UMVA has learned that a major overhaul of the Q School tournament, a crucial pathway for snooker players to turn professional, is under consideration, with officials weighing the future of the notoriously grueling competition.
The Q School, which has been in operation since 2011, offers a limited number of two-year tour cards to players who can navigate its demanding format, with 12 players successfully graduating this year, including 19-year-old Liam Davies and Gong Chenzhi.
However, the tournament's brutal reputation has been reinforced by players, with Phil O'Kane, a 2026 Q School graduate, labeling it "the worst tournament in the world," while Davies and Gong have both expressed their reluctance to return to the event.
Despite the criticism, WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson insists that Q School will continue to play a vital role in providing a route to the professional circuit, particularly for players who have dropped off the tour and need a chance to bounce back.
Ferguson emphasized that the current format allows players to regain their tour card immediately after losing it, a mechanism that has been utilized by talented players like Davies and Gong, and which he believes is essential to the sport.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that there are plans to review and potentially expand other pathways to the professional circuit, including the Q Tour and amateur tournaments, with Ferguson suggesting that a mix of different routes will provide players with more opportunities to succeed.
The Q School's open-entry policy, which allows anyone to pay a £960 fee to participate, is also under scrutiny, with some arguing that it creates an uneven playing field, while others see it as a vital chance for players who cannot or do not want to commit to a full season of amateur competition.
Ferguson acknowledged that the cut-off for tour survival is becoming increasingly fierce, with 64 players on the two-year list and only four on the one-year list, and hinted that changes could be on the horizon, but stressed that nothing is set in stone.
The WPBSA has also been engaged in discussions with the Professional Snooker Players Association (PSPA) to address player concerns and explore ways to improve support and representation for professionals on the tour.
