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Re: This Season has been an absolute Shambles

Postby gninnur karona

It's been a fragmented season with a qualifying calendar (German Masters excepted) that has been kinder to some players (particularly the top 16) than others.

Judd Trump, Mark Selby or Neil Robertson will begin November with almost their whole season ahead of them - a season set to include the completion of the German Masters plus their invitations to participate in nine other open ranking events on the current calendar, whilst the trio are odds-on to qualify for the Grand Prix and Players and are favourites to qualify for the Tour Championship too. In addition, all three have qualified for both the Champion of Champions and Masters. In total that's 15 WST opportunities to earn cash.

The comparison with the lower-ranked players is striking. Take Matthew Stevens for example. Currently below the line for tour survival, Matthew Stevens has been eliminated from six ranking events and, barring a serious run in the UK Championships, will not qualify for the Grand Prix. His program for the next three months is thus sparse. European Masters qualifier versus Zak Surety this coming Saturday then just the UK Championships to play before the ShootOut in late January.

Re: This Season has been an absolute Shambles

Postby lhpirnie

gninnur karona wrote:It's been a fragmented season with a qualifying calendar (German Masters excepted) that has been kinder to some players (particularly the top 16) than others.

Judd Trump, Mark Selby or Neil Robertson will begin November with almost their whole season ahead of them - a season set to include the completion of the German Masters plus their invitations to participate in nine other open ranking events on the current calendar, whilst the trio are odds-on to qualify for the Grand Prix and Players and are favourites to qualify for the Tour Championship too. In addition, all three have qualified for both the Champion of Champions and Masters. In total that's 15 WST opportunities to earn cash.

The comparison with the lower-ranked players is striking. Take Matthew Stevens for example. Currently below the line for tour survival, Matthew Stevens has been eliminated from six ranking events and, barring a serious run in the UK Championships, will not qualify for the Grand Prix. His program for the next three months is thus sparse. European Masters qualifier versus Zak Surety this coming Saturday then just the UK Championships to play before the ShootOut in late January.

Yes, the top players are given special treatment, and the lower-ranked players are excluded. That's WST's idea of 'meritocracy', i.e. building numpty-free zones either by venue or by calendar. I'm sure they are hoping the current elite benefit from their advantageous position, and stay there for another 10 years.

Re: This Season has been an absolute Shambles

Postby gninnur karona

The English Open. The top 17 ranked players all entered but did not play in the qualifying event. 16 of the top 17 are in good health. WST will permit 15 of the top 17 to play in the competition.