Annual WPBSA Player Support Programme Held in Lilleshall
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPSBA) staged its annual Player Support Programme in Lilleshall, England earlier this week.
Organised by WPBSA Players, with support from the Professional Players Federation and in association with Taom Billiards, the event was held across two days on 5-6 August at the Lilleshall National Sport Centre.
The Player Support Programme aims to educate new and returning players to the World Snooker Tour (WST) on a range of issues of personal and professional development.
Expert speakers spoke to the 28 players in attendance on a wide range of topics including integrity, mental health and wellbeing, lifestyle, financial management, media training and more. A full list of topics and speakers can be seen below:
- Integrity: Andrew Whittingham (Sportradar)
- Lifestyle & Career: Ronnie Wells (L.A.P.S)
- Mental Health & Wellbeing: Lauren Fisher (Rugby) and Tom Lace (Sporting Chance)
- Financial Management: Matthew Allen (Azets)
- Rules & Regulations: Steve Richardson (WPBSA)
- Social Media: Matt Himsworth (B5 Consultancy)
- Insurance: Geoff Derham (All Sport Insurance)
- Exploring Commercial Opportunities: Tony Sheridan (Red Soda)
- Media & Communication: Ivan Hirschowitz and Sam Fletcher (WST)
- Interview Techniques: Phil Seymour
One of the players in attendance was Mohamed Shehab, who recently earned his third spell on the tour via the WPBSA Q Tour Global play-offs. He said: “I really enjoyed the comprehensive materials provided during the training sessions. The thorough coverage of all relevant topics was greatly appreciated and has significantly enhanced my understanding and will help develop my skills and expertise.”
Neil Tomkins, Player Relations Manager, said: “Player education is an essential element of professional sport. It empowers sportspeople, transforming their passion into a profession by instilling discipline, strategic thinking, and resilience. It’s not just about mastering the game, but about understanding its intricacies, both on and off the table, encouraging personal development and ensuring the long-term success of the individuals and the sport.”
Shaun Murphy, 2005 world champion and Chairman of WPBSA Players, said: “It was a real pleasure to spend two days with the new tour card holders at Lilleshall as part of the WPBSA Players Support Programme. Events like these are crucial to educating new and returning players on the responsibilities of being professional snooker players. Everyone I spoke to got something out of it, including myself, and we’re already planning next year’s event”
