So far, we have eight successful qualifiers. Peter Lines, Fraser Patrick, Jackson Page and Yuan Sijun qualified via Event 1. Most recently, Barry Pinches, Craig Steadman, Michael Judge and Alfie Burden qualified via Event 2.
There is just one event left for many amateurs to get on the professional tour this season. This also means that this is the last chance for fan favourites Michael White and Ross Muir to qualify. Other highly-rated players such as Soheil Vahedi, Bai Langning, Brian Ochoiski, Ben Mertens, Paul Davison and David Lilley are fighting for that tour spot. Event 3. will take place from 8 to 13 June 2021. The draw is found here on WST and on Wikipedia.
There are six places available. Four places go to those who reach the semi-finals. It is as simple as that.
The other two are for the best-performing non-qualifiers in the entire Q School. Below is a screenshot was taken after Event 2 of the “Provisional Q School Order of Merit” created by snooker.org. Please ignore those highlighted in yellow, as they already qualified.
As it stands, Hammad Miah and Lei Peifan occupy the Top two spots. 2018 Snooker Shoot-Out winner Michael Georgiou is only two frames behind Lei. Duane Jones, James Cahill and Sanderson Lam are a further two frames behind. Daniel Womersley is the leading player among those who have never been a professional before. All those who fail to qualify altogether can be a top-up and/or face the prospect of joining the Q Tour.
There is concern that there are so few new and younger talent coming through. Indeed, Yuan and Page are 21 years old and younger. But fans of the game have been crying out for new blood for a very long time. There is much to speculate. But there is one more event to turn this around until we can do so!
