Players Tour Championship

Last updated
Players Tour Championship
Players Tour Championship logo.jpg
Tournament information
Established2010/2011
Organisation(s) World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
Format Minor-ranking events
Ranking event (Tour Finals)
Final year2015/2016
Final championUlster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)

The Players Tour Championship was a series of snooker tournaments comprising some minor-ranking events played in Europe, and an Asian leg comprising some minor-ranking events in Asia. The series concluded with a Grand Final, where qualification was based on performance in the other PTC events, and had the status of a full ranking tournament. Each regular event lasted for at least three days, with qualifying days for amateurs should the event be oversubscribed. Each event costs £100 to enter, and Main Tour players can gain ranking points in the events.

Contents

History

The inaugural series ran from late June, with six events at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield, one in Gloucester and another five in mainland Europe (with 3 in Germany). The finals took place in March featuring the best 24 players who had won the most money and played at least 6 events; 3 in Sheffield and 3 in mainland Europe. The prize money at each event was £50,000 or €50,000 at the regular events, with a total of £200,000 available in the Finals. [1] The first event was held in the World Snooker Academy from 25 to 27 June 2010. [2] In the first season the six events at the Academy were sponsored by Star Xing Pai. [3] The prize money for the Finals was increased to £250,000 in 2011/2012. [4] Originally the events played outside Sheffield were called Euro Players Tour Championship, but this distinction was abandoned for the second season. [5]

In the 2012/2013 season the Players Tour Championship was expanded. The PTCs would no longer take place at the World Snooker Academy and instead were played at the South West Snooker Academy. In addition there was a decrease of PTCs being played in England, reduced to four events, [6] with three new PTCs being created in Asia, called Asian Players Tour Championship. From this season the European events formed the European Tour, their prize money was increased to €70,000, [7] and they were sponsored by Betfair. [8] Finally as a result the Finals was expanded to accommodate 32 players instead of 24; with each tournament winner from the APTCs and the next top 4 players on the Asian Order of Merit qualifying; with an additional player qualifying from the UK/European Order of Merit. The seedings of the final were based on the combined list of both Order of Merits. [9] The prize money of the Finals was also increased to £300,000, [10] excluding the £1,000 prize money for Ding Junhui's maximum break. [11]

In the 2013/2014 season the number of minor-ranking PTC events was reduced to twelve. The number of events played in England was further decreased to two, and the number of Asian events was raised to four. [12] From this season the events held in Asia formed the Asian Tour, and the English events became part of the European Tour. [13] The prize money of the continental European Tour events was increased to €125,000. [14] The Finals still accommodated 32 players, but the number of qualified players from the Order of Merits has also changed with 24 coming through the European Tour Order of Merit and eight through the Asian Tour Order of Merit. [15] The calculation method of the European Tour Order of Merit was also changed this season. The previously used €1=£1 system was changed to accommodate the increasing prize money of the continental European events. World Snooker decided to use the €1.2=£1 conversion rate. [16]

In the 2014/2015 season the number of minor-ranking PTC events was further reduced to only nine events. There are no events played in England, and the number of Asian events was reduced to three after the second event, originally planned to be held in August, had to be cancelled. [17] [18] The prize money of the Grand Final was increased to £350,000. [19]

Reaction: criticism and support

The PTC has been both criticised and supported by players.

The PTC was criticised by several players for its comparatively low prize fund and associated costs. The events offered a top prize of just £10,000 while the first professional round offered no prize money at all. [4] Ronnie O'Sullivan believed that the top players were not rewarded appropriately for what they do, while the lower-ranked players were left with financial losses, and stated that he felt "blackmailed" into entering the events due to the governing body's decision to attach ranking points to them. [20] O'Sullivan likened the experience of competing on the PTC to being "raped". [21] [22] Stephen Maguire echoed O'Sullivan's sentiments, commenting that players were left out of pocket unless they did "really well", and that he felt like a "prostitute" being "forced" to play in the events. Maguire further criticised the lack of atmosphere and audience at some of the events. Another player described the European PTC events as "buying ranking points". [23]

Steve Davis, on the other hand, believed that the events have been well received by most of the players and fans, and that they are integral to reinvigorating the circuit. [24] Neil Robertson concurred with Davis' view and considered them important in developing the game overseas, and expressed his hopes that they would develop into fully sponsored and televised tournaments. [25] Stephen Hendry welcomed the increase in playing opportunities for the players, but sympathised with O'Sullivan's view about being 'blackmailed' into entering the events, stating that he believed the events were too "top heavy" on ranking points considering "how little money there is to win". [26]

The World Snooker Association stated that they had an obligation to provide playing opportunities for all players on the tour, and that while the top prize for the PTC events was relatively low, 24 players qualify for the Grand Final, which offered a top prize of £70,000 in 2011/2012. It affirmed its stance by stating "Two seasons ago there were only seven or eight events on the main tour calendar; now there are nearly 30 and total prize money has virtually doubled." [27]

