Tour Survival 2015/16 – Player by Player – January Update
Although the annual battle to stay on tour is one that runs the length of the whole season, it is at the turn of the year when the spotlight intensifies on those in danger.
Indeed since my last player by player look at the race to stay on tour for 2016/17 back in October, we have seen the completion of two of the season’s biggest three ranking events, as well as two European Tour and one Asian Tour events.
With a little break now before the next ranking event with the German Masters in Berlin, today I take another in depth look at the race to stay on tour across the various ranking lists.
The Links
- Click here to view the latest provisional end of season ranking list
- Click here to view the latest European Tour Order of Merit (after 5/6 events)
- Click here to view the final Asian Tour Order of Merit (after 1/1 events)*
- Click here to view the prize money schedule for 2015/16 (World Grand Prix to be added)
*to be confirmed, however article has been written on the basis that there will be one event held for the sake of simplicity.
Who Stays on Tour?
This is explained in some detail on my previous article here, but in summary, the following players will retain their professional places for 2016/17:
- All players ranked inside the top 64 on the two-year ranking list following the 2016 World Championship
- All players ranked outside of the top 64 on the two-year ranking list, who have joined the tour for 2015/16 on the first year of a two-year tour card.
- The top eight players ranked on the European Order of Merit, not already qualified as above.
- The top two players ranked on the Asian Order of Merit, not already qualified.
Who will finish in the top 64?
Though it remains impossible to say with certainty what the final amount of money required to stay inside the top 64 will be, in 2014 we saw Jimmy White take the 64th and final spot with total prize money of £48,692 across the previous two seasons, while in 2015 the bar rose to £54,582.
With prize money generally having risen in the early rounds of events, but earning opportunities reduced this season by the removal of the Wuxi Classic and Indian Open events from the calendar, I would expect the final amount to perhaps fall somewhere between these two figures.
Importantly, these players will all earn a one-year tour card for the following season, but will retain their prize money earned, rather than start again from zero, as those qualifying on a two-year card by any other means will have to.
Who is on the first year of a two-year card?
Simply put, those players who are safe due to being on the first year of a two-year tour card, are those highlighted in green on the latest provisional end of season rankings page.
For the avoidance of doubt, those players are:
- Jamie Cope, Sean O’Sullivan, Chris Wakelin, Martin O’Donnell, Hossein Vafaei Ayouri, Daniel Wells, Sanderson Lam, Ross Muir, Darryl Hill, Michael Wild, Noppon Saengkham, Gareth Allen, Alfie Burden, Fraser Patrick, Allan Taylor, Zhang Yong, James Cahill, Eden Sharav, Jason Weston, Rhys Clark, Duane Jones, Nigel Bond, Sydney Wilson, Vinnie Calabrese, Paul Davison, Jimmy White, Igor Figueiredo, Hamza Akbar, Akani Songsermsawad, Itaro Santos, Hatem Yaseen
What about the rest?
For everybody else, I will consider their prospects individually below, highlighting where they currently stand on the three respective lists (eg provisional end of season ranking list, European Order of Merit and Asian Order of Merit) and trying to summarise how they stand overall.
In the circumstances, while players above could still fall back into the danger zone with a bad run over the coming months, for the purposes of this article I am going to look at this those currently 60th and below in the latest provisional end of season list.
Oliver Lines
Money list: 60th – £44,208 (+9,100)
European Tour OOM: 33rd – £4,875 (+3,450)
Asian Tour OOM: 65th – £0 (-1,750)
Summary: It is surprisingly rare in snooker to see a tour newcomer break into the top 64 at the end of their initial two-year tour card, but Leeds’ Oliver Lines looks almost certain to do that now with half of the season still to run.
Even in the event that he were to finish the season on a surprise losing streak, Oliver would be guaranteed to be on the tour for next season by virtue of his position on the European Order of Merit.
Sam Baird
Money list: 61st – £42,382 (+7,274)
European Tour OOM: 27th – £5,550 (+4,125)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Like Oliver above, Sam Baird is guaranteed to remain on tour for next season thanks to his position on the European Order of Merit.
Having narrowly missed out on a season-end top 64 place before in his career however, he will be targeting that bracket once again in order that he can look to climb further up the ranking list, rather than see his prize money total reset to zero.
