HappyCamper wrote:lhpirnie wrote:SnookerEd25 wrote:It is a shame; I would like to see some kind of attempt to 'freeze' some players rankings, those (mainly overseas) players who have not been able to partake of a full season due to restrictions but I'm not sure how practical it is.
Mind you, given the standards of some of the matches I've seen in Q-school over the last few years, I would back Marco to re-qualify this way should he choose to enter (sounds like he might not have the inclination though)
Yes, the covid issues have affected the overseas players, particularly those from China. Even those who did come back have looked out of practice and have faced a loss of stress. I expect around 10 Chinese players (including Marco) to be relegated in 2021, which will take numbers down to around 12, including 4 who have a 2-year card and are still very weak.
think this is slightly pessimistic. i think there are six who a (near enough) certain to drop. then maybe nine more at risk. so even with ten or so dropping off, a couple would likely get back via either q school or the one year list. plus are we not getting the usual two new csba nominations?
Yes, I think the 2 new nominations will still happen, and these will most likely go to two young kids who will struggle to win a match.
At the end of the current season, Bai Langning, Lei Peifan, Chen Zifan, Xu Si, Si Jiahui, Chang Bingyu are almost certainly down. Then Marco Fu and Mei Xiwen are absent, and don't have enough points to stay up. Lyu Haotian, Luo Honghao and Lu Ning are in real trouble, after a bad 2019-20. They have been playing poorly, and time is running out. They may rely on a run in the World Championship.
A couple of them might re-qualify by Q School, but it is a bit of a lottery. Even if that happens, we're probably looking at fewer than 20 Chinese players in 2021-22. And some of those relegated players are very talented, it's a big setback. Snooker can hardly afford to squander such talent. The beneficiaries will be British players in their 30's and 40's.