Series finals and Order of Merit winners

SeasonWinnerRunner-upFinal scoreOrder of Merit winner(s)Refs
Players Tour Championship Finals (ranking event)
2010/2011 Flag of England.svg  Shaun Murphy  (ENG)Flag of England.svg  Martin Gould  (ENG)4–0Flag of England.svg  Shaun Murphy  (ENG) [28] [29]
2011/2012 Flag of England.svg  Stephen Lee  (ENG)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Neil Robertson  (AUS)4–0Flag of England.svg  Judd Trump  (ENG) [30] [31]
2012/2013 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ding Junhui  (CHN)Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Neil Robertson  (AUS)4–3Flag of England.svg  Mark Selby  (ENG)
Flag of England.svg  Stuart Bingham  (ENG)		 [32] [33] [34]
2013/2014 Flag of England.svg  Barry Hawkins  (ENG)Ulster Banner.svg  Gerard Greene  (NIR)4–0Ulster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Liang Wenbo  (CHN)		 [35] [36] [37]
2014/2015 Flag of England.svg  Joe Perry  (ENG)Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Mark Williams  (WAL)4–3Flag of England.svg  Shaun Murphy  (ENG)
Flag of England.svg  Joe Perry  (ENG)		 [38] [39] [40]
2015/2016 Ulster Banner.svg  Mark Allen  (NIR)Flag of England.svg  Ricky Walden  (ENG)10–6Flag of England.svg  Mark Selby  (ENG)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  Ding Junhui  (CHN)		 [41] [42] [43]

Statistics

Players Tour Championship – (Minor-ranking events)

RankNameNationalityWinnerRunner-upFinalsFirst WinLast Win
1 Mark Selby Flag of England.svg  England 731020102016
2 Mark Allen Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 51620122015
3 Judd Trump Flag of England.svg  England 44820102012
4 Ding Junhui Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 43720102015
5 Shaun Murphy Flag of England.svg  England 42620102014
6 Neil Robertson Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 41520112015
7 Stuart Bingham Flag of England.svg  England 40420122014
8 John Higgins Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 33620102013
8 Stephen Maguire Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 33620122014
8 Ronnie O'Sullivan Flag of England.svg  England 33620112013
11 Joe Perry Flag of England.svg  England 22420132015
11 Michael Holt Flag of England.svg  England 22420102011
13 Mark Williams Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 21320102013
13 Stephen Lee Flag of England.svg  England 21320102012
13 Tom Ford Flag of England.svg  England 21320102011
16 Martin Gould Flag of England.svg  England 14520122012
17 Liang Wenbo Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 12320132013
17 Ricky Walden Flag of England.svg  England 12320132013
17 Marco Fu Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 12320152015
20 Barry Pinches Flag of England.svg  England 11220102010
20 Dominic Dale Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 11220102010
22 Marcus Campbell Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 10120102010
22 Ben Woollaston Flag of England.svg  England 10120112011
22 Andrew Higginson Flag of England.svg  England 10120112011
22 Rod Lawler Flag of England.svg  England 10120122012
22 Ju Reti Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 10120132013
22 Barry Hawkins Flag of England.svg  England 10120152015
22 Ali Carter Flag of England.svg  England 10120152015
22 Rory McLeod Flag of England.svg  England 10120152015
30 Jack Lisowski Flag of England.svg  England 022N/AN/A
30 Graeme Dott Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 022N/AN/A
32 Anthony Hamilton Flag of England.svg  England 011N/AN/A
32 Matthew Couch Flag of England.svg  England 011N/AN/A
32 Jamie Jones Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 011N/AN/A
32 Mark Davis Flag of England.svg  England 011N/AN/A
32 Matthew Stevens Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 011N/AN/A
32 Joe Swail Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 011N/AN/A
32 Jamie Burnett Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 011N/AN/A
32 Li Hang Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 011N/AN/A
32 Anthony McGill Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 011N/AN/A
32 Gerard Greene Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 011N/AN/A
32 Lyu Haotian Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 011N/AN/A
32 Fergal O'Brien Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 011N/AN/A
32 Oliver Lines Flag of England.svg  England 011N/AN/A
32 Robert Milkins Flag of England.svg  England 011N/AN/A
32 Matthew Selt Flag of England.svg  England 011N/AN/A
32 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 011N/AN/A
32 Tian Pengfei Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 011N/AN/A
32 Ryan Day Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 011N/AN/A
32 Michael White Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 011N/AN/A
Total Events65656520102016

Event champions by country

CountryPlayersTotalFirst titleLast title
Flag of England.svg  England 183920102016
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 3720102014
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 3620102015
Ulster Banner.svg  Northern Ireland 1520122015
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1420112015
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 2320102013
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 1120152015

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References

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  3. ↑ "Star Xing Pai To Sponsor PTC Events". worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 25 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.[ dead link ]
  4. 1 2 "Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 Entry Pack for Events 5–9" (PDF). worldsnooker.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
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