Resigning Tour Cards
by fridge46 » 24 Feb 2015 Read
With the news that Vinnie Calabrese has resigned his tour card, with the rumoured intention of gaining a fresh 2-year tour card via next months Oceania Championship - do you think World Snooker should close this loop-hole or prevent players resigning?
Before I give my opinion, I just want to say if I was in Vinnie's position, I would do exactly the same! He has almost no chance of being ranked inside the top 64 come the end of the season, likewise he is unlikely to regain his place via the European Order of Merit.
To remain professional until the end of the season, his only other option to feature next season would be QSchool, but with only 8 spots, its not an easy route for anyone.
Furthermore, if he was European, he could also have the option of entering the EBSA Championship in June, by which time he would have amateur status allowing him to compete.
So to answer my question:
Yes. Players should keep their tour card until they lose it, and should not be able to qualify for the next season via amateur events.
This should be done for fairness: In the past Oceania, Asian and Euro U21 Championships have been held before the season finishes, whilst the European (and last year Asia U21) Championship are held afterwards. This provides more possible routes to players of specific ages/nationalities over others.
I propose a return of the previous rule: no player can regain his tour card for the next season by winning an amateur event, regardless has to whether he loses professional status. Their only options would be by being ranked high enough on Order of Merits, or QSchool.
In terms of resigning from tour not to requalify (maybe Advani falls in this category), there is nothing you can do to stop that, but they are blocking other players from their region who do want to play on the main tour. I propose that anyone who accepts a tour card then resigns, be disqualified from the main tour for 2 years or so. That way we get players who are serious about snooker and their careers.
Of course, there can be exceptions - medical reasons or denied visa for example.
Just my thoughts...
Before I give my opinion, I just want to say if I was in Vinnie's position, I would do exactly the same! He has almost no chance of being ranked inside the top 64 come the end of the season, likewise he is unlikely to regain his place via the European Order of Merit.
To remain professional until the end of the season, his only other option to feature next season would be QSchool, but with only 8 spots, its not an easy route for anyone.
Furthermore, if he was European, he could also have the option of entering the EBSA Championship in June, by which time he would have amateur status allowing him to compete.
So to answer my question:
Yes. Players should keep their tour card until they lose it, and should not be able to qualify for the next season via amateur events.
This should be done for fairness: In the past Oceania, Asian and Euro U21 Championships have been held before the season finishes, whilst the European (and last year Asia U21) Championship are held afterwards. This provides more possible routes to players of specific ages/nationalities over others.
I propose a return of the previous rule: no player can regain his tour card for the next season by winning an amateur event, regardless has to whether he loses professional status. Their only options would be by being ranked high enough on Order of Merits, or QSchool.
In terms of resigning from tour not to requalify (maybe Advani falls in this category), there is nothing you can do to stop that, but they are blocking other players from their region who do want to play on the main tour. I propose that anyone who accepts a tour card then resigns, be disqualified from the main tour for 2 years or so. That way we get players who are serious about snooker and their careers.
Of course, there can be exceptions - medical reasons or denied visa for example.
Just my thoughts...
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fridge46 - Posts: 414
- Joined: 07 May 2013
- Walk-On: Young Blood
