2014–15 snooker season explained
The 2014–15 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played between 8 May 2014 and 4 May 2015. The Riga Open was the first professional snooker tournament held in Latvia.[1] The season also saw the first professional tournament in Portugal as the Lisbon Open took place.[2]
In November, it was announced that the World Open would not be held this season after the contract with the promoter was not renewed and a new venue was not found in time. But the intention was to bring the event back for the next season.[3]
The structure of the World Championship was changed. The top 16 seeds still qualified automatically for the first round at the Crucible, but all non-seeded players had to start in the first of three qualifying rounds. The overall championship was increased from 128 to 144 players, with the additional places made available to former world champions and players from emerging countries.[4]
New professional players
Countries:
The 2014/2015 season was made up of 128 professional players. The top 64 players from the prize money rankings after the 2014 World Championship,[5] and the 33 players earning a two-year card the previous year automatically qualified for the season.[6] The top eight players from the European Tour Order of Merit and top four players from the Asian Tour Order of Merit, who had not already qualified for the Main Tour, also qualified. Another three players came from the EBSA Qualifying Tour Play-Offs,[7] and a further eight places were available through the 2014 Q School.[8] The rest of the places on to the tour came from amateur events and national governing body nominations. All players listed below, except Hossein Vafaei received a tour card for two seasons.[9]
- IBSF World Snooker Championship winner: [10]
- IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship winner: [11]
- EBSA European Snooker Championships winner: [12]
- EBSA European Under-21 Snooker Championships winner: [13]
- ACBS Asian Snooker Championship winner: [14]
- NGB nominations[6]
- European Tour Order of Merit[6] [15] [16]
- EBSA Qualifying Tour Play-Offs[6] [17] [18]
- Asian Tour Order of Merit[6] [19] [20]
- Q School[6] [21] [22] [23] [24]
- Special dispensation
Invitational Tour Card
Calendar
The following table outlines the results and dates for all the World Snooker Tour, World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association, seniors and other events.[25] [26] [27]
World Snooker Tour
Start | Finish | Tournament | Venue | Winner | | Runner-up | |
---|
17 Jun | 21 Jun | Asian Tour – Event 1[28] | Yixing Sports Centre in Yixing, China | | 42 | | [29] |
23 Jun | 29 Jun | Wuxi Classic | Wuxi City Sports Park Stadium in Wuxi, China | | 109 | | [30] |
30 Jun | 6 Jul | Australian Goldfields Open | Bendigo Stadium in Bendigo, Australia | | 95 | | [31] |
7 Aug | 10 Aug | European Tour – Event 1[32] | Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia | | 43 | | [33] |
20 Aug | 24 Aug | European Tour – Event 2[34] | Stadthalle in Fürth, Germany | | 42 | | [35] |
1 Sep | 6 Sep | Six-red World Championship | Montien Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand | | 87 | | [36] |
8 Sep | 14 Sep | Shanghai Masters | Shanghai Grand Stage in Shanghai, China | | 103 | | [37] |
1 Oct | 5 Oct | European Tour – Event 3[38] | Universiada Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria | | 42 | | [39] |
20 Oct | 24 Oct | Asian Tour – Event 2[40] | Haining Sports Center in Haining, China | | 40 | | [41] |
26 Oct | 2 Nov | International Championship | Sichuan International Tennis Center in Chengdu, China | | 107 | | [42] |
3 Nov | 9 Nov | Champion of Champions | Ricoh Arena in Coventry, England | | 107 | | [43] |
19 Nov | 23 Nov | European Tour – Event 4[44] | RWE-Sporthalle in Mülheim, Germany | | 40 | | [45] |
25 Nov | 7 Dec | UK Championship | Barbican Centre in York, England | | 109 | | [46] |
11 Dec | 14 Dec | European Tour – Event 5[47] | Casal Vistoso Sports Centre in Lisbon, Portugal | | 42 | | [48] |
11 Jan | 18 Jan | Masters | Alexandra Palace in London, England | | 102 | | [49] |
20 Jan | 24 Jan | Asian Tour – Event 3[50] | Xuzhou Olympic Center in Xuzhou, China | | 41 | | [51] |
4 Feb | 8 Feb | German Masters | Tempodrom in Berlin, Germany | | 97 | | [52] |
5 Jan | 12 Feb | Championship League | Crondon Park Golf Club in Stock, England | | 32 | | [53] |
16 Feb | 22 Feb | Welsh Open | Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales | | 93 | | [54] |
25 Feb | 1 Mar | European Tour – Event 6[55] | Gdynia Sports Arena in Gdynia, Poland | | 40 | | [56] |
4 Mar | 6 Mar | Shoot Out | Circus Arena in Blackpool, England | | 10 | | [57] |