Yu Delu
Money list: 62nd – £41,400 (+6,292)
European Tour OOM: 77th – £1,050 (-375)
Asian Tour OOM: 65th – £0 (-1,750)
Summary: China’s Yu Delu is currently well placed to retain his place inside the world’s top 64 at the season’s end, however will have to win more matches between now and May to be absolutely safe.
This is particularly important for Yu as he is not currently in position to re-qualify through either the European or Asian Orders of Merit.
He would require at least two match victories at the final European Tour event in Gdynia, most likely three to reach the last 16 stage to move into the eight qualifying places.
Stuart Carrington
Money list: 63rd – £36,306 (+1,198)
European Tour OOM: 31st – £5,250 (+3,825)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Having broken into the world’s top 64 by qualifying for the Crucible last year, Grimsby’s Stuart Carrington finds himself in a tight battle to retain that position at the end of this season.
On course to finish inside that bracket by little more than £1,000, Stuart will be targeting a strong end to the season in order to boost his strengthen his position further.
He can at least do so in the knowledge that his tour card is secure for next season, thanks to his position on the European Order of Merit.
Craig Steadman
Money list: 64th – £35,874 (+766)
European Tour OOM: 90th – £525 (-900)
Asian Tour OOM: 33rd – £400 (-1,350)
Summary: Another Crucible debutant in 2015 was Craig Steadman and he currently finds himself ‘on the bubble’ in 64th position provisionally, with a narrow lead over the chasing pack.
Again Craig will need a strong finish to the season to claim a top 64 spot and unlike Carrington does not have the safety net of a tour card through the European list as it stands.
A minimum of three wins will be required in Gdynia if Craig is to come into contention by that route.
David Morris
Money list: 65th – £35,108 (-766)
European Tour OOM: 90th – £525 (-900)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Having climbed to a career-high position of 51st less than a year ago, it is perhaps surprising to see Ireland’s David Morris facing a battle to stay on tour this season.
His position is effectively the same as that of Steadman above, with three wins required in Gdynia. Otherwise he will be looking to win approximately £15,000 between now and May to secure a top 64 position on the main two-year ranking list.
Gerard Greene
Money list: 66th – £34,532 (-1,342)
European Tour OOM: 66th – £1,950 (+525)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: As was the case a couple of years ago, Gerard Greene finds himself in the thick of the fight to remain on tour at the end of the season.
In 2014 of course, he made it to the final of the Players Championship to vault up the rankings, but this time perhaps his best opportunity comes via the European Order of Merit. At present he finds himself tied with three further players for the eighth and final qualifying place with just the Gdynia Open remaining, so all will be to play for in Poland.
If results there do not go his way, he will be looking to close the gap of £1,342 on the main ranking list between now and the conclusion of the Betfred World Championship.
Ian Burns
Money list: 67th – £34,222 (-1,652)
European Tour OOM: 35th – £4,050 (+2,625)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Preston’s Ian Burns is another for whom the pressure is off to some extent, with a tour place all but guaranteed through his position on the European Order of Merit.
His target however will be to qualify via the top 64 and with plenty of prize money remaining up for grabs this season, he remains in the hunt to do so.
Liam Highfield
Money list: 68th – £33,091 (-2,783)
European Tour OOM: 90th – £525 (-900)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: As with the likes of Steadman and Morris already mentioned, Liam Highfield must win at least three matches at the Gdynia Open if he is to remain in contention to earn a fresh tour card through the European Order of Merit.
Otherwise, he must bridge the gap of almost £3,000 to 64th placed Steadman on the main two-year list to avoid a return to Q School, which he came through back in 2014 to earn his current tour card.
Cao Yupeng
Money list: 69th – £31,575 (-4,299)
European Tour OOM: 90th – £525 (-900)
Asian Tour OOM: 33rd – £400 (-1,350)
Summary: Same as Highfield above, except Cao Yupeng is a further £1,516 back on the main ranking list.
