Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

WPBSA chairman admits concerns as players complain about World Snooker Tour events

metro.co.uk · 3hShare

Jason Ferguson says tournament structures are ‘under review’ (Picture: Getty Images) A number of players have spoken out against the tiered format of many tournaments on the World Snooker Tour this season, and World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) chairman Jason Ferguson admits he does have concerns. Snooker’s biggest tournament, the World Championship, has long been a tiered system as the top 16 in the rankings go straight to the Crucible and 16 more players come through qualifying to join them. When Barry Hearn took charge of the game in 2010, most of the other tournaments reverted to flat draws, which see all 128 professionals come in at round one. Since then, and with Hearn retiring from his position as WST chairman, more and more tournaments have reverted to the tiered draws, largely for commercial reasons as broadcasters and promoters know they will have the biggest names at the main venues and TV stages of events. It has caused everyone outside of the top

First report: European Billiards and Snooker Association Central Office to Move to Sofia — bta.bg, 2d