10 Mar | 14 Mar | Indian Open | Grand Hyatt in Mumbai, India | | 50 | | [58] |
16 Mar | 22 Mar | World Grand Prix | Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales | | 107 | | [59] |
24 Mar | 28 Mar | Players Tour Championship Finals[60] | Montien Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand | | 43 | | [61] |
30 Mar | 5 Apr | China Open | Beijing University Students' Gymnasium in Beijing, China | | 102 | | [62] |
18 Apr | 4 May | World Championship | Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England | | 1815 | | [63] | |
Ranking event |
Minor-ranking event |
Non-ranking event | |
World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association
Other events
Points distribution
2014/2015 points distribution for World Snooker Tour ranking and minor-ranking events:[73]
width=160 | Tournament\Round→ | width=60 | R144 | width=60 | R128 | width=60 | R96 | width=60 | R80 | width=60 | R64 | width=60 | R48 | width=60 | R32 | width=60 | R16 | width=60 | QF | width=60 | SF | width=60 | F | width=60 | W |
---|
Asian Tour events | – | 0 | – | – | 200 | – | 600 | 1,000 | 1,500 | 2,500 | 5,000 | 10,000 |
Wuxi Classic | – | 0 | – | – | 3,000 | – | 6,500 | 8,000 | 12,500 | 21,000 | 35,000 | 85,000 |
Australian Goldfields Open | – | 0 | 83[74] | – | 417 | 889 | 5,000 | 6,667 | 9,444 | 11,111 | 17,778 | 41,677 |
European Tour events | – | 0 | – | – | 583 | – | 1,000 | 1,917 | 3,333 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 20,883 |
Shanghai Masters | – | 0 | 400 | – | 1,750 | 2,500 | 6,000 | 8,000 | 12,000 | 19,500 | 35,000 | 85,000 |
International Championship | – | 0 | – | – | 3,000 | – | 7,000 | 12,000 | 17,500 | 30,000 | 65,000 | 125,000 |
UK Championship | – | 0 | – | – | 3,000 | – | 9,000 | 12,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 70,000 | 150,000 |
German Masters | – | 0 | – | – | 1,250 | – | 2,500 | 4,167 | 8,333 | 16,667 | 29,167 | 66,667 |
Welsh Open | – | 0 | – | – | 1,500 | – | 2,500 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 60,000 |
Indian Open | – | 0 | – | – | 2,000 | – | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 13,500 | 25,000 | 50,000 |
| – | – | – | – | – | – | 4,000 | 7,000 | 12,500 | 20,000 | 38,000 | 100,000 |
China Open | – | 0 | – | – | 3,000 | – | 6,500 | 8,000 | 12,500 | 21,000 | 35,000 | 85,000 |
World Championship | 0 | – | – | 6,000 | – | 9,000 | 12,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 60,000 | 125,000 | 300,000 | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Latvia To Host European Tour Event. 26 April 2014. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 18 July 2014.
- Web site: Lisbon To Host European Tour Event . worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 19 November 2014. 20 November 2014.
- Web site: World Open Removed From Calendar. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 7 November 2014. 12 November 2014.
- Web site: World Snooker: Stephen Hendry and other champions could return. BBC Sport. 24 April 2014. 23 April 2014.
- Web site: Provisional End-of-Season Money List 2013/2014. Snooker.org. 21 April 2014. 21 April 2014. https://archive.today/20140421114055/http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?template=36&season=2013. dead.
- Web site: 2014/15 List Of Tour Players. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. worldsnooker.com. 11 June 2014. 11 June 2014.
- Web site: EBSA Qualifying Tour. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 21 April 2014. 16 July 2013.
- Web site: Changes To Q School 2014. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 21 April 2014. 22 January 2014.
- Web site: The Tour 2014/2015 Season Qualifying Criteria. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. worldsnooker.com. PDF. 25 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140426233621/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/4a/c1/0,,13165~180554,00.pdf. dead. 26 April 2014.
- Web site: Zhou Yuelong becomes world champion 2013. International Billiards and Snooker Federation. 8 December 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212135352/http://www.ibsfnews.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=200:zhou-yuelong-becomes-world-champion-2013&Itemid=180. 12 December 2013. dead. 8 December 2013.
- Web site: Lu Ning crowned World Under-21 Champ. International Billiards and Snooker Federation. 26 July 2013. 24 November 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131202221835/http://ibsfnews.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=84:lu-ning-crowned-world-under-21-champ&Itemid=181. 2 December 2013. dead.