Zhang Anda
Money list: 70th – £31,291 (-4,583)
European Tour OOM: 56th – £2,325 (+900)
Asian Tour OOM: 5th – £1,750 (+450)
Summary: Along with Irish amateur Leo Fernandez, Zhang Anda is currently set to remain on tour thanks to his performance at the season’s sole Asian Tour event, the Haining Open earlier this season.
He also finds himself in position to qualify via the European Order of Merit, although with the Asian Tour having already concluded, his tour card would be taken from that route chronologically.
Of course a top 64 position would be preferable to both of those routes however and within £4,583 of that bracket as it stands, he is still in realistic contention to do so with a strong end to the season.
Aditya Mehta
Money list: 71st – £30,556 (-5,316)
European Tour OOM: 45th – £3,000 (+1,575)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Down to 71st provisionally on the main two-year ranking list, Aditya Mehta requires a strong finish to the season if he is to finish inside the top 64.
His performances at European Tour events this season have been reasonably strong however and so he currently looks set to earn a fresh tour card via that route, one win in Gdynia likely to be enough to make absolutely sure.
Michael Georgiou
Money list: 72nd – £25,591 (-10,283)
European Tour OOM: 90th – £525 (-900)
Asian Tour OOM: 17th – £800 (-950)
Summary: Almost a further £10,000 back, this is where the task begins to get more difficult for those looking to finish inside the top 64 (although nobody told David Grace that in York recently).
For Georgiou his best chance of remaining on tour looks to be via the European Order of Merit, with at least three wins required in Gdynia to take one of the eight available tour cards via that route.
Anthony Hamilton
Money list: 73rd – £25,423 (-10,451)
European Tour OOM: 72nd – £1,425 (-525)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Like Georgiou above, veteran Anthony Hamilton will be targeting a strong run in Gdynia to remain on the professional circuit for 2016/17.
With £1,425 to his name however, he is better placed to do so and could potentially qualfy with two wins in Gdynia, although a third would boost his position significantly.
Having shown improved form of late, he will be one of the players to watch in Poland next month.
Joel Walker
Money list: 74th – £24,666 (-11,208)
European Tour OOM: 62nd – £2,100 (+675)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Sheffield’s Joel Walker earned a fresh two-year tour card via the European Order of Merit two seasons ago and this looks to present him with his best chance of survival in 2016.
Currently inside that bracket by £675, but with a string of players within a win of overtaking him, Joel will be looking for a strong performance in Gdynia to confirm his place.
Peter Lines
Money list: 75th – £23,400 (-12,474)
European Tour OOM: 85th – £900 (-525)
Asian Tour OOM: 17th – £800 (-950)
Summary: While his son Oliver is sure to be on tour next season, father Peter faces an uphill struggle as he finds himself almost £12,500 adrift on the main two-year ranking list.
Again, three wins in Gdynia looks to be the most realistic avenue for him to stay on tour with Robert Milkins set to be his first opponent in Poland.
Mitchell Mann
Money list: 76th – £19,816 (-16,058)
European Tour OOM: 66th – £1,950 (+525)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: One of four players currently tied for the eighth and final tour card available through the European Order of Merit, the Gdynia Open is again set to be a crucial event for Mitchell Mann.
Lee Walker
Money list: 77th – £19,208 (-16,666)
European Tour OOM: 42nd – £3,225 (+1,800)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Having shown improved form during this season, Lee Walker is currently well-placed to earn a fresh two-year tour card thanks to his position on the European Order of Merit.
A gap of over £16,000 on the main two-year ranking list will prove tough to close, therefore he will be looking to confirm his position on the European list in Gdynia.
Scott Donaldson
Money list: 79th – £16,416 (-19,458)
European Tour OOM: 59th – £2,250 (+825)
Asian Tour OOM: 17th – £800 (-950)
Summary: Almost £20,000 behind on the main two-year list, Scott Donaldson will again be targeting a tour card via the European Order of Merit.
At present, the Scot is in position to do so, but with several players within a single win of overtaking him, he will be targeting a run in Gdynia to make absolutely sure.
Zak Surety
Money list: 80th – £14,616 (-21,258)
European Tour OOM: 66th – £1,950 (+525)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: As with the likes of Gerard Greene and Mitchell Mann, Zak Surety is one of four players currently tied for the final tour card available through the European Order of Merit.
