PTC and Amateurs

So, the PTCs…..while I’m here I might aswell give you my opinion on the format. I’ve never known it to be so tough to turn pro just by looking at the layout of the tournament. You play minimum 2 pre-lims against amateurs before you get a shot at a pro, who your playing to earn the money you’ve already spent on entry fee, accommodation etc, and earn enough ranking points to join those same pro’s on the professional circuit……I understand where Big Bazza is coming from trying to encourage a lot more talent into the game but I do feel sometimes that the game is tough enough without trying to battle money troubles at the same time. If you are good enough you will make it and I totally agree with that. If you get up there the money is to be had, I also agree with that, however when your paying the same amount of entry fee as the world no.1 and your match isn’t getting refereed then where is the equality in that?! Yes they are professionals and us mere non-professionals but come on ‘H’ lad give us a break!!

Witz78 wrote:but if the "amateurs" get to enter the main ranking events too, then doesnt that make them pros?

personally id open up the tour to 144 players and implement the seeded 3 rounds of qualifying fully.

Dannyboy wrote:The system is 98% fine as it is now - even more so with the live streaming.

Its bloody tough getting through 2 maybe 3 qualifying matches just to get into the tournament, but you had the opportunity at the QSchool and you didn't take it unfortunately! There's only 128 spaces in each tournament!

1 thing that HAS to change is occasionally one amateur gets seeded straight through qualifying. If there's only 95 pros entering, just give an extra qualifying spot!

Sonny wrote:lack of entering PTC2, 3 and 4 when he had the chance to you mean

Dannyboy wrote:The system is 98% fine as it is now - even more so with the live streaming.

Its bloody tough getting through 2 maybe 3 qualifying matches just to get into the tournament, but you had the opportunity at the QSchool and you didn't take it unfortunately! There's only 128 spaces in each tournament!

1 thing that HAS to change is occasionally one amateur gets seeded straight through qualifying. If there's only 95 pros entering, just give an extra qualifying spot!

Wild wrote:

Dannyboy wrote:The system is 98% fine as it is now - even more so with the live streaming.

Its bloody tough getting through 2 maybe 3 qualifying matches just to get into the tournament, but you had the opportunity at the QSchool and you didn't take it unfortunately! There's only 128 spaces in each tournament!

1 thing that HAS to change is occasionally one amateur gets seeded straight through qualifying. If there's only 95 pros entering, just give an extra qualifying spot!

in PTC 3 There is only 95 pros and David Birley has been seeded straight through to the last 128 http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=76 and then you got Jason Tart and Sean O'Sullivan having got 3 matches just to reach the last 128.