- Web site: European Snooker Championships Men – Sofia/Bulgaria 2014 – knockout results. European Billiards & Snooker Association. 11 June 2014.
- Web site: European Snooker Championships U21 – Bucharest / Romania 2014 – Knockout results. European Billiards & Snooker Association. 23 March 2013.
- Web site: 30th Asian Snooker Championships 2014. Cue Sports India. 3 May 2014.
- Web site: Order of Merit after the Gdynia Open (ET8) 2014. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 10 February 2014. 15 February 2014. PDF. https://web.archive.org/web/20140223112930/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/76/c0/0,,13165~180342,00.pdf. dead. 23 February 2014.
- Web site: European Order of Merit 2013/2014. Snooker.org. 9 February 2014.
- Web site: EBSA Qualifying Tour Play-Offs (2014). Snooker.org. 21 April 2014.
- Web site: Glover, Hallworth And Surety Earn Cards. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 21 April 2014. 15 April 2014.
- Web site: Asian Order of Merit 2013/2014. Snooker.org. 8 March 2014.
- Web site: Asian Tour Order Of Merit (after APTC-4). my147.com. 8 March 2014. 13 May 2014. zh. https://web.archive.org/web/20140625081504/http://news.my147.com/2014/03/53262.html. 25 June 2014.
- Web site: Qualifying School – Event One (2014). Snooker.org. 10 May 2014.
- Web site: Melling/Steadman/Tian/Zhang Qualify. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 15 May 2014. 15 May 2014.
- Web site: Qualifying School – Event Two (2014). Snooker.org. 10 May 2014.
- Web site: Highfield Breaks Lion's Heart. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 21 May 2014. 21 May 2014.
- Web site: 2014/15 Calendar. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. worldsnooker.com. 1 May 2014.
- Web site: Calendar 2014/2015. Snooker.org. 15 May 2014.
- Web site: Finals 2014/2015. Snooker.org. 15 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2014 Yixing Open.
- Web site: Asian Tour Event One (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Sports Lottery Cup Wuxi Classic (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Australian Goldfields Open (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2014 Riga Open.
- Web site: European Tour Event One (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2014 Paul Hunter Classic.
- Web site: European Tour Event Two (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: SangSom 6 Red World Championship (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Bank of Communications OTO Shanghai Masters (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2014 Bulgarian Open
- Web site: European Tour Event Three (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2014 Haining Open.
- Web site: Asian Tour Event Two (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: International Championship (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Dafabet Champion of Champions (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2014 Ruhr Open
- Web site: European Tour Event Four (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Coral UK Championship (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2014 Lisbon Open.
- Web site: Kreativ Dental European Tour Event Five (2014). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Dafabet Masters (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2015 Xuzhou Open
- Web site: Asian Tour Event Three (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Kreativ Dental German Masters (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Championship League - Winners' Group (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: BetVictor Welsh Open (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2015 Gdynia Open.
- Web site: Kreativ Dental European Tour Event Six (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Betway Snooker Shoot-Out (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Indian Open (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: 888.com World Grand Prix (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Event also known as the 2015 Players Championship Grand Final.
- Web site: Players Championship Grand Final (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Baic Motor China Open (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Betfred World Championship (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: 2014 Eden Classic - Results. snookerscores.net. 29 April 2022.
- Web site: 2015 Eden Masters - Results. snookerscores.net. 29 April 2022.
- Web site: 2015 Connie Gough Trophy - Results. snookerscores.net. 29 April 2022.
- Web site: 2015 Eden World Ladies Championship - Results. snookerscores.net. 29 April 2022.
- Web site: Betway World Seniors Championship (2015). Snooker.org. 16 May 2014.
- Web site: Vienna Snooker Open 2014. 7 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140807155819/http://www.viennasnookeropen.at/frmCONTENT2014/index.php/en/. 7 August 2014.
- Web site: Pink Ribbon Snooker 2014. The Capital Venue. 10 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140510034106/http://www.thecapitalvenue.com/pink-ribbon/. 10 May 2014.
- Web site: Pink Ribbon 2014. On Q Promotions. 10 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140610232751/http://www.onqpromotions.co.uk/. dead. 10 June 2014.
- Web site: General Cup (2014). Snooker.org. 29 September 2014.
- Web site: Indicative Prize Money Rankings Schedule 2014/2015 Season. worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. PDF. 12 May 2014. 15 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517140043/http://www.worldsnooker.com/staticFiles/a5/c1/0,,13165~180645,00.pdf. dead. 17 May 2014.
- Players, who lose their first match, receive no ranking points.