Tour Survival 2014/15 – Player by Player (November Update)

With the UK Championship set to get underway tomorrow, click below for my latest in-depth, player by player updates on the race for main tour places for the 2015/16 season, up to date after the ET4 event as I look at how each player stands on each of the relevant ranking lists…

Click here to view the latest provisional end of season ranking list
Click here to view the latest European Tour Order of Merit (after 4/6 events)
Click here to view the latest Asian Tour Order of Merit (after 2/3 events)
Click here to view my previous article on the early running
Click here to view my previous look from September 2014
Click here to view the prize money schedule for 2014/15

Who Stays on Tour?

This is explained in some detail on my previous article here, but in summary, the following players will retain their professional places for 2015/16:

All players ranked inside the top 64 on the two-year ranking list following the 2015 World Championship
All players ranked outside of the top 64 on the two-year ranking list, who have joined the tour for 2014/15 on the first year of a two-year tour card.
The top eight players ranked on the European Order of Merit, not already qualified as above.
The top four players ranked on the Asian Order of Merit, not already qualified as above.

Who will finish in the top 64?

Though it remains impossible to say with certainty what the final amount of money required to stay inside the top 64 will be, last season we saw Jimmy White take the 64th and final spot with prize money of £48,692 across the previous two seasons. With the general increases in prize money this season, I would estimate that the required amount this season will be between £50,000-£60,000, but time will tell.

In the circumstances, while several players above could still fall back into the danger zone with a bad run over the coming months, for the purposes of this article I am going to look at this those currently 57th and below in the latest provisional end of season list.

Importantly, these players will all earn a one-year tour card for the following season, but will retain their prize money earned, rather than start again from zero, as those qualifying on a two-year card by any other means will have to.

Who is on the first year of a two-year card?

Simply put, those players who are safe due to being on the first year of a two-year tour card, are those highlighted in green on the latest provisional end of season rankings page.

For the avoidance of doubt, those players are:

Sam Baird, Scott Donaldson, Liam Highfield, Barry Pinches, Chris Melling, Michael Georgiou, Oliver Lines, Zhou Yuelong, Craig Steadman, Ian Burns, Tian Pengfei, Tony Drago, Joel Walker, David Grace, Michael Wasley, Lu Chenwei, Zak Surety, Mitchell Mann, Steven Hallworth, Ian Glover, Michael Leslie, Lu Ning, Liu Chuang, Zhang Anda, Lee Walker, Ju Reti, Rouzi Maimati, Rory Thor Chuan Leong, Steve Mifsud, Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon

What about the rest?

For everybody else, I will consider their prospects individually below, highlighting where they currently stand on the three respective lists and trying to summarise how they stand overall.

I have colour coded the competitions below to show at a glance how each player is currently positioned in each list.

Li Hang

Money list: 57th – £45,994 (+8,428)

European Tour OOM: 82nd – £583 (-1,583)

Asian Tour OOM: 9th – £2,100 (+1,100)

Summary: Following his run to the last 16 of the International Championship last month, China’s Li Hang has given his hopes of finishing inside the world’s top 64 a significant boost and now stands 57th on the latest provisional end of season ranking list.

He will need to win more matches yet if he is to be sure of retaining his tour place as of right, but he does also have the fall-back of currently being high enough on the Asian Order of Merit after two of this season’s three Asian Tour events..

Tom Ford

Money list: 58th – £43,241 (+5,675)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: A shock name on this list, Tom Ford might be ranked 41st on the latest official ranking list, but having earned just £5,000 so far during the 2014/15 season, sits just £5,675 above the all important cut-off for the top 64.

Not being in contention on either the European or Asian Order of Merit, Tom needs to return to winning ways sooner rather than later if he is to be certain of retaining the tour status that he has held for the last decade.

Rory McLeod

Money list: 59th – £43,066 (+5,500)

European Tour OOM: 82nd – £583 (-1,583)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Another surprise name to feature on this list perhaps, Rory McLeod has earned just £10,333 so far this season and like Tom Ford above, at the time of writing has little fall back by way of either the European or Asian Order of Merit.

In order to stay on tour therefore, Rory must enjoy a significant run during one of the season’s remaining European or Asian Tour events, or rediscover his form at the season’s remaining full ranking events.

