Players Tour Championship
Encyclopedia
The Players Tour Championship is a snooker
series comprising 12 regular events and a Grand Final. Each event lasts for at least three days, with a qualifying event for amateurs should the event be oversubscribed. Each event costs £100 to enter, and Main Tour players can gain ranking points in the events.
, one in Gloucester
and another five in mainland Europe (with 3 in Germany
). The finals in March featured the best 24 players who have won the most money and played at least 6 events (3 in Sheffield and 3 in mainland Europe). The winner at each event received £10,000 or €10,000, with the winner of the finals taking home £60,000. The prize money for the Grand Final was increase to £70,000. Originally the events played outside Sheffield were called Euro Players Tour Championship, but this distinction was abandoned after the first season.
The first event was held in the Snooker Academy from 25 to 27 June 2010. For the first year the six events at the Academy were sponsored by Star Xing Pai.
believes that the top players are not being rewarded appropriately for what they do while the lower-ranked players are being left with financial losses, and stated that he felt "blackmailed" into entering the events due to the governing body's decision to attach ranking points to them. O'Sullivan likened the experience of competing on the PTC to being "raped", but later apologised for the comment. Stephen Maguire
echoed O'Sullivan's sentiments, commenting that players are left out of pocket unless they do "really well", and that he felt like a "prostitute" being "forced" to play in the events. Maguire further criticised the lack of atmosphere and audience at some of the events. Another player described the European PTC events as "buying ranking points".
Steve Davis
, on the other hand, believes that the events have been well received by most of the players and fans, and that they are integral to reinvigorating the circuit. Neil Robertson
concurred with Davis' view and considered them important in developing the game overseas, and expressed his hopes that they would develop into fully sponsored and televised tournaments. Stephen Hendry
welcomed the increase in playing opportunities for the players, but sympathised with O'Sullivan's view about being 'blackmailed' into entering the events, stating that he believed the events were too "top heavy" on ranking points considering "how little money there is to win".
The World Snooker Association responded that they had an obligation to provide playing opportunities for all players on the tour, and that while the top prize for the PTC events was relatively low, 24 players will qualify for the Grand Final which offers a top prize of £70,000. It affirmed its stance by stating "Two seasons ago there were only seven or eight events on the main tour calendar; now there are nearly 30 and total prize money has virtually doubled." Later Hearn admitted that he had blackmailed the players into playing adding that he wanted to get the game growing globally. Hearn cited the Brazil invitational as an example of why he made the PTC events count towards the rankings. As in Brazil 9 of the top 16 did not play; Hearn said that he should have made that a ranking event, to make the players play to promote the sport properly. Later John Higgins requested that Barry Hearn scrapped the PTC's in Sheffield stating that no one enjoyed them.
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
series comprising 12 regular events and a Grand Final. Each event lasts for at least three days, with a qualifying event for amateurs should the event be oversubscribed. Each event costs £100 to enter, and Main Tour players can gain ranking points in the events.
History
The inaugural series runs from late June, with six events at the World Snooker Academy in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, one in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
and another five in mainland Europe (with 3 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
). The finals in March featured the best 24 players who have won the most money and played at least 6 events (3 in Sheffield and 3 in mainland Europe). The winner at each event received £10,000 or €10,000, with the winner of the finals taking home £60,000. The prize money for the Grand Final was increase to £70,000. Originally the events played outside Sheffield were called Euro Players Tour Championship, but this distinction was abandoned after the first season.
The first event was held in the Snooker Academy from 25 to 27 June 2010. For the first year the six events at the Academy were sponsored by Star Xing Pai.
