Australian Goldfields Open 2014: Full Qualifying Draw Available

swsaarena

While today has seen five days of qualifying for the Wuxi Classic come to an end at the South West Snooker Academy (see all the results here), the snooker action resumes in Gloucester on Friday, with the start of the Australian Goldfields Open qualifiers.

While the draw for the event was released a couple of weeks ago, only now do we know which of the Q School top up players have taken up their entry for the competition, following a series of non-entries from the tour’s professional players.

In all, there are 25 amateurs involved, with Adam Bobat and one of Sanderson Lam and Joe Roberts already assured of progression through to the second round.

Click here to view the draw at snookerorg.

UPDATE: A few people have queried why two amateurs have been drawn to play each other and whether this is a mistake. I can confirm that the position is that as the draw for the tournament took place prior to the conclusion of this year’s Q School, it was the case that one of the potential Q School qualifiers was drawn as a seed, only to decide not to enter the competition.

This, combined with the fact that player was to draw a ‘top up’ player, has resulted in the all-amateur first round appearance and that the draw is therefore correct.

World Championship 2014: Tour Survival Blog

Ponds1

So it begins, tomorrow will see the start of the 2014 World Championship qualifiers and with them, the climax of the race for main tour places, which I have been talking about so much during the past few months.

Though you can view my extended player-by-player guide to tour survival here, this then is the post that will be updated throughout this week’s matches, making focusing on those which could prove key to certain players hopes of remaining on the main tour for at least another season…

Read More

World Championship 2014: Qualifying Draw Released

eiss1

With just one week to go until the start of the 2014 World Championship qualifiers, World Snooker have this evening released the draw for the tournament which you can read here in pdf format, or here at snookerorg with match times.

You can also see the format here.

More thoughts will follow next weekend, but the most immediate headline is that Steve Davis will play either Jak Jones or Craig Steadman in his must-win match to stay on tour, while Jimmy White will take on either Ian Burns or Fraser Patrick.

What are the stand out ties to you and who will this season’s shock qualifiers be?

China Open Qualifiers 2014: Day One Wrap

SWSA1

After last week saw group victories for Shaun Murphy and Martin Gould in the latest matches of the 2014 Championship League, today saw a return to ranking event action with the start of the China Open qualifiers in Gloucester.

Running until Tuesday evening, the event will determine which of the 64 players will be on the flight to Beijing for the final tournament ahead of the season-ending World Championship in April…

Read More