Prize Money for Losers

First round at the Crucible completed the last of the prize money for losers 2022-23 has been attributed, if not distributed.

Difficult to assess how much this amounts to in total given that WST have not published the rules concerning distribution to the lower-ranked players (for example: whether invitation prize money counts towards the initial £20000; how they intend dealing with the currently suspended players; whether the amount is adjusted pro-rata dependent on tournaments played) but given that the maximum liability for paying losers across all events this season would be around £1.1M a fair estimate is probably going to fall some way above £1M.

Whilst 46 lower-ranked players failed to win 20000 ranking points, four reached 20000 in ranking money thanks to money awarded after losing in the UK and/or Worlds. The 42 remaining players are in theory owed circa £432750 but by how much that will be reduced we await the answers to, amongst others, the questions raised previous paragraph.

£432750 is less than half of £1.1M so who are the main beneficiaries from losing ranking matches?

31 players received £10000 or more, Martin Gould will finish the season the lowest ranked of these players.

Given that the losing seeds at the Crucible each receive £20000 (as do the four Tour Championship losing quarter-finalists) it's straightforward to name the majority of the best rewarded losers.

The top 11 are:
Allister Carter 45000
Ding Junhui 30250
Mark Allen 30250
Judd Trump 30000
Mark Selby 25250
Robert Milkins 25000
Tom Ford 25000
Ryan Day 20250
Shaun Murphy 20000
Barry Hawkins 15250
Lyu Haotian 15250

Noteworthy Ronnie O'Sullivan is the only Crucible seed who touches zero of this fund.

Paying losers is not restricted to ranking events. Invitational events pay out too. Over £300000 in three events: £90000 Hong Kong Masters; £100000 Champion of Champions; £120000 Masters. Another more than 40 £250s given to World Six Red first qualifying round losers. Only three players from outside the top 64 picked up significant funds: Ng On Yee £22750; Nutcharut Wongharuthai £12500 and amateur Lee Walker £12500. Mark Selby tops this list with £37250.

The guaranteed £20000 payments to the lower-ranked players was instigated as a trial measure.

Should it continue? In the current form or modified?

I think it would be better to pay first round losers in all competitions but failing that then I hope that WST continue the up-to-£20000 payments next season. My preference, though, would be to modify the mechanics. I suggest tapering the 20000, reducing it by 1000 for every 2000 earnt, such that it is reduced to zero for those earning a minimum of 40000. As example: earnings 8000 leads to WST fund support 20000 - 4000 = 16000 thus player keeps 24000.