Q School Returns in May 2012

World Snooker will once again be staging its Q School, starting on May 13th 2012. This year there will be a two year tour card available for the 12 semi-finalists that come through the three events at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield.

Q SCHOOL 2011 RESULTS - OFFICIAL SITE

Q SCHOOL 2012 ENTRIES OPEN

Q School will be open to everyone (subject to terms and conditions) and there will be 12 places available on the World Snooker Tour. All players who come through Q School will be given a TWO YEAR TOUR CARD which guarantees their place on the pro circuit for a minimum of 2012/13 and 2013/14.

It will be played at the World Snooker Academy in Sheffield, starting on May 13, 2012, and there will be three separate events, with the semi-finalists from each to be given a Tour Card.

Entry into all three events is just £1,000, with those who qualify earning the chance to compete for millions of pounds in prize money on the main circuit, and take on the world's best players. Prize money for the tour has gone up from £3.5million to over £6million within the past two years and is expected to go past £8million in the next year.

A new Q School ranking list will also be introduced, with players earning one point for every frame won. During the main tour season, should any of the tournament draws fall below a total entry of 96 (or 128 in 2013/14) then the field will be topped up to 96 or 128 with the highest ranked players from the Q-School list.

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: "Q School was staged for the first time last year and we consider it the best and fairest way to give all players the chance to qualify for the tour. Rookies such as Sheffield's Adam Duffy and China's Li Yan came through the system, and both have since climbed quickly up the world rankings, so that shows what players can do if they have the talent and the dedication.

"Snooker is rapidly becoming a global sport, with more tournaments, more prize money and more players. We are increasing the tour from 96 to 128 players in season 2013-14, so the opportunities to qualify for the main tour have increased dramatically. With the two-year exemption and increase in numbers on the tour, Q School could not give players a better chance to get on to the circuit and climb the rankings.

"For anyone out there who believes they can be part of it and wants to give it their best shot - that's what Q School is all about. It's opportunity for all - which is what all sports should be about." Source - World Snooker

ONLINE ENTRY WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY. Make sure you have log-in details for the online entry system. Just CLICK HERE

The closing date for entries is March 23, 2012. All players are strongly advised to get their entry in as soon as possible to guarantee their place in Q School. -

Successful Q-School Graduate Li Yan

It is good to see that the World Snooker Q School will be back for 2012 and this year even more is up for grabs for the budding amateurs and the pros dropping off the tour at the end of the season, a two-year guarenteed tour card for the 12/13 and 13/14 seasons.

Pros dropping of the tour last year such as David Gilbert and Kurt Maflin were able to bounce straight back on thanks to the Q School and in Gilbert's case he managed to make a impact straight away, reaching the Last 16 of the Australian Open and a few new pros benefitted also such as China's Li Yan who reached the televised stages of the UK Championship.

What is also interesting to see is that World Snooker have also confirmed that the main tour will expand to 128 players in the 13/14 season. Does that mean that there will be a further two years tour card to play for at the 2013 Q School or will we also see a ton of wildcards brought in?

On the run up to the Q School in May expect to see more interviews with some of the aspiring players trying to claim a place on the main tour and updated results and news throughout the event.