Barring an exceptional end to the season therefore, Zak’s fate is likely to be determined in Gdynia next month.
Michael Wasley
Money list: 81st – £14,582 (-21,292)
European Tour OOM: 118th – £0 (-1,425)
Asian Tour OOM: 65th – £0 (-1,750)
Summary: Two years on from his incredible win against Ding Junhui at the Crucible, Michael Wasley faces relegation from the tour following a tough run of results in 2015.
His best chance to remain on tour therefore looks to be via the European Tour, with a quarter-final in Gdynia the target.
Barry Pinches
Money list: 82nd – £13,639 (-22,235)
European Tour OOM: 118th – £0 (-1,425)
Asian Tour OOM: 17th – £800 (-950)
Summary: See Wasley above.
Chris Melling
Money list: 83rd – £12,757 (-23,117)
European Tour OOM: 72nd – £1,425 (-525)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Within touching distance of the top eight on the European Order of Merit, Chris Melling is likely to require at least two wins at the Gdynia Open to earn a fresh two-year tour card.
Michael Leslie
Money list: 86th – £11,422 (-24,452)
European Tour OOM: 66th – £1,950 (+525)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: Another player tied for the final tour card available through the European Order of Merit, Michael Leslie will be targeting a strong run in Gdynia to secure another two years on tour.
Tony Drago
Money list: 88th – £10,941 (-24,933)
European Tour OOM: 90th – £525 (-900)
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: With just one victory at European Tour events so far this season, Maltese veteran Tony Drago is unable to earn a fresh two-year card via that route, having elected not to enter the Gdynia Open next month.
Unless he is able to bridge a gap of almost £25,000 to the top 64 therefore, Tony looks set to face relegation from the circuit at the end of the season.
Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon
Money list: 91st – £8,800 (-27,074)
European Tour OOM: 118th – £0 (-1,425)
Asian Tour OOM: 17th – £800 (-950)
Summary: See Tony Drago above.
Lu Ning
Money list: 95th – £6,817 (-29,057)
European Tour OOM: 118th – £0 (-1,425)
Asian Tour OOM: 65th – £0 (-1,750)
Summary: See Tony Drago above.
Steven Hallworth
Money list: 97th – £5,666 (-30,208)
European Tour OOM: 118th – £0 (-1,425)
Asian Tour OOM: 65th – £0 (-1,750)
Summary: Requires at least a run to the quarter-finals at the Gdynia Open.
Thor Chuan Leong
Money list: 102nd – £4,200 (-31,674)
European Tour OOM: 102nd – £4,200 (+2,775)
Asian Tour OOM: 65th – £0 (-1,750)
Summary: Having earned just £4,200 during his two-year tour card to date, readers could be forgiven for thinking that Malaysia’s Chuan Thor Leong faces relegation from the circuit this season.
However, all of that prize money has been earned during this season’s European Tour events and so he looks guaranteed to earn a fresh tour card for the next two seasons.
Ian Glover
Money list: 103rd – £4,141 (-31,733)
European Tour OOM: 90th – £525 (-900)
Asian Tour OOM: 33rd – £400 (-1,350)
Summary: Requires at least three victories at the Gdynia Open next month.
Lyu Chenwei
Money list: 104th – £4,125 (-31,749)
European Tour OOM: 73rd – £525 (-900)
Asian Tour OOM: 65th – £0 (-1,750)
Summary: Has not entered the Gdynia Open and therefore must finish inside the top 64 to avoid Q School.
Rouzi Maimati
Money list: 109th – £2,100 (-33,774)
European Tour OOM: N/A
Asian Tour OOM: 33rd – £400 (-1,350)
Summary: As above.
Ju Reti
Money list: 114th – £1,400 (-34,474)
European Tour OOM: N/A
Asian Tour OOM: 65th – £0 (-1,750)
Summary: As above.
Liu Chuang
Money list: 120th – £600 (-35,274)
European Tour OOM: N/A
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: As above, has not entered an event since the 2014 UK Championship.
Steve Mifsud
Money list: 122nd – £0 (-35,874)
European Tour OOM: N/A
Asian Tour OOM: N/A
Summary: As above, has not entered an event since the 2014 ET3.
