The Good Doctor

The 26-year-old from Hyderabad is reigning state champion and ranked No 1 for this season, and boasts a top break of 133 in matchplay - and 147 in practice.

He has entered the Q School - the new tournament which runs from May 11 to 31 and will have 12 places up for grabs on next season's professional circuit. The semi-finalists from each of four week-long tournaments will be handed a spot on the World Snooker Tour, where they will be competing for total prize money of £4.5million.

"The day I heard of this format, I told myself 'I am going come what may.'" Dr Raoof told worldsnooker.com. "I started playing when I was 14 years old and since then I have been a player of considerable merit, performing quite well at the state and national level tournaments.

"Snooker unfortunately had to take a back seat soon after I joined medical school. Now, I have taken a year off work to prepare for and play in the Q school. It's a fantastic idea for players like me who cannot afford to stay a whole year in the UK to try to qualify for the main tour.

"Since childhood I have dreamt of being a world champion and now I have a shot at making it possible. I will give it everything I have got and irrespective of the outcome I am sure it will be a trip and experience I will cherish for a long time to come.

"Like every other budding snooker player I have idolised Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan. It would be a dream come true if I was able to rub shoulders with them and, who knows, if things go as planned I might play them on the main tour if I qualify from Q school."

Dr Raoof revealed that snooker is growing in popularity in India, adding: "About 80,000 to 100,000 people play snooker on a daily basis in clubs and snooker centres. And there are about 300 serious snooker players who travel all the year round for tournaments."

Sonny wrote:So the term "snooker" came from a 6 year old? I guess it does sound a bit like a childs made up word.

Witz78 wrote:anyone else think the way their getting 12 guys onto tour isnt the best.

I mean why not have the 3 tournaments back to back but have a PIOS / PTC style ranking system where you play all 3 tournaments and points are allocated for how far you get in each tournament.

You could have one average standard club player fluking his way onto tour by getting good draws in one tournament.

Wild wrote:

Witz78 wrote:anyone else think the way their getting 12 guys onto tour isnt the best.

I mean why not have the 3 tournaments back to back but have a PIOS / PTC style ranking system where you play all 3 tournaments and points are allocated for how far you get in each tournament.

You could have one average standard club player fluking his way onto tour by getting good draws in one tournament.

yes i think you got something there

Witz with a good idea
But how id like it to be is

First of All id Have Top 8 on the PTC Got in Amateur or Professional

then Have 3 Q School Winners Getting Through

Then the top 9 on the Q School Rankings that doesn't include the Winners Obviously.

Sickpotter wrote:I have to wonder who decides on the fields

Can anyone enter the events? What's put in place to guarantee the field for each event will be top quality?

I would expect decent players to show but that doesn't mean they'll be world class players or guarantee those who make the semis will be worthy of a spot on the pro circuit.

Where's the player QA for this?

Witz78 wrote:As it is, i propose to enter a few PTC events next season.

Wild wrote:

Witz78 wrote:As it is, i propose to enter a few PTC events next season.

bad enough having to reply to you without watching you on Live Scoring

Witz78 wrote:

Wild wrote:

Witz78 wrote:As it is, i propose to enter a few PTC events next season.

bad enough having to reply to you without watching you on Live Scoring

hopefully theyll be shown online next season.

A dream draw versus Jimmy, Drago, Trump, Ebdon, Davis, Knowles or a grudge match with Higgins would be well worth the £100 entry fee.

Then again my best bet might be getting drawn against Ronnie

Wild wrote:

Witz78 wrote:

Wild wrote:

Witz78 wrote:As it is, i propose to enter a few PTC events next season.

bad enough having to reply to you without watching you on Live Scoring

hopefully theyll be shown online next season.

A dream draw versus Jimmy, Drago, Trump, Ebdon, Davis, Knowles or a grudge match with Higgins would be well worth the £100 entry fee.

Then again my best bet might be getting drawn against Ronnie

Witz online

Witz78 wrote:

Wild wrote:

Witz78 wrote:

Wild wrote:

bad enough having to reply to you without watching you on Live Scoring

hopefully theyll be shown online next season.

A dream draw versus Jimmy, Drago, Trump, Ebdon, Davis, Knowles or a grudge match with Higgins would be well worth the £100 entry fee.

Then again my best bet might be getting drawn against Ronnie

Witz online

just so long as i dont do what Dirty Den did when he was online

Wild wrote:

Sickpotter wrote:I have to wonder who decides on the fields

Can anyone enter the events? What's put in place to guarantee the field for each event will be top quality?

I would expect decent players to show but that doesn't mean they'll be world class players or guarantee those who make the semis will be worthy of a spot on the pro circuit.

Where's the player QA for this?

Well it costs £1000 so i wouldn't expect Players that dont fancy their chances throwing a grand away.

Sickpotter wrote:

Wild wrote:

Sickpotter wrote:I have to wonder who decides on the fields

Can anyone enter the events? What's put in place to guarantee the field for each event will be top quality?

I would expect decent players to show but that doesn't mean they'll be world class players or guarantee those who make the semis will be worthy of a spot on the pro circuit.

Where's the player QA for this?

Well it costs £1000 so i wouldn't expect Players that dont fancy their chances throwing a grand away.

Agreed but being truly honest with yourself with regards to your ability isn't terribly common. Virtually everyone I know thinks they're better than they are

Just because you think you play to the professional level and can afford to play in the event doesn't mean you actually do play to a professional standard. If even one event is filled by players of this sort then there could easily be two players who get a pro ticket but really can't compete.

Sickpotter wrote:

Wild wrote:

Sickpotter wrote:I have to wonder who decides on the fields

Can anyone enter the events? What's put in place to guarantee the field for each event will be top quality?

I would expect decent players to show but that doesn't mean they'll be world class players or guarantee those who make the semis will be worthy of a spot on the pro circuit.

Where's the player QA for this?

Well it costs £1000 so i wouldn't expect Players that dont fancy their chances throwing a grand away.

Agreed but being truly honest with yourself with regards to your ability isn't terribly common. Virtually everyone I know thinks they're better than they are

Just because you think you play to the professional level and can afford to play in the event doesn't mean you actually do play to a professional standard. If even one event is filled by players of this sort then there could easily be two players who get a pro ticket but really can't compete.