Criticism
The PTC has been criticised by several players for its comparatively low prize fund and associated costs. The events offer a top prize of just £10,000 while the first professional round offers no prize money at all. Ronnie O'SullivanRonnie O'Sullivan
Ronald Antonio "Ronnie" O'Sullivan , is an English professional snooker player known for his rapid playing style and nicknamed "The Rocket". He has been World Champion on three occasions , and is second on the all-time prize-money list, with career earnings of over £6 million, behind only Stephen...
believes that the top players are not being rewarded appropriately for what they do while the lower-ranked players are being left with financial losses, and stated that he felt "blackmailed" into entering the events due to the governing body's decision to attach ranking points to them. O'Sullivan likened the experience of competing on the PTC to being "raped", but later apologised for the comment. Stephen Maguire
Stephen Maguire
Stephen Maguire is a Scottish professional snooker player.-Early career:Maguire almost qualified for the 2000 World Championships, leading eventual semi-finalist Joe Swail 9–6 in the final qualifying round before losing 9–10, but first served notice of his true potential by knocking out Stephen...
echoed O'Sullivan's sentiments, commenting that players are left out of pocket unless they do "really well", and that he felt like a "prostitute" being "forced" to play in the events. Maguire further criticised the lack of atmosphere and audience at some of the events. Another player described the European PTC events as "buying ranking points".
Steve Davis
Steve Davis
Steve Davis, OBE is an English professional snooker player. He has won more professional titles in the sport than any other player, including six World Championships during the 1980s, when he was the world number one for seven years and became the sport's first millionaire...
, on the other hand, believes that the events have been well received by most of the players and fans, and that they are integral to reinvigorating the circuit. Neil Robertson
Neil Robertson (snooker player)
Neil Robertson is an Australian professional snooker player and the 2010 World Champion and World #4...
concurred with Davis' view and considered them important in developing the game overseas, and expressed his hopes that they would develop into fully sponsored and televised tournaments. Stephen Hendry
Stephen Hendry
Stephen Gordon Hendry, MBE is a Scottish professional snooker player. In 1990, he was the youngest-ever snooker World Champion, at the age of 21. He has won the World Championship a record seven times and was snooker's world number one for eight consecutive years between 1990 and 1998, and again...
welcomed the increase in playing opportunities for the players, but sympathised with O'Sullivan's view about being 'blackmailed' into entering the events, stating that he believed the events were too "top heavy" on ranking points considering "how little money there is to win".
The World Snooker Association responded that they had an obligation to provide playing opportunities for all players on the tour, and that while the top prize for the PTC events was relatively low, 24 players will qualify for the Grand Final which offers a top prize of £70,000. It affirmed its stance by stating "Two seasons ago there were only seven or eight events on the main tour calendar; now there are nearly 30 and total prize money has virtually doubled." Later Hearn admitted that he had blackmailed the players into playing adding that he wanted to get the game growing globally. Hearn cited the Brazil invitational as an example of why he made the PTC events count towards the rankings. As in Brazil 9 of the top 16 did not play; Hearn said that he should have made that a ranking event, to make the players play to promote the sport properly. Later John Higgins requested that Barry Hearn scrapped the PTC's in Sheffield stating that no one enjoyed them.
Series finals and Order of Merit winners
| Season | Winner | Runner up | Final score | Order of Merit winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010/2011 Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 The Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 started on 24 June 2010 and ended on 20 March 2011 with events held in Sheffield and Europe. The televised finals took place between the top 24 Order of Merit players, who have played at least 6 events .... |
 Shaun MurphyShaun Murphy (snooker player) Shaun Murphy is an English professional snooker player, who won the 2005 World Championship. Nicknamed "The Magician", Murphy is noted for his straight cue action and his long potting. He is known for his dedication and for being a devout Christian.Born in Harlow, England, Murphy turned... |
Martin Gould Martin Gould Martin Gould is an English professional snooker player from Pinner in the London Borough of Harrow. He practises at the Whetstone Snooker Club. He works part-time as a debt collector, where he picked up his nickname "Solid Gould".... |
4–0 | Shaun Murphy Shaun Murphy (snooker player) Shaun Murphy is an English professional snooker player, who won the 2005 World Championship. Nicknamed "The Magician", Murphy is noted for his straight cue action and his long potting. He is known for his dedication and for being a devout Christian.Born in Harlow, England, Murphy turned... |
| 2011/2012 Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 The Players Tour Championship 2011/2012 started on 18 June 2011 and will end on 17 March 2012 with events held in England and Europe. European events are no longer called Euro Players Tour Championship and are included alongside other PTC events.... |