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

Money list: 60th – £40,579 (+3,013)

European Tour OOM: 52nd – £2,166 (+0)

Asian Tour OOM: 20th – £1,200 (+200)

Summary: Although he has actually earned less money this season that Rory McLeod above him, Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh does at least have the comfort of knowing that thanks to his results so far in the season at both European and Asian Tour events, he currently remains in contention to retain his tour status via all three ranking lists.

Of course, the most preferable route would be to do so by virtue of staying inside the world’s top 64 and as one of the players currently in that bracket, he should at least be helped by the fact that he should have a more favourable draw than those outside of that group in the season’s remaining flat draw events.

Jamie Cope

Money list: 61st – £40,290 (+2,724)

European Tour OOM: 35th – £3,166 (+1,000)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Few would expect to see the name of Jamie Cope in this battle given his pedigree in the game, but it has been a tough few years for the Shotgun, despite his run to the last 32 of the World Championship earlier this year.

Importantly for Jamie however, his form in European Tour events has been solid, with matches won in each of the season’s four events to date and he will be hoping at least for a couple more wins during the last two events in Lisbon and Gdynia, if he is to make certain of his continued professional status beyond the end of the campaign.

Luca Brecel

Money list: 62nd – £38,515 (+949)

European Tour OOM: 18th – £5,916 (+3,750)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Since his run to the quarter-finals of the UK Championship a couple of years ago, Luca Brecel has failed to quite hit those heights in another major, but thanks to his performances so far in this season’s four European Tour events, looks to be extremely well placed to at least retain his tour place via the European Order of Merit.

He will of course be targeting a place inside the top 64 in order to maintain his position in the rankings however and still has every chance of achieving that.

Alfie Burden

Money list: 63rd – £38,249 (+683)

European Tour OOM: 82nd – £583 (-1,583)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Incredibly, Alfie has so far earned just £1,000 during the 2014/15 season and therefore finds himself down in 63rd place on the latest provisional end of season ranking list.

Having won just one match during the season’s European Tour events so far, Alfie must win at least three more if he is to bring himself into contention on that list, while otherwise he will need to rediscover the winning touch in each of the season’s remaining full ranking events if he is to remain inside the world’s top 64…

Joe Swail

Money list: 64th – £37,999 (+433)

European Tour OOM: 32nd – £3,500 (+1,334)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: It tells you all you need to know about Joe Swail that since my previous look at the tour survival race back in September, Joe has moved from being just under £8,000 off the top 64 mark, to now having just crept inside that bracket, some six places higher.

As well as being right in contention on the main two-year list, Joe also finds himself well placed on the European Order of Merit, ahead of all but Chris Wakelin of those currently occupying the eight tour qualifying spots.

Stuart Carrington

Money list: 65th – £37,566 (-433)

European Tour OOM: 48th – £2,500 (+334)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: The first man outside of the top 64 on the main two year list is Stuart Carrington, who following his three wins at the recent ET4 event, has also lifted himself into contention on the European Tour Order of Merit.

Although he has dropped outside of the provisional top 64 since my previous look at the tour survival battle, he remains within touching distance of the bracket and will be hoping for a strong end to the season in order to displace one of the players above him.

Jimmy White

Money list: 66th – £37,216 (-783)

European Tour OOM: 38th – £3,083 (+917)

Asian Tour OOM: 23rd – £1,000 (+0)

Summary: Although Jimmy has earned just over £7,000 during the 2014/15 season to date and now finds himself outside of the provisional end of season top 64, thanks to his efforts at both European and Asian Tour events so far this term, he currently finds himself well in contention on both lists to at least earn a fresh two-year tour card from the start of next season.

While Jimmy will be hoping to reclaim a place inside the top 64 as he did earlier this year, a couple of more wins at the Asian Tour event three or during the next two European Tour events would go a long way to easing the pressure upon his shoulders for the rest of the season.

Noppon Saengkham

Money list: 67th – £35,488 (-2,511)

European Tour OOM: 76th – £1,000 (-1,166)

Asian Tour OOM: 28th – £800 (-200)

Summary: At the time of writing, Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham finds himself outside of the qualifying places on each of the three ranking lists in question, but following his last 32 run at the International Championship in Chengdu, has closed the gap slightly to that all-important top 64 mark.

Still in contention on both the European and Asian Orders of Merit, Noppon is a player who is currently winning matches fairly frequently and will fancy his chances of surviving on tour via one of the lists.

Nigel Bond

Money list: 68th – £35,704 (-2,295)

European Tour OOM: 52nd – £2,166 (+0)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Wins have been relatively hard to come by for Nigel in recent times, but thanks to his opening round win at the International Championship, together with wins in three of the season’s four European Tour events to date, he remains within striking distance on both the main two-year ranking list and the European Order of Merit.

Perhaps his best chance will come on the European Order of Merit, with three or four wins over the next two events likely to be enough to earn him a fresh two-year card.

Marcus Campbell

Money list: 69th – £32,071 (-5,928)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: 59th – £200 (-800)

Summary: A top 32 player until recently, Scotland’s Marcus Campbell has struggled badly for victories during the past 18 months and finds himself almost £6,000 adrift of the all-important top 64 on the latest provisional end of season ranking list.

With plenty of money still to be won (two wins this week in York would earn him £9,000 alone), Marcus is far from out of the race, but needs to find a confidence boosting win from somewhere, sooner rather than later if he is to save his tour card.

Robin Hull

Money list: 70th – £28,500 (-9,499)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Finland’s Robin Hull has earned just £400 in all competitions since the season opening Wuxi Classic and therefore finds himself almost £10,000 away from the top 64.

To his credit, the fact that Robin is so close to the top 64 given the relatively few events that he has entered during the past season and a half is an impressive achievement in itself and testament to how well he has performed in the events that he has entered.

It will be difficult for him to remain on tour, but with a repeat of his qualification for the World Championship earlier this year a realistic possibility, he should not be be discounted just yet.

Dave Harold

Money list: 71st – £23,350 (-14,649)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: This week Dave Harold enters his first event since August and now almost £15,000 off the top 64, it looks increasingly likely that this will be the final season on tour for the Stoke Potter.

With no help on offer via either the European or Asian Orders of Merit unless he is to run deep at one of the remaining events, Dave will need an exceptional end to the current season if he is to bring himself back into contention.

Chris Wakelin

Money list: 72nd – £23,332 (-14,667)

European Tour OOM: 15th – £6,833 (+4,667)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: One of the tour’s brightest young talents, Chris Wakelin finds himself just shy of £15,000 of 64th placed Joe Swail on the main two-year ranking list, but crucially following his consistent form during the season’s European Tour events, looks a certainty to earn a fresh two-year tour card via the European Order of Merit, currently taking the first of the eight available qualifying spots from that list.

Whilst already well placed heading into last weekend’s Ruhr Open, his quarter-final run in Germany looks to have guaranteed him another two years on the main tour.

Lyu Haotian

Money list: 74th – £18,089 (-19,910)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: 59th – £200 (-800)

Summary: China’s Lyu Haotian enjoyed a relatively impressive debut season on the main tour in 2013/14, but this term has struggled for victories, earning just £1,489 to date.

As a result, it looks likely that unless he is able to go on a run at the final Asian Tour event of the season perhaps, the tour’s second youngest player (he is still only 16), will drop off the circuit at the end of the campaign.

Alex Davies

Money list: 75th – £17,194 (-20,805)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: For Alex Davies, having won just £2,500 so far this season, it looks like it would take a deep run at either one of the remaining European or Asian Tour events if he is to remain on tour for next season.

John Astley

Money list: 76th – £16,277 (-21.722)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: As above.

Andrew Pagett

Money list: 79th – £13,333 (-24,666)

European Tour OOM: 76th – £1,000 (-1,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: As above, although having earned £1,000 during the season’s European Tour events so far, he is within three wins of breaking into the all-important top eight on the European Order of Merit as it stands..

Fraser Patrick

Money list: 84th – £9,266 (-28,733)

European Tour OOM: 28th – £3,917 (+1,751)

Asian Tour OOM: 43rd – £600 (-400)

Summary: Although he is out of realistic contention on the main two-year list, following his impressive season to date in the European Tour events, having made it to the last 16 of ET2 and the last 32 of the following two events, Scotland’s Fraser Patrick is currently well placed to earn a fresh two-year tour card from the start of the 2015/16 season.

Fraser is also just £400 away from the current cut-off on the Asian Order of Merit, so may be tempted to make the trip to AT3 in January in order to give himself an opportunity on that list also.

