Trimming the Tour?

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As those amongst snooker’s ‘Twitterati’ will no doubt be aware, there has been some debate in recent days on social media as to whether the size of snooker’s main tour should be cut from its current field of 125 players (plus three invitational tour cards), to just 64 as suggested by 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy in his own blog post here.

With a few days now before the Ruhr Open gets underway at the weekend, today I offer a few of my own thoughts on the topic and suggest why personally at least, I am glad that the tour will be remaining as it is…

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World Championship 2015: Tour Survival Blog

pondsAfter months of updates and speculation, Wednesday will see the start of the 2015 Betfred World Championship qualifiers and with them, the climax of the race for main tour places for the 2015/16 season.

As is now tradition, this then is the post that will be updated throughout this week’s matches (and the Crucible if necessary), focusing on those players and results that will finally determine who will remain a professional come May and who will be facing a trip to Burton for Q School…

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Closing In On The Cut: Crucible 2015

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Following Joe Perry’s victory at the 2015 Players Championship today, we are now just one event and one week from knowing the final seedings list for next month’s World Championship, with only one place now up for grabs at the Crucible, but the placement of the seeds in the draw to be determined.

There is also the small matter of a battle for the number one ranking, with Mark Selby needing to win matches in Beijing if he is to retain the top spot ahead of Ronnie O’Sullivan…

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Teenage Kicks

Lines4Sunday marked the 20th birthday of Luca Brecel, who for at least as long as I have written this blog, has been regarded as snooker’s most promising teenage player.

Now that he is half way on to being eligible for the World Seniors Championship however, I posed the question on Twitter as to just who is snooker’s most promising teenager at this time, with several talented young players having either already made a mark on the professional scene, or certainly having done so at amateur level.

I wrote a similar piece back in 2009 and finding it interesting to look back at how those players have so far gone on to progress in their professional careers, click below for my look at some of the most promising teenagers in the game, together with the best of your tweets…

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Gdynia Open 2015: Tour Survival Blog

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Earlier this week I took a look at some of the battles set to be decided at this weekend’s all-important Gdynia Open event, which is now underway with its amateur rounds having started yesterday.

Tomorrow though sees the entrance of the professionals and with tour cards, Grand Finals spots and Grand Prix places up for grabs, click below for my rolling blog which will be updated throughout the next three days, flagging up the matches and results to keep an eye on and setting out those currently in position to retain a tour card through this list.

I will also keep an eye on the other battles where I am able…

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

With the season now into its most critical phase, click below for my latest in-depth, player by player update on the race for main tour places for the 2015/16 season, up to date after the German Masters event.

Below I look at how each player stands on each of the relevant ranking lists and also just why next month’s Gdynia Open is set to be a huge event for some of the players involved…

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