawat Poomjaeng, up inside the top 50 courtesy of his last 16 appearance at the World Championship recently.
Of course at this early stage with so many pounds still to play for and so little separating the players, everyone on the tour who is not currently safe could still do enough to break into the all-important top 64 with a good run at one of the season’s major events. The good thing about the money list is that it does allow players to move up the rankings with a good result, quicker than they might under the points list.
As with the latest projected seedings list, the money list will be updated regularly during the course of the season, so you can track exactly who is looking good to stay on tour and who needs results.
Any questions?
If you have any questions, please do drop me a tweet @prosnookerblog