WPBSA Qualifiers for Betfred World Championship Announced
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and World Snooker Tour have today announced the qualification criteria for the 16 amateur qualifiers who will be offered the chance to compete at next month’s Betfred World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
The qualifying rounds for this year’s World Championship will return to the English Institute for Sport, Sheffield from 4-13 April and be contested by a field of 128 players. The field will include professionals ranked outside of the world’s top 16 following the Cazoo Tour Championship and amateur top ups from the 2021 Q School Order of Merit.
They will be joined by 16 elite amateur players selected by the WPBSA, based on their performances at recognised international competitions held this season. For the first time this includes players from the new WPBSA Q Tour, who will be confirmed following the fourth and final event of the season which is set to conclude on 20 March 2022.
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “We are delighted to be able to announce today the qualifiers who have earned their chance to compete at this year’s professional World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
“Each player has earned their chance following their performances at the sport’s leading amateur competitions, including the recent World Snooker Federation Championships – the biggest international amateur event held in many years with over 300 players having taken part – as well as WPBSA Q Tour, our sport’s premier amateur tour.
“These prestigious events are now leading the way in providing a direct pathway to the World Snooker Tour, whether through two-year tour cards, or other opportunities to compete in major events including the World Championship.”
Full WPBSA Qualifiers list:
- Si Jiahui – 2022 WSF Championship Winner
- Lee Stephens – 2022 WSF Championship Runner-up
- Daniel Wells – 2022 WSF Championship Semi-Finalist
- Michael White – 2022 WSF Championship Semi-Finalist
- Anton Kazakov – 2022 WSF Junior Championship Winner
- Jake Crofts – 2022 WSF Junior Championship Runner-up
- Liam Davies – 2022 WSF Junior Championship Semi-Finalist
- Yorrit Hoes – 2022 WSF Junior Championship Semi-Finalist
- Nutcharut Wongharuthai – 2022 World Women’s Snooker No.3 / World Champion
- Rebecca Kenna – 2022 World Women’s Snooker No.4
- Dylan Emery – 2021 EBSA European Under-21 Championship Winner
- TBC – WPBSA Q Tour No.1 (decided after 20 March)
- TBC – WPBSA Q Tour No.2 (decided after 20 March)
- TBC – WPBSA Q Tour No.3 (decided after 20 March)
- TBC – WPBSA Q Tour No.4 (decided after 20 March)
- TBC – WPBSA Q Tour No.5 (decided after 20 March)
All players selected will appear subject to acceptance of their place and any travel restrictions in place. Any replacement players will be selected from a reserve list to include performances at World Snooker Federation and recognised regional events.
Any current professional players who do not enter the tournament will be replaced from the 2021 Q School Order of Merit.