Hammad Miah

Money list: 85th – £9,260 (-28,739)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Like Alex Davies and John Astley above him, Hammad needs a deep run at either of the remaining European Tour events in Lisbon or Gdynia if he is to stand any chance of retaining his place.

Vinnie Calabrese

Money list: 86th – £9,100 (-28,899)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: As above.

Andrew Norman

Money list: 88th – £8,160 (-29,839)

European Tour OOM: N/A

Asian Tour OOM: 59th – £200 (-800)

Summary: As above.

Alex Borg

Money list: 94th – £7,149 (-30,850)

European Tour OOM: 82nd – £583 (-1,583)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: As wis.

Elliot Slessor

Money list: 95th – £6,818 (-31,181)

European Tour OOM: 66th – £1,583 (-583)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Just £583 behind the two players currently occupying the final two qualification places on the European Order of Merit, Elliot Slessor remains well in contention to earn himself a fresh two-year tour card, if he can impress at either (or both), of the two remaining European Tour events in Lisbon or Gdynia.

Ross Muir

Money list: 96th – £5,985 (-32,014)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: 14th – £1,600 (+600)

Summary: Unusually, Ross Muir’s best chance of earning a fresh two-year tour card is likely to come via the Asian Order of Merit, with the Scot currently sitting £600 above the cut-off point of £1,000, as the first of the four players who will qualify via that list.

It is difficult to know for sure, but it could be that a couple of victories at the final AT3 event would be enough to see Ross take one of the four available spots.

Lee Page

Money list: 97th – £5,860 (-32,139)

European Tour OOM: 76th – £1,000 (-1,166)

Asian Tour OOM: 59th – £200 (-800)

Summary: Like Andrew Pagett, Lee’s best hope looks likely to come from the European Order of Merit, with him standing £1,166 behind those occupying the final two spots at present.

Chris Norbury

Money list: 98th – £5,750 (-32,249)

European Tour OOM: 82nd – £583 (-1,583)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: As above, although Chris is a further £417 back than Lee.

Ratchayothin Yotharuck

Money list: 99th – £5,433 (-32,566)

European Tour OOM: 82nd – £583 (-1,583)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: As above.

James Cahill

Money list: 100th – £5,200 (-32,799)

European Tour OOM: 46th – £2,583 (+417)

Asian Tour OOM: 59th – £200 (-800)

Summary: For James, he is currently well placed to earn a fresh two-year tour card via the European Order of Merit as the fifth of the eight qualifiers, but just £417 ahead of the cut-off point, he will certainly need to win at least one more match if he is to make sure of taking one of those spots.

Igor Figueiredo

Money list: 103rd – £5,000 (-32,999)

European Tour OOM: N/A

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: With his extremely limited schedule due to financial constraints, Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo looks almost certain to be relegated from the tour at the end of the season.

Cao Xinlong

Money list: 104th – £4,450 (-33,549)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: 28th – £800 (-200)

Summary: Over £33,000 down on the main two-year money list, as well as having not won a match on the European Tour, Cao’s best opportunity to earn a fresh two-year tour card comes from the Asian Order of Merit, on which he currently sits £200 behind the fourth and final qualifier.

Needing to win at least one match at AT3 to give himself a realistic chance, expect to see Cao’s name amongst the draw for that tournament.

Allan Taylor

Money list: 108th – £3,399 (-34,600)

European Tour OOM: 63rd – £1,749 (-417)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Like a few of the players above him, Allan Taylor’s best chance of remaining on tour looks to be via the European Order of Merit, with a single win enough to take him into the top eight not already qualified as it stands.

Jak Jones

Money list: 110th – £2,649 (-33,350)

European Tour OOM: 52nd – £2,166 (+0)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Despite his nightmare 2013/14 season on tour, Welsh youngster Jak Jones is currently right in contention to take a place via the European Order of Merit, occupying one of the final two qualifying spots along with Nigel Bond with two events still to run.

Alexander Ursenbacher

Money list: 112th – £1,683 (-36,316)

European Tour OOM: 103rd – £0 (-2,166)

Asian Tour OOM: N/A

Summary: Alexander looks almost certain to be relegated from the tour, barring a deep run in either of the final two European Tour events, or the